You may be curious as to why your pet cat may like to eat grass as they are ‘obligate carnivores’, which in simple terms, means they need to eat meat to get all the nutrients they require to stay healthy.
Generally speaking, as they will pass up eating any fruit or vegetables, in favour of meat, it’s understandable why owners may be concerned about their cat eating grass.
Why do cats eat grass?
Eating grass is perfectly safe for your cat, like grass-eating is for dogs, and surprisingly, many cats may enjoy snacking on grass from time to time. Whilst it’s not completely understood why cats might want to eat grass, there are a few theories behind it:
- Grass may help your cat's digestive system by helping to expel hairballs, and that grass contains nutrients that your cat needs in their diet, such as folic acid.
- Feeding your cat a complete diet will ensure they aren’t missing any essential nutrients in their diet.
- It could just be that your cat likes the taste and texture.
How to make sure the grass is safe for your cat to eat
Even though it’s perfectly normal for your cat to eat grass, there’s some things to be aware of:
Check the grass
You should keep your cat well away from grass that has been treated with fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides as these can be very harmful. Also make sure they’re not going to nibble on any other greenery or flowers which could be poisonous.
If your cat particularly likes grass, you could try growing a tray of grass inside your home to try and discourage eating outside to avoid any of these nasties.
Grass seeds
More commonly associated as an issue with dogs, you’ll also need to be careful of grass seeds found in long grass with cats too, particularly in the summer months.
Grass seeds can get stuck in eyes, ears, skin and paws and cause problems for your pet. If you think your cat has a grass seed stuck somewhere, contact your vet. The sooner you get it removed, the less of a problem it’s likely to cause.
Keep the grass short
There is a small risk that long blades of grass can get stuck in your cats nose and throat causing irritation – try and avoid your cat eating long blades, or keep the grass trimmed short to reduce this risk.
Can cats eating grass be a sign of illness?
There’s usually no need to worry if your cat is eating grass, as it isn’t linked to health issues or dietary deficiencies.
However, if your cat appears unwell, eats grass excessively, or only wants to eat grass (and not their usual food), you should seek advice from your vet.
For more information about cats check out our expert guides, including what cats are thinking, how to stop cats scratching furniture and how to teach a cat tricks. We also have an expert guide to introducing cats and dogs to each other.
About the PDSA
The PDSA is the UK's leading vet charity, providing free and low-cost treatment to pets in need. PDSA vets and vet nurses provide veterinary care and advice to sick and injured pets whose owners otherwise couldn’t afford to pay the full cost of treatment.
Main image © Getty Images