Why do cats eat cat grass? Precautions when giving – MOFUCAT Skip to content
猫が猫草を食べる理由とは? 与え方の注意点 - MOFUCAT

Why do cats eat cat grass? Precautions when giving

Some cats eat cat grass with great appetite.

However, there are some children who vomit and get sick after eating.

Is it actually good to eat cat grass? what is the reason for eating …I doubt it.

In this article

  • Why Cats Eat Cat Grass
  • Should I give cat grass?
  • Precautions when giving

And so on.

If you have any doubts or concerns about cat grass, please read it.

Why Cats Eat Cat Grass

There are many theories as to why cats eat cat grass.
  • to vomit hairballs
  • Feeling sick, to relieve heartburn
  • Supplements missing nutrients such as vitamins and folic acid
  • enjoying the texture
  • constipation prevention

There are many possible reasons for this, but I don't really know for sure.

If you have a cat, I'm sure you've seen a lot of scenes where the hairballs are pushed back.

It is said that if you give cat grass in this case, you can vomit well.

However, there are children who do not like cat grass, and children who are not interested in it, so there is no need to force it.

What is cat grass?

In the first place, cat grass does not refer to a specific plant, but refers to the grass that cats like to eat.

To representative

  • oats: also known as oats, oats
  • Green foxtail: Nekojalashi

There are plants of the gramineous family.

It is sometimes called cat glass or pet glass, and some are sold for both dogs and cats.

Home centers and flower shops sell a variety of products, such as ready-to-eat seedlings, kits that grow from seeds, and so on.

If it's something like this, it won't be particularly harmful if your cat eats a certain amount.

Some plants should not be eaten!

Of course, the above-mentioned "cat grass" is safe, so there is no problem if you give it to your cat.

But what about plants? That's not to say that there are plants that are toxic to cats.

  • Allium family (onions, green onions, garlic, chives, etc.)
  • Solanaceae (eggplants, tomatoes, etc.)
  • Liliaceae (lily, tulip, lily of the valley, etc.)
  • Rosaceae (apricots, plums, etc.)

These plants are typical, but there are many other plants that are poisonous to cats.

In particular, poisoning symptoms often occur by eating foliage plants, and it is said that there are more than 700 kinds of plants that are dangerous to cats.

In addition to symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, there are also plants that die just by eating a small amount depending on the plant.

To prevent accidental ingestion, it would be wise not to bring any plants into your home other than those sold under the name "cat grass".

Should I give cat grass?

Except for the poisonous plants mentioned above, there is no problem in eating moderate amounts.

Ultimately, the answer to the question, "Should I give cat grass?" is okay.

If your dog likes to eat it, you should give him an appropriate amount, and if he doesn't eat much, you don't have to force him to eat.

It will also relieve stress!

If you like to eat it, it may be a good way to relieve stress and change your mood, so it's a good idea to give it from time to time.

For a completely indoor cat, there is no opportunity to "contact with nature".

It is possible to release stress by interacting with natural things such as cat grass and eating them.

In addition, even if you see a stressful behavior that eats things other than food, called "Ishi", the symptoms may be alleviated by giving cat grass.

It is one of the ways to consult with your doctor's teacher and give it.

3 points to note when giving cat grass

There are a few things to keep in mind when feeding cat grass.

First, you don't have to give it to kittens or children with weak stomachs.

This is because cats are obligate carnivores, so even if they eat grass, most of it will come out as feces without being digested.

When the digestive function is weak or immature, food that is difficult to digest will be a burden on the stomach and intestines.

Second, be careful not to eat too much and give the right amount.

If you eat too much, the clumps of cat grass can get stuck in your stomach and intestines and cause indigestion.

Let's decide how much to eat in a day and don't leave it out.

You don't have to dare to add toppings to the meal, it would be nice if you could find the timing to eat according to your cat's mood.

The third point is that you need to take care of the cat grass itself.

Even so, the only thing you have to do on a daily basis is to water it, but if it turns yellow and hard, you need to cut it off and remove it.

Also, when growing from seeds, it may be difficult to germinate.

It may grow mold or die, so use a cultivation kit or special soil to ensure good germination.

[Summary] Why do cats eat cat grass? Precautions when giving

There are various theories as to why cats eat cat grass, such as that they want to vomit because they feel nauseous, or that it supplements the lack of nutrients, but the truth is not well understood.

You don't have to give cat grass, so if you don't want it, or if you don't want it, you don't have to give it to a kitten or a child with a weak stomach.

For a child who likes cat grass, decide the amount of feeding per day and let him eat moderately.

Eating cat grass can be a stress reliever. Make sure to feed your cat grass that is fresh and soft!

Reference material

Back to blog