There are many reasons why cats might start eating plants. However, if you are concerned about your cat’s behavior, you may want to consult your veterinarian first.
As a cat owner, you may want to think about placing your plants in areas where your cat can’t get at them. You can also make your plant smell unpleasant so that your kitty won’t want to eat it.
They’re bored
Many animals, including dogs and cats, eat plants. They may do so for a variety of reasons, from boredom to hunger, to a need for fiber or nutrients.
For instance, dog’s eat grass to settle an upset stomach and cats chew on plant leaves for the crunch or to relieve stress and anxiety.
Some plant poisoning is a risk for cats, but most plants are safe for them to consume in small amounts.
If your cat is eating plants because they’re bored, try playing with them more often or providing them with new toys. This will provide the stimulation they need, and they’ll probably leave your houseplants alone.
Other tactics to discourage chomping include spraying the plants with water diluted with citrus solutions (lemon, lime, or orange juice) and putting aluminum foil around the base of the plant. However, these will only stop the behavior when they’re in the room. If you punish them when they’re not, they will associate the punishment with you – and that could make the behavior worse!
They’re sick
Ingesting non-digestible plants by dogs and cats has piqued the interest of many caregivers. A few possible theories have been offered to explain this behavior.
One is that plant eating may induce vomiting if a cat is sick or suffering from gastroenteric discomfort. This idea has been supported in recent surveys involving a large sample of cat owners.
Interestingly, plant eating was more commonly reported in the youngest cats (1 year of age) than in older cats. The younger cats also ate non-grass plants more frequently than grass.
These findings support the hypothesis that some cats eat plants to purge their ingested hair and to help expel hair balls. This theory is supported by observations that long-haired cats eat more plant hair than short-haired cats.
They’re hungry
Cats are carnivores, and they hunt prey as a way to keep their energy levels high. If they waited until they were hungry, they could run out of food before finding their next meal, which would lead to starvation.
That said, cats also need to eat a diet rich in protein, which they can only get from meat, fish, and eggs. A well-balanced diet can ensure that your pet is getting all of the amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and micronutrients they need.
Some experts believe that plant-eating behavior in domestic cats is an innate predisposition to purge or “scour” the intestinal system of worms, a natural habit that may have been passed down from their wild ancestors. Whether this is the case or not, it still makes sense to avoid feeding your cat any plants that are non-digestible.
They’re curious
When they’re bored, cats can turn to anything that seems to be interesting. This can include plants. They’ll investigate them, chew on them, or eat them if they’re tasty enough.
If you have a plant with dangling vines, for example, that could be a very tempting treat to a cat. They can see those tender, green shoots swinging gently with a breeze and just can’t resist them!
This behavior is also common in dogs and has long piqued human curiosity. But there’s some evidence that suggests cats eat plants for a different reason. They’ll eat them to help their digestion, acting as a laxative and killing any parasites that may be lurking in their stomach.