On the lighter side, I have seen them eat grasshppers and crickets. That I don't see much reason for. They get their protein from their food and it doesn't have scratchy legs to deal with.
---- Natalie <at...@optonline.net> wrote: > > > Why Do Cats Eat Grass? > > > By Kathy Blumenstock, Animal Planet > > How often have you seen your cat happily chewing on blades of fresh green > grass, and wondered why? You dish up the choicest cat food and offer gourmet > treats, yet given the chance, Kitty chows down on the lawn as if she's a > snacking racehorse. But there's little need to fret over the appeal of the > feline salad bar, even when she throws it all up. > > Grazing in the Grass > > The juices in grass contain folic acid, a vitamin essential to a cat's > well-being. Folic acid, also present in the mother cat's milk, aids the > production of oxygen in the cat's bloodstream. A folic acid deficiency may > lead to anemia, and a young cat's growth can be stunted if she doesn't get > enough of it. Do cats instinctively know they're deficient in folic acid and > nibble grass to right the situation? Even experts can only guess. For a cat > who never goes outdoors, folic acid supplements are available, to be added > to your cat's food. Your vet can advise whether your cat can benefit from > these. > > That Laxative Appeal > > Since cats themselves can't say, experts theorize that cats eat grass as a > natural laxative. It may add fiber and bulk to their diet, helping them pass > worms or fur through their intestinal tract. If broader-leafed varieties > offer a laxative effect, thinner-leafed grass induces cats to vomit. But > veterinarians stop short of declaring grass necessary. It may assist in > clearing things out, but healthy cats are able to process and pass matter > out without this help. Some experts believe cats eat grass to settle their > stomachs, much as humans pop an antacid tablet. Others say cats simply like > the texture and taste of grass, no matter what its properties do for their > insides. > > Heave-Ho > > After munching away on grass, a short time later, cats inevitably upchuck > those greens. Not because they're gagging on the veggie flavor. It's because > cats' systems do not have the correct enzymes to digest plant matter. By > regurgitating grass, the cat also expels other indigestible items she may > have eaten - which could include fur balls from grooming, or feathers and > bones from any prey she has consumed. Clearing her digestive tract this way > is healthy for the cat. It alleviates any feeling of discomfort, even if the > process, and its end-products, may repulse her owner. So don't punish your > cat for upchucking! > > Healthy Habit or Dangerous Delicacy? > > While eating grass may seem unappealing to you, many cats love it and it's > not generally harmful to them. They rarely eat more than occasional small > amounts, but if yours eats it daily or in large amounts, that could indicate > intestinal distress that should be addressed by your vet. If your cat is an > indoor-outdoor pet, supervise her grazing when you take her outside. Keep > her away from grass or plants that have been chemically treated and always > use pet-friendly lawn treatment or fertilizers. If your cat is outside most > of the time, she could ingest toxic, pesticide-tainted grass - another good > reason to keep your cat indoors > <http://www.care2.com/greenliving/bringing-an-outdoor-cat-inside.html> . > > Growing your Own > > If your cat seems to enjoy the taste and texture of grass, give her a small > grazing area of her own in your home. So-called feline herbs or > greens-usually wheat > <http://www.care2.com/greenliving/wheat-grass-decorative-kitty-treat.html> > or oat grass - come pre-packaged at pet supply stores, as seeds or in > pre-spouted form. Cats generally prefer this to regular grass and you can be > sure it hasn't been treated. Fresh catnip is also easy to grow, and > obviously gets cats' approval and attention. Set Kitty's private planter in > a favorite spot that's easily accessible. You'll know she's enjoying fresh, > safe greens. You'll also know when she's consumed them, thanks to the sound > of feline retching that follows. > > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
