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.