Have you noticed your Bengal cat eating grass?
If so, you might be wondering if this is something safe and healthy for him/her to do.
You might wonder even more if you notice your Bengal cat chewing on grass and then vomiting/throwing up afterwards.
Just what exactly is the deal with your Bengal cat eating grass!? Do they eat it because they like the tase? Is it out of boredom or frustration? Maybe it’s like some kind of “natural drug” – just what is the truth about cats eating grass?
In this short article we are going to look at why your Bengal cat might decide to eat grass from time to time, and whether or not this behaviour is safe.
Eating Grass Is Normal Feline Behaviour
The first point to establish is that eating grass is totally normal and healthy feline behaviour.
According to PetMD, there is no evidence that eating grass is harmful for your cat or that it means your cat has a health problem – and in fact it could actually be good for your beloved pet.
Provided your cat isn’t eating grass all day every day, this behaviour really isn’t something to worry too much about.
But what exactly is the reason why your Bengal likes to chow down on grass from time to time?
Why Your Bengal Cat Is Eating Grass
From a scientific viewpoint, the jury is actually still out to some extent as to why cats eat grass.
There are a couple of prevailing theories:
- Juices in grass contain folic acid, which cats may struggle to get though their regular diet. Folic acid is important as it assists in the production of hemoglobin , which is essential for blood to move around the body correctly. Therefore, your Bengal cat may be eating grass to improve uptake of folic acid in the body. Basically, it may be that your Bengal cat eats grass out of physical necessity to ensure the proper “function” of the circulatory system.
- Grass acts as a sort of natural laxative/digestive. Your cat’s digestive system can’t break down everything he/she eats. This is a reason why cats have such a tendency to throw up fur balls etc. However, sometimes your cat can’t throw up whatever is causing them digestive distress – and grass may help him/her to pass it out the other end. Some also believe that cats may eat grass to induce vomiting if they want to throw something up before it passes through the digestive tract. Because cats are carnivores, they tend to wind up eating parts of their prey that they cannot properly digest.
If your Bengal cat is eating grass, you don’t need to worry about this being unhealthy/unsafe behaviour. The only exception here is if your Bengal cat is constantly eating grass – this may indicate some kind of digestive problem that you would want to get your vet to investigate further.
One other point to bear in mind: If you live in an apartment or other type of property where you Bengal isn’t able to go outside and get access to grass, then you might want to consider investing in a grass kit for your cat. This is like a miniature planter where you plant and grow grass seed, that your Bengal can come and snack on if/when desired. This will ensure your Bengal has access to grass if needed.
