Data for Characteristics of Plant Eating in Domestic Cats

Plant eating by domestic cats interests veterinarians and
cat owners. As
more cats are
living totally indoors, grass gardens are commonly provided to cats, addressing cats’ needs for plant eating. Two surveys of cat
owners were launched, testing important questions regarding plant eating, that plant eating: 1) is a response to the
cat feeling ill; 2) induces vomiting; 3) is a means of expelling hair balls
from consumed hair. Based on observations of wild felids, plant eating may reflect
an innate predisposition acquired from the ancestral cat. This study found that
very few cats showed signs of illness before eating plants. However, 27 to 37
percent of cats frequently vomited after eating grass; this suggests that
gastrointestinal disturbance may be related to vomiting afterwards in some cats.
Young cats consumed plants more frequently than older cats. Young cats also
appeared ill and vomited less frequently than older cats in association with
plant eating. Short-haired cats ate
plants as frequently as long-haired cats, suggesting that plant eating is not
for expelling hairballs. Some guidelines for cat owners with indoor cats are provided.