Eating grass and plants is a relatively common behavior for cats, but theories as to why they do this vary widely. After interviewing more than 1,000 cat parents, researchers at UC Davis suggested that eating plants is instinctual and comes with an evolutionary benefit to felines. Their theory, as reported at the annual convention of the International Society for Applied Ethology in Bergen, Norway, is that eating grass helps animals expel intestinal parasites by increasing muscle activity in the digestive tract. For more about the study, visit Science Magazine.
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About the author
Ingrid King is an award-winning author, former veterinary hospital manager, and veterinary journalist who is passionate about cats.