Why do cats like to eat grass? The reason behind it is convincing
We all know that cats are carnivores in the strict sense. They can’t walk when they smell meat. They especially like to eat food with a fishy smell, because this kind of meat can provide them with animal protein and various kinds of food for survival. trace elements. Everyone knows that cats love to eat meat, but did you know that cats also love to eat grass?
Maybe friends who have had cat raising experience will find that when they bring kittens to play in the garden, the cat sometimes walks to the grass and chews and bites the grass in the grass. Why is this?
In fact, many experts have conducted research on cats eating grass, but after so many years, although many research results have been obtained, it sounds reasonable, but because there is no definite evidence, there is no single reason. To explain, the reasons why cats love to eat grass can be very complicated. Let's find out together.
- Cats eat grass to vomit and help expel hairballs in their stomachs.
As we all know, cats are small animals that pay great attention to their guards. When they have nothing to do, they use their tongues to clean their bodies, so a lot of cat hair will inevitably be swallowed into their stomachs, so cats eat grass to achieve this. It has the effect of inducing vomiting and expelling the hairballs accumulated in the stomach. On the other hand, eating grass can help intestinal peristalsis, and can smoothly expel cat hair that has not been spit out in the stomach through the feces.
This statement makes a lot of sense. But the problem is that cats don't always vomit when they eat grass, suggesting that shedding cat hair may only be part of the reason cats eat grass.
Second, cats eat grass to supplement vitamins.
If you look closely, it is not difficult to find that the grass that cats like to eat is almost the same type, with long leaves and green color. This grass is called cat grass, which is a kind of grass, and it is a very sparse and common in the wild. weed. However, it contains many plant vitamins that are not found in meat foods, such as folic acid and cellulose. Folic acid can help cats improve blood conditions. If folic acid is lacking for a long time, cats may suffer from anemia, and cellulose can help cats digest meat better. food-like fiber.
- Cats eat grass because grass is delicious
This reason may seem a bit funny to us humans, how can grass be delicious? But for cats, eating grass is like eating fruit, it can feel pleasure from it. It is easy to understand that even if grass has a good effect, if it is difficult to eat, cats will definitely not eat it. In fact, the amount of grass in the cat's stomach is not much, they are more chewing and sucking grass juice, just like eating fruit, not only enjoying its taste, but also absorbing the nutrients in it.
Fourth, cats eat grass to relieve stress.
Cat eating grass can sometimes be a stress-relieving behavior. In this regard, we must have such a common sense that depression is not a disease exclusive to humans. On the contrary, depression in cats is a real disease recognized by zoologists. Eating grass is not only a means for cats to obtain nutrients and maintain physical health, but also an important way for cats to relieve stress and maintain mental health.
Since it is so important to let cats eat grass, what should we cat owners (actually cat slaves) do? In fact, many pet stores have a full set of cat grass for sale, plant them carefully according to the instructions, and you can eat them in two or three weeks. Or if you can identify it, buy cat grass seeds, or bring cuttings from the wild and plant them into potted plants, so that cats can graze carefree. But pay special attention, not all plants can be eaten by cats. For example, orchids may cause nerve paralysis or even death in cats, and azaleas may cause cat cells to shrink and limbs to paralyze.
It is a blessing to let your cat eat grass healthily and happily. Let's protect the little happiness of cats together!