Cats eat grass for several common reasons related to their health and instinctive behavior. Primarily, grass can help cats improve digestion and relieve constipation by acting as a natural laxative to help pass indigestible materials like hairballs, feathers, or bones they may have eaten. Grass also provides some essential nutrients, such as folic acid, which cats might not get sufficiently from their regular diet. Additionally, eating grass can help cats expel intestinal parasites, a behavior rooted in their evolutionary history from wild ancestors. Sometimes, cats eat grass to induce vomiting to clear their stomachs of indigestible or irritating material. It is normal for many cats to eat grass occasionally and not a cause for concern unless they eat too frequently or vomit blood, which may indicate an underlying health issue. Common risks include exposure to pesticides or toxic plants, so providing safe alternatives like indoor cat grass can be helpful. Eating grass can also be a calming or stress-relieving activity for cats. In summary, cats eat grass to aid digestion, obtain nutrients, expel parasites, and sometimes to vomit to clear their stomachs, and this behavior comes naturally from their wild ancestors' instincts.
