A recent study looked at this puzzling behavior by surveying cat owners who could regularly observe their pets. The researchers wanted to figure out if there were clear reasons why cats munch on plants, even when they don’t seem to need them for food. They tested three major ideas:
Hypothesis 1: Cats might eat plants when they feel sick, hoping to trigger vomiting and feel better. Hypothesis 2: Plant eating should cause vomiting shortly after the behavior. Hypothesis 3: Long-haired cats might eat plants more often to help purge hair they swallow during grooming.The study also considered other things like whether the cat lived strictly indoors, how many cats lived in the home, and whether the cats were neutered.
Surprising Findings:
Most cats did not show signs of being sick before eating plants.
Vomiting after eating plants wasn’t as common as expected.
Long-haired cats didn’t seem more likely than short-haired cats to eat plants.
Since none of these ideas were strongly supported, the researchers explored a bigger theory: plant eating may actually be an instinct inherited from wild ancestors, meant to help cleanse their bodies of intestinal parasites. Even though modern house cats (thankfully) aren’t usually full of parasites, the instinct might still linger today!
What This Means for Cat Owners:
If your healthy cat occasionally nibbles on greenery (especially safe plants like cat grass), it’s probably nothing to worry about. However, you should always be careful with houseplants — some can be toxic to cats. It's a good idea to keep only cat-safe plants at home if you have a curious nibbler!
Discussion Starter:
Does your cat love to chew on plants? Do they have a favorite? Have you ever noticed if they act differently before or after plant-eating?Share your stories below — let's swap some cat tales!
