There are many theories on the subject of feline affection for grass, but almost all of them center on the idea of digestion. Cats are carnivores, so their stomachs lack the proper enzymes to digest plant matter. And that means that when they eat the grass they so adore, they almost always throw it up after.
Experts suggest that cats eat and then throw up grass for a few reasons; the first being that throwing up the grass helps to clean their systems out of other materials that they aren’t able to digest. This process of clearing the digestive tract is perfectly healthy for cats, although it isn’t exactly pleasant for everyone else.
Another reason cats eat grass is to increase their folic acid intake. Folic acid helps in the production of oxygen in the bloodstream and is found naturally in a mama cat’s milk, so some experts believe that cats instinctively know to eat grass when they lack folic acid.
Other experts believe that cats eat grass as a way to add fiber to their diet and help pass food that is typically un-digestible, like worms or fur, through the digestive tract. Still, others think grass helps to settle a cat’s stomach in the same way a Tums might help a human. Healthy cats shouldn’t need this assistance, though.
So at the end of the day, is it okay for cats to eat grass? Most experts agree it is perfectly fine, but since it is a symptom of digestive issues, a better solution would be to treat these issues before your cat feels the need to chow down on your greenery.
Cats, Grass, and Gastrointestinal Health
Cats are built to eat every part of their prey. If you have an outdoor or indoor-outdoor cat, you have probably seen the half-eaten remains of a bird or rodent at some point, and noted that the fur, feathers, and even bones aren’t all present. It’s because cats don’t care what’s hard to digest; they just eat until they’re full.
Because of their inability to distinguish the edible from the inedible, cats are willing to put a whole lot into their mouths, and they almost always swallow. When this happens, often the indigestible foreign object becomes lodged in the cat’s digestive tract, and sometimes surgery is needed to remove it.
Kitties can’t digest hair either, so hairballs are a fairly regular occurrence in a home with cats. However, experts suggest that cats should not have many hairballs, because it takes a long time and a lot of hair for a clump (aka furball) to form and then need to be removed through not-so-delightful means like throwing up.
The healthier the cat, the less often they will need to rid themselves of undigested objects in their systems. Most often, a cat with a healthy gastrointestinal tract will be able to pass even un-digestible objects through their systems, so keeping your kitty’s G.I. tract as healthy as possible is in your best interest and theirs.
How to Keep Your Cat’s G.I. Tract Intact
Keeping up your cat’s digestive health is just as important as your own. As a bonus; it will likely reduce the number of times you’re forced to clean up kitty vomit on your carpet. So how can you help your cat achieve optimum G.I. health?
Dietary Adjustments
Consider changing their food to one that is specifically formulated to promote gastrointestinal health and digestion. Typically, foods that have more whole, natural ingredients are going to be your best bet for your cat’s health.
You will want to do your research on ingredients before feeding your cat something new, and you will also need to slowly introduce the new food to your kitty if you want to avoid excess vomiting or diarrhea in the interim.
Mix your cat’s new and old food, mainly using old food with a hint of the new at first, and over seven to fourteen days, slowly add more and more new food to the mix, until you are giving your cat 100% new food. Adding a supplement like the Wapiti G.I. Tract Herbal Formula to your cat’s food during this process may also help with the transition.
Supplements for Cats
If your cat only eats grass or exhibits signs of G.I. issues occasionally, you may want to consider a supplement rather than a change in diet. Sometimes kitties have food that is easy to digest but instead will have issues when they begin to shed in the summer months, eat something naughty, or become stressed.
If the times when stomach issues will occur are predictable, you can start supplementing your cat around the time digestion tends to become an issue, like in our earlier scenario where your cat gets hairballs as it begins to shed more in the summer.
If issues are unpredictable, however, it’s best to supplement throughout the year in small doses to help your cat feel better all the time. Giving your cat a supplement like the G.I. Tract Herbal Formula may help your kitty feel better all year round. Not only can this powerful supplement soothe and protect your cat’s G.I. tract, but it can also help to harmonize the stomach and reduce discomfort. Some cats even begin to be more energetic and playful when taking the Wapiti G.I. Tract supplement.
A Healthy G.I. Tract is the Key to a Happy Cat
Your cat’s digestive health is important. It knows what it needs, which is why it occasionally, or often, eats grass. Keeping your cat’s system healthy to begin with is the best way to stop your pet from continuing in the eat and upchuck cycle that so many cat owners find their pets in again and again.
Ensure your pet is eating the right foods, consider supplementing their diet with a herbal formula that promotes gastrointestinal health, and watch your cat for signs of discomfort. If you do all of these things, you’re sure to have a happier, healthier kitty from now on. If you’d like to learn more about the Wapiti G.I. Tract Supplement or any of our other natural pet supplements, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
