Perhaps every dog or cat owner has at least once caught their pet chewing leaves or grass. But why are these animals sometimes attracted to plants? Portal livescience.com found it in question.
There are several theories. Both cats and dogs occasionally eat grass, although technically both species lack the proper “equipment” to digest large amounts of grass. For example, herbivores often have specialized gut bacteria that help break down tough cellulose, and many species also have multiple stomachs to digest food efficiently.
The most common explanation for this behavior is stomach pain. Normally, when dogs and cats eat grass, the waste will come in the same form, through defecation or vomiting. This is probably why this myth appeared.
In fact, according to research, only a small percentage of grass-eating cases are due to digestive problems. In 2008, scientists surveyed several groups of dog owners about whether their pets ate grass or not. Of the 1,571 people surveyed, 68% said their dogs eat grass daily or weekly, but only 8% said their dogs often show symptoms of illness before eating plants. Two similar surveys published in the journal Animals in 2021 asked similar questions of cat lovers. 6% of cats in the first survey and 9% in the second survey were sick before eating grass, although 27% and 37% frequently vomited immediately afterward. And in a second survey, 71% of owners saw their cats eating plants at least six times.
A 2021 study also tested the hypothesis that grass can cause cats to cough up hair. Previous research has shown that long-haired cats may cough up hairballs more often than short-haired cats, but the results showed no difference between the two.
Notably, scientists have observed similar cases in feral dogs and cats; Perhaps craving grass is an innate habit. There is a theory that this is how wild cats and wolves clean their intestines of parasites, so perhaps pets follow their example. Or to supplement your diet with certain nutrients, such as B vitamins.
One way or another, if your animal is not sick and is eating well, there is nothing wrong with periodically eating grass. If a cat or dog actually nibbles on the unfortunate potted plant, it makes sense to contact a professional. Science cannot say anything more precise: research in this direction is poorly funded, and pets rarely have health problems precisely because of grass.
