Why cats and dogs eat grass.
by Elizabeth Heffron

Why do cats eat grass?

A number of customers have asked me why cats eat grass if they are obligate carnivores. Well, I just figured it was because they like it, what more reason do you need?  Well, that may very well be a reason.

I found different theories but the most common one was that grass helps cats pass indigestible matter. Grass is indigestible to cats and has little nourishment. Grass triggers regurgitation of undigested matter, which brings up the undigested food or other things and the grass. This will also help in the removal of fur balls which could otherwise obstruct their digestive system and require surgical removal.

Another theory I found was that eating grass was a way for them to get trace minerals like vitamins A and D. It also contains chlorophyll which is a natural remedy for removing toxins from the body. If your cat is unable to get access to grass he may attempt to eat your
house plants instead. If you have house plants and your cats have been eating them, make sure they are not poisonous to them. The following link shows you all the plants that are toxic to cats and dogs:
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/plants/plants-by-scientific-name.html

Give your cats a safe supply of wheat grass or barley to nibble on instead of your house plants and lawns that have been sprayed with pesticides.

Why do dogs eat grass?

There are a number of theories for this question as well. One is that when wild dogs or wolves ate their prey they ate the whole animal including the grasses and plants that were in the intestines of the animals. So it might just be naturally part of their diet.

Another theory is that dogs will eat grass if they have an upset stomach to make them vomit. I have seen this first had so I believe this to be true. One morning, Luke didn’t seem like he was feeling very well. As I was watching him, he went out the doggie door and started munching on some grass; not one minute later he was vomiting. He seemed fine after that.

And finally, they may just like the taste. Be aware of the grass that they are eating because they may contain pesticides that can be poisonous. Add vegetables to their food for that will give them some of the greens they might be craving.