Are cats supposed to eat grass?

Question

geisha my kitten will scratch at the door to go outside and then just stop and eat grass, does that mean she's sick?

Answer 1

I've always heard that eating grass helps with their digestion. At least she's not smoking it... ;-)

Answer 2

"Most cat-owners have observed the way in which, once in a while,
their pet goes up to a long grass stemin the garden and starts to chew and bite at it.
Cats living in apartments where there are no gardens in which to roam
have been known to cause considerable damage
to house plants in desperate attempts to find a substitute for grasses.
In rare cases such cats have even harmed themselves
by biting into plants that are poisonous.
The most recent opinion - and the most likely explanation - is that cats chew grass
to obtain minute quantities of a chemical substance that they cannot obtain from a meat diet
and which is essential to their health. The substance in question is a vitamin called folic acid,
and it is vital to cats because it plays an important role in the production of haemoglobin.
If a cat is deficient in folic acid its growth will suffer and it may become seriously anaemic.
Cat-owners whose animals have no access to grasses of any kind
sometimes solve the problem by planting grass seeds in a tray
and growing a patch of long grass in their apartments for their pets to chew on."
http://www.aryana.co.uk/webdesign/images/Catwatching/EATGRASS.HTM

Answer 3

Grass is ok. A lot of animals eat it to settle their stomachs. However, I would suggest buying "cat grass" which you would keep in your home. Basically it's just regular grass, however, there are no pesticides or other chemicals on it, unlike much of the grass outdoors.

Answer 4

No. Grass is a natural stomach irritant, however, all cats eat grass to aid their digestion, get some fiber in thier diet, and sometimes to help regurgitate the un-digested part of animals they eat. Aren't you glad you asked?

Answer 5

Generally when cats and dogs do this, they know that something in their system does not feel well.....eating the grass and then ridding of the amount usually helps.

Strange but seems to help!

Answer 6

I've lived with cats all my life and find they usually throw up after eating grass. I think it helps when they have an upset stomach.

Answer 7

Yes its instinct like the big wild cats. It helps if they have an upset tummy. You can even buy a kit at a pet store to buy your own safe grass in your home!

Answer 8

Usually cats do eat grass when their stomachs hurt. It helps their digestive system.

Answer 9

Cats eat grass to aid in digestion. It also induces vomitting when they are feeling ill. No need to fret it is normal.

Answer 10

No, ur cat isn't sick. She probably ate something else and she couldn't digest it, so she ate the grass to make herself throw it up.