why does lions eat grass?

Answer 1

Hi there...the big cats don’t eat grass as a source of nutrients rather eating grass has a purely mechanical function. Ingested blades of grass trigger regurgitation of indigestible or hard to digest matter, like the cats’ own hair swallowed during grooming, or fur and bones of prey. Expelling this matter through regurgitation, similar to birds of prey, is safer than allowing it to pass through the digestive tract where it could possibly cause a blockage.

Big cats normally will eat the entire animal they capture. Many of their “kills” were herbivores (plant eaters), and cats ended up eating a lot of grass and plants that were in the stomachs and intestines of these animals.

Answer 2

I've read these answers and some are very good. Grass helps with digestion. All mammals need fiber and that's how cats & dogs both get the fiber they need. It doesn't make them throw up, that's an old wives tale. If a cat throws up, it's because he/she has a stomach upset. They eat grass to alleviate the nausea. If they throw up after eating grass it means they were going to throw up anyways. It's like us taking Pepto thinking it will help with a hangover. No worky. The grass makes them think they will get better. My kitties eat grass for the nutrition value.

Answer 3

House cats and sometimes dogs do this instinctively to help them with either their digestion or probably with upset stomach. Yes, it does seem strange but... who really knows? It was suggested that it is their way of adding roughage (fiber) to their system.

I do know that dogs and cats that chew on carpets or rugs or sneakers or even the furniture will soon stop if you add some Wheat Germ to their moist food. So, there may very well be some truth to the roughage story after all.

Answer 4

all cats and even dogs eat grass when there not well there is something in the grass that makes them better and cats also eat grass to make them sick so that if thy have fur ball it comes up no bother and grass have vitamins in it for the cats and dogs

Answer 5

Grass is a tummy soother & digestive aid for cats (lions too!) & dogs. Actually many species use this method as a digestive aid..

Answer 6

The same reason cats eat grass.

Answer 7

Lions don't eat grass. I know domestic cats do in order to get sick and cleanse their digestive track/system of fur balls and stuff. But from what the Discovery Channel said, these wildcats don't eat grass...evuh!

Answer 8

Domestic cats eat grass when they have a tummy upset, and to help with digestion.

Answer 9

The definition of fruits has different meanings depending on context.

Answer 10

because in the cat world grass is considered as medicine to them strange i know but my two cats eat grass its good for their system