Can cats eat wheatgrass?
This cat blog will answer the major question, “Can cats eat wheatgrass?” we will also cover the health benefits of consuming wheatgrass for your cat, the health hazards of consuming wheatgrass for your cat, and how much wheatgrass is safe for your cat.
Can cats eat wheatgrass?
Yes, cats can eat wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is healthy and safe for your cat as it has several vitamins such as vitamin A, C, B, and E. It also has several other nutrients such as selenium, fiber, and immune boosters. There are a few hazards of consuming wheatgrass such as indigestion and toxicity in your cat.
What are the health benefits of consuming wheatgrass for your cat?
Following are the health benefits of consuming wheatgrass for your cat:
Vitamins
Following are the essential vitamins in wheatgrass:
- The first vitamin is vitamin A which acts as an immune booster and is also important for the health of the vision. Vitamin A also acts as an antioxidant agent and kills the reactive species in the body which are capable of causing oxidative damage to the health of the cells.
- The next vitamins are the B vitamins which are important for the health of the digestive system, nervous system, and urinary system. B vitamins also help in converting food into energy which is the main function of B vitamins in the body.
- The next vitamin is vitamin C which is not important for your cat because the vitamin C is already synthesized in the body of your cat. Although Vitamin C acts as an immune booster in the body and also captures free radicals which are responsible for the damage of important organs like the liver and heart.
- The next vitamin is vitamin E which helps to improve fertility and also reduce the aging process of the body. Vitamin E also acts as an antioxidant agent in the body which prevents many deadly conditions like cancer.
Selenium
The mineral in the wheatgrass is selenium which helps to improve the health of the immune system and also improves the joint health of the body.
Fiber
The next nutrient is the fiber in the wheatgrass. Fiber is important for bowel movements in the body. Healthy bowel movements can prevent constipation in the body.
Fiber also plays an important role in controlling unhealthy weight gain in the body. Unhealthy weight gain can lead to heart disease and pancreatitis. Fiber limits food intake which helps to lower the blood sugar level in the body.
Chewing
Chewing is the natural habit of your cat. Chewing on the wheatgrass gives your cat a soothing effect. It also keeps the teeth of the cat clean.
The tooth health can be maintained by giving wheatgrass to your cat. The wheatgrass helps to remove dental tartar.
What are the health hazards of consuming wheatgrass?
Following are the health hazards of consuming wheatgrass:
Indigestion
The first thing is the indigestion of wheatgrass. The indigestion is due to the fact that the cats are obligate carnivores and they’re not good at digesting plant material.
Following are the major clinical signs of indigestion in your cat:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Restlessness
- Weakness
Gluten allergy
The next thing is gluten allergy. Wheat has the main compound called gluten. The cats are not good at digesting gluten. Gluten can also cause an allergic reaction in the body of your cat. Following are the clinical signs of gluten allergy in your cat:
- Rashes on the skin
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Irritation
- Itching
- Breathing problems
Obstruction
The next deadly thing is intestinal obstruction due to consuming more and more wheatgrass. Wheatgrass needs to be consumed in small amounts. But if your cat happens to consume more and more wheatgrass, it can lead to intestinal obstruction in your cat.
The solution to intestinal obstruction is the surgical removal of the foreign body from the intestine of your cat.
How much wheatgrass is healthy for your cat?
You can give a small amount of wheatgrass daily to your cat. The amount of wheatgrass can be calculated according to the weight of your cat. You just need to know that wheatgrass is a plant and cats need an animal source to survive.
If you give too much wheatgrass this will do more harm than good, so you need to be careful about it.
The next thing is you should give wheatgrass when your cat seems bored as it can refresh the mood of the cat.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we answered the main query, “Can cats eat wheatgrass?” we also covered the health benefits of consuming wheatgrass for your cat, the health hazards of consuming wheatgrass for your cat, and how much wheatgrass is safe for your cat.
