Who hasn't spotted a cat eating grass and wondered why? This is definitely one of the most intriguing habits of felines, who are strictly carnivorous animals and theoretically don't need to feed on undergrowth. So why do cats eat grass? Does it have to do with the digestive process, as many believe? In what cases can the plant beWe went after answers and found some very interesting theories for cat behavior. Take a look!

Why do cats eat grass? See what popular belief says!

As the habit has only recently become the subject of study, most of the theories have no scientific basis and come from popular belief. According to common sense, animals turn to cat grass when they are not feeling very well or are experiencing digestive difficulties. The undergrowth, in turn, would be responsible for making the felines vomit and make them vomit.This would even be an appropriate technique to eliminate possible hairballs from the feline organism. The lack of evidence, however, makes the belief doubtful. In addition, if you observe, few cats vomit or expel hairballs after eating grass.

Science has the answer to why cats eat grass

As peculiar as this behavior is, there is a totally plausible reason for the cat eating grass. According to research developed by the University of California at Davis , in the United States, it is a natural feline instinct that actually helps improve digestion, but does not necessarily make the animal vomit.

The study was conducted online with more than a thousand cat owners who spent at least three hours a day observing their pet's behavior. During this observation, they found that cat eating grass is very common, as at least 71% of cats were caught "in the act" at least six times. Only 11% of cats did not consume the plant at any time during the survey.

Of the cats that ate grass regularly, 91% remained well throughout the process. That is, they were animals that simply did not vomit after ingesting the weeds. This finding made the researchers realize that the act of eating grass goes far beyond digestive problems: in fact, cats eat the weed because it acts as a kind of vermifuge for them. That theory,in turn, is formulated on the basis of feline ancestors who also fed on plants to stimulate the intestinal tract and expel possible parasites from the body.

How to include cat grass in your kitty's daily life?

Now that you know why cats eat grass, how about spreading some around the house? It's very easy to learn how to plant popcorn grass or wheat grass for cats. All you need to do is put the seeds in a pot with compost. The seed kernels need to be well buried and never exposed. Then just water every other day and wait for the cat grass to grow. noNo matter what your choice is, one thing is certain: your little friend will love the novelty! But it is good to be careful, ok? Even if it is natural for cats, excessive consumption of the plant can be harmful.

In addition, it is important to opt for feline-appropriate options, such as those mentioned above. Some plants - especially flowering ones - are often toxic to cats and therefore should not be offered to pets.