Be careful. They can get parasites from some bugs such as moths "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote:
>My cats will eat bugs after they are done chasing and torturing them. I >assumed it was because their instinct tells them to devour their prey. It's >disgusting. I have to turn away. > >sent from my AT&T Smartphone by HTC > >----- Reply message ----- >From: "dlgegg" <[email protected]> >Date: Sat, Jul 9, 2011 3:33 pm >Subject: [Felvtalk] Why do cats eat grass? >To: <[email protected]> > >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 <[email protected]> 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> . >> > >_______________________________________________ >Felvtalk mailing list >[email protected] >http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list [email protected] http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
