Cats eat grass because it is a completely natural part of their behaviour, and for most cats it is neither a sign of illness nor of something missing from the bowl. Your cat chews on a blade of grass because the urge is rooted deep in its instincts, and because grass provides something it does not get anywhere else. Even well-fed indoor cats seek out grass if they get the chance, and this applies both to cats that live exclusively indoors and to those that roam freely out in the garden. Below you will find the real explanations for why cats eat grass, when the behaviour is completely normal, and when it makes sense to keep a watchful eye on it.
The main reasons why cats chew on grass
There is not one single explanation, but several that work together. One of the most well-known is that grass can help the cat get rid of something it cannot digest. Cats are meticulous about their coat and lick themselves thoroughly, and during that process they swallow hair, which collects in the stomach. Grass can trigger a reaction that helps the cat bring it back up, which is why you sometimes see the cat regurgitating shortly after it has eaten grass. It looks dramatic, but it is a completely natural clean-up.
Another reason has to do with instinct and heritage. The cat's wild relatives ate whole prey, and with the prey came plant material from the animal's stomach contents. The urge to consume a bit of greenery therefore still lives in the modern house cat, even though it is served ready-made meals every day. Finally, curiosity and activity play a role. A blade of grass moving in the wind is something to hunt, something to chew on and a source of stimulation in an otherwise quiet everyday life indoors.
Is it dangerous when a cat eats grass?
For the vast majority of cats, chewing on a bit of grass is quite harmless, and it is nothing you need to worry about. It only becomes a problem if the grass has been sprayed with fertiliser or weed killers, or if the cat gets hold of plants that are toxic to cats. Many popular indoor and garden plants are poorly tolerated by cats, which is why it is a good idea to know your green plants if your cat is the type that likes to taste everything. If you want to give your cat something safe to chew on, you can grow special cat grass indoors, so you know exactly what it is getting hold of.
At the same time, be mindful of the balance. A cat that takes the occasional bite of grass now and then is behaving completely normally. A cat that suddenly devours large amounts of grass, regurgitates frequently, seems lethargic or changes its appetite, on the other hand, is telling you something different. At that point it is no longer about normal behaviour, and then it is your vet who should assess what lies behind it. ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers can help you understand behaviour around food, but when it comes to health and symptoms, the vet is the right person.
Can grass-eating be due to something missing from the meals?
It is a widespread assumption that cats eat grass because they lack nutrition, but that explanation rarely holds up. Grass-eating is seen in well-fed cats just as often as in others, and it is therefore not in itself a sign that the bowl is put together incorrectly. On the other hand, it is a good occasion to look at what you are actually serving your cat every day. A cat is a distinctly carnivorous animal, and its body is designed to get most of its energy and its building blocks from animal ingredients.
That is why it matters how the meals are composed. ESSENTIAL FOODS' cat universe is built around the cat's natural needs, and you will find the ready-made meals gathered in our cat food. These are meals with a high proportion of animal ingredients, prepared from fresh raw materials and human-grade ingredients, so your cat gets a nutritional profile that suits its nature. It is not about choosing between cheap and fine, because all our cat meals are premium. What you choose between is taste, ingredients, life stage and your cat's own preferences.
How to find meals that match your cat's nature
When the body gets the right raw materials in a form it is made to digest, your cat gets a solid foundation in everyday life, and you can safely let it chew a bit of grass as a natural bonus. For the adult cat you can look at the Panther, while the fussy or more delicate cat often thrives with the Jaguar. If you have a kitten or a younger cat with a high activity level, the little lion is composed with exactly that appetite and energy need in mind.
If your cat prefers a softer consistency, or you want to vary everyday life, our THE LITTLE LION PÂTÉ, 12 PCS is a chef-prepared meal in PÂTÉ form that many cats throw themselves at. If you live with a meals for senior cats cat in the golden years, you will find meals adapted to the senior cat's everyday life and wellbeing. Whichever meal suits best, you can get help with the choice from ESSENTIAL FOODS' nutrition advisers, who are ready on the phone, chat or email and can guide you based on your cat's age, taste and needs.
Give your cat something to chew on instead of the household plants
If you would rather steer clear of the cat attacking the potted plants, you can meet the urge in a safe way. Grow cat grass in a pot that the cat can freely chew from, and provide activities that use the hunting and chewing instinct. A cat that has something to do less often seeks out plants out of sheer boredom, and here both play and treats come into play. If you want to spoil your cat with something it can sink its teeth into, cat delights is designed precisely for the cat, with small bites in a size that suits its mouth and appetite.
What ties it all together is an everyday life where your cat gets meals that match its nature, room to unfold its instincts, and a watchful eye from you, who knows your cat best. If it eats a bit of grass now and then, it is usually just a cat being a cat. If the behaviour changes markedly, or your concern grows, it is the vet who should take a closer look at it, while we stand ready to help you with everything to do with feeding and the right meals.