Characteristics of Plant Eating in Domestic Cats

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Plant eating by domestic cats is of interest to veterinarians and cat owners. Two surveys of cat owners were launched testing important questions regarding whether 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, it was also considered that 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, respectively in the two surveys, frequently vomited after eating plants; this indicates that gastrointestinal disturbance may be related to vomiting in some cats. Young cats consumed plants more frequently than older cats and 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. ABSTRACT: Plant eating by domestic cats is of interest to veterinarians and cat owners, especially with the current trend to keep cats totally indoors. Feline grass gardens are commonly provided to such cats as a reflection of cat owners believing in the need or desire of cats for eating plants. Two surveys with 1000 to 2000 returns from cat owners were launched over 10 years to test different hypotheses regarding plant eating. These hypotheses are 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. Additionally, a perspective acquired from observations of wild felids is that plant eating reflects an innate predisposition acquired from the ancestral cat. In this study, very few cats showed signs of illness before eating plants. However, 27 to 37 percent of cats, respectively in the two surveys, frequently vomited after eating plants, indicating that gastrointestinal disturbance may be related to vomiting in some cats. Young cats consumed plants more frequently than older cats and appeared ill and vomited less frequently in association with plant eating. Short-haired cats ate plants as frequently as long-haired cats, arguing against the hairball expelling hypothesis. Some guidelines for cat owners with indoor cats are provided.