Ill after eating grass

IMPORTANT: If your cat is in any distress or discomfort, please consult your own vet as your first priority.
Post Reply
pricey42
Frequent Cat Chatter
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 1:09 pm

Ill after eating grass

Post by pricey42 »

Hello,

My cat was eating a lot of grass today and was sick a lot. This evening she's off her food and very quiet. Has anyone experienced this with their babies?

Thanks in advance x
User avatar
Mollycat
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 2705
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:58 am
No. of cats in household: 1
Location: UK

Re: Ill after eating grass

Post by Mollycat »

It's completely normal for cats to eat grass and common for them to be sick, but a little more unusual for them to do it several times in a day or to be quiet afterwards.

Firstly. people tell you cats eat grass to make themselves sick. This is not true. The natural oils in grass help keep the digestion going smoothly, they don't get much nutrition out of it because their gut can't break it down so it comes out the other end pretty much intact. The drive to eat grass is strong and it's important for their well-being, so indoor cats should be provided with grass.

If you grow cat grass and your cat eats that, it has less chance of bringing it up than the rough outdoor grass that can have chemicals and untold different dog urine on it. Or if it doesn't get grass very often and gorges (mine often do this if they have been without for a few days) it might bring it all up. All this is normal.

But it does sound like there might be something going on here, has she brought up a furball recently? I would keep an eye on her and see how she is tomorrow. They always do these things on a weekend don't they!
pricey42
Frequent Cat Chatter
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 1:09 pm

Re: Ill after eating grass

Post by pricey42 »

Yes always a weekend!

She has bought up fur but usually after eating grass and being sick she's not like this. I was at work and my partner said that she ate a lot of it. She's purring and responding when I tickle her under her chin but other than that she's extremely quiet and weak.

Im not sure if this makes a difference but she is mainly an indoor cat so doesn't eat it often.

I'll definitely take her to the vets if she's not right in the morning.
Thank you x
pricey42
Frequent Cat Chatter
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 1:09 pm

Re: Ill after eating grass

Post by pricey42 »

Morning,

Well she's definitely brighter. Crying at me as usual and up when I came downstairs but still not interested in food even ham or cheese which is her favourites. I think I'll wait today and see if she eats as generally she seems better x
User avatar
Mollycat
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 2705
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:58 am
No. of cats in household: 1
Location: UK

Re: Ill after eating grass

Post by Mollycat »

Glad she's a little better but do keep an eye on her. I would say (only from looking at mine) that being mainly indoor and not having grass often would make her more likely to gorge. Apparently you can get grass tablets for them - I just pick a handful and bring it but hey!

Hopefully she was just feeling a little under the weather and ate some grass to self medicate and will get back to her normal self very soon.
pricey42
Frequent Cat Chatter
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 1:09 pm

Re: Ill after eating grass

Post by pricey42 »

Thank you. She is drinking water, has followed me into the garden (tried to eat more grass) and was rolling around. She has eaten a tiny bit now so am hoping she'll eat more later.

I did ring the vets and they said if she isn't still being sick then just to keep an eye on her.

X
pricey42
Frequent Cat Chatter
Posts: 29
Joined: Thu Dec 15, 2016 1:09 pm

Re: Ill after eating grass

Post by pricey42 »

Well ruby is totally back to normal so I think it must have been something she ate in the garden or the fact she ate so much.

:D
User avatar
Mollycat
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 2705
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2019 10:58 am
No. of cats in household: 1
Location: UK

Re: Ill after eating grass

Post by Mollycat »

Good so pleased to hear it! Or she could have felt a little off and that's why she ate so much, maybe!
vanilla
VIP Cat Chatter!
Posts: 167
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2017 9:43 am

Re: Ill after eating grass

Post by vanilla »

I grow cat grass for my cat as he's scared of going outside. I noticed that the grass doesn't last very long when I let them help themselves. Now I just cut off the grass as near to the bottom as possible, after letting it grow to maximum height, then i just snip it into tiny 5mm pieces on top of their wet food. Grass garnish! They love it and eat it all up when mixed in with the wet food. I haven't seen a hairball since and poos aren't so smelly. Must be good for the gut, like us eating out veggies. :lol:
Hipkit
Frequent Cat Chatter
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2014 11:52 pm

Re: Ill after eating grass

Post by Hipkit »

All cats do this. My cats eat grass for England! Sometimes they use it to help them to expel a furball. If your cat is making coughing like actions before being sick, as though trying to make herself sick, I'd try giving some oily fish, like sardines in oil. It will help to process the stuck fur.

It's unwise to give ham to a cat. I've read that the additives/preservatives can be toxic.
Post Reply