Can Cats Eat Ornamental Grass?

Some cats vomit after eating grass.

Cats thrive on a carnivorous diet, but some cats also like to eat greens in the form of ornamental grass. So long as the grass is clean and eaten in moderation, it will not hurt your cat.

Reasons

Cats do not need to eat grass to fulfill any nutritional requirement, so ornamental grass will not improve your cat's health. Some cats just enjoy eating grass, perhaps because of its flavor or texture, according to "It's a Cat's World," a guide to cat ownership.

Issues

Cats can have difficulty digesting ornamental grass. It can irritate a cat's stomach lining, causing vomiting. If a cat eats a large amount of grass, it could experience constipation as the grass becomes impacted within its digestive system, according to "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook."

Considerations

If your cat enjoys eating ornamental grass, you can grow a small amount in a pot for it to enjoy. This is safer than allowing it to eat grass outside, which might be treated with fertilizer or weed killer, both of which are health hazards for cats.

References

• "It's a Cat's World"; Justine A. Lee; 2008
• "Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook"; Debra Eldredge, Delbert G. Carlson, Liisa D. Carlson, Beth Adelman; 2007