What are the reasons why cats eat grass?

Cats eating grass have many reasons, the main ones being hairballs in their stomach, curiosity, poor digestion, lack of certain elements, and excessive stress. However, studies have shown that the behavior of cats eating grass is inherited from their feline ancestors. This is because wild felines often suffer from intestinal parasites, and eating grass helps them expel those parasites. Therefore, even though modern cats have a cleaner diet and are less susceptible to parasites, their genetic makeup still prompts them to occasionally crave grass without any specific purpose.

1. Hairballs in the stomach

Cats are very clean animals and often clean themselves by licking their fur. However, during this process, the cat's tongue with its backward-facing spines can curl up many cat hairs into their stomach. Over time, these accumulated hairs form hairballs, causing the cat discomfort. To alleviate this, cats will eat grass to vomit out the hairballs. Owners can plant some cat grass at home and buy cat food containing rough fibers to help their cats expel hairballs.

1. Curiosity

Cats are also very playful and curious about many things. They often like to chew on plants and flowers at home. If the owner's home has many plants, the cat might couldn't resist the temptation to try them. To satisfy their small habits, owners can grow some cat grass or catmint themselves, which is healthier and safer.

1. Poor digestion

When cats have poor digestion, indigestion, or gas, they will eat grass to help expel the food in their stomach and alleviate uncomfortable symptoms. If a cat has digestive problems, owners can feed them some pet probiotics to regulate their digestion.

1. Lack of certain elements

Cat grass contains many vitamins and minerals that are lacking in meat. These are essential elements for the cat's survival. When a cat lacks these elements, they will not only eat grass but may also exhibit behaviors like eating feces or soil. If this occurs, owners should supplement their cat's diet with trace elements.

1. Stress

Scientists have found that eating some cat grass can effectively relieve cats' mental stress, especially when they are in new environments, exhibit stress responses, or are overly sensitive. A small pot of fresh cat grass is a great emotional comfort for cats. Many cats show明显的pleasure after eating cat grass. Owners should also play with their cats more often to alleviate stress to a certain extent!