Pets
Related: About this forumleftyohiolib
(5,917 posts)they eat grass to induce vomiting hoping that will help settle their little tummies.
FSogol
(45,470 posts)CountAllVotes
(20,868 posts)And yes, they'd vomit not long after wards. I think they did it in order to induce vomiting in order to throw up things like hairballs, etc.
I never knew for certain and they sure weren't going to let me know why!
FSogol
(45,470 posts)TygrBright
(20,756 posts)Our ornjboi loves his salad. Doesn't vomit, though. I'm assuming our regular regimen of hoovering him and providing small treats of hairball remedy keeps the hairball issue at bay.
In my experience all cats like to nom on a little salad from time to time. I'm assuming it's a trace element or other nutritional factor that they're seeking.
We keep a couple of small patches of wheatgrass growing in ornjboi's favorite window perches for him to nom on at will.
curiously,
Bright
FSogol
(45,470 posts)feral ones and abandoned pets that live in the woods behind my house.
arcane1
(38,613 posts)and that's pretty much what she does: eats it then throws it up a little while later. Kitties love to throw up, it seems.
FSogol
(45,470 posts)On the other hand, she finds some of my behavior to be rather incomprehensible
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,660 posts)The juices in grass contain folic acid, a vitamin essential to a cats well-being. Folic acid, also present in the mother cats milk, aids the production of oxygen in the cats bloodstream. A folic acid deficiency may lead to anemia, and a young cats growth can be stunted if she doesnt get enough of it. Do cats instinctively know theyre deficient in folic acid and nibble grass to right the situation? Even experts can only guess. For a cat who never goes outdoors, folic acid supplements are available, to be added to your cats food. Your vet can advise whether your cat can benefit from these.
That Laxative Appeal
Since cats themselves cant say, experts theorize that cats eat grass as a natural laxative. It may add fiber and bulk to their diet, helping them pass worms or fur through their intestinal tract. If broader-leafed varieties offer a laxative effect, thinner-leafed grass induces cats to vomit. But veterinarians stop short of declaring grass necessary. It may assist in clearing things out, but healthy cats are able to process and pass matter out without this help. Some experts believe cats eat grass to settle their stomachs, much as humans pop an antacid tablet. Others say cats simply like the texture and taste of grass, no matter what its properties do for their insides.
Heave-Ho
After munching away on grass, a short time later, cats inevitably upchuck those greens. Not because theyre gagging on the veggie flavor. Its because cats systems do not have the correct enzymes to digest plant matter. By regurgitating grass, the cat also expels other indigestible items she may have eaten which could include fur balls from grooming, or feathers and bones from any prey she has consumed. Clearing her digestive tract this way is healthy for the cat. It alleviates any feeling of discomfort, even if the process, and its end-products, may repulse her owner. So dont punish your cat for upchucking!
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/why-do-cats-eat-grass.html#ixzz1tkIUldLO
jrandom421
(1,003 posts)Hairballs, especially with our long hair kitties. Helps them get rid of them, from either end.