Why do cats eat flowers?
In this cat blog, we will answer the main query, “Why do cats eat flowers?” we will also discuss the reasons for cats consuming flowers, the dangers of consuming flowers, and how you can prevent your cat from eating flowers.
Why do cats eat flowers?
Cats eat flowers because of the following reasons:
- Cats like the taste of flowers.
- Cats like the smell of flowers.
- Cats are bored.
- Cats are hungry.
These and many more reasons could be possibly affecting the behavior of your cat.
What are the reasons cats eat flowers?
Following are the reasons for cats consuming flowers:
Cats are hungry
The first thing is the most basic reason, which is hunger. Hungry cats consume everything they find easy to eat. Flowers and other plants are present in every home and cats are attracted to them when they feel hungry.
Boredom hits cats
Boredom is the reason for many abnormal behaviors in your cat. Cats are active animals and they always like to engage in some activity. If they do not find any enrichment, the boredom will hit them and they will start consuming flowers and doing other things such as eating paper.
Cats love to explore
The next thing is cats love to explore their surroundings and the best way is to sniff and taste the things around them. The taste of the flowers is appealing to your cat so your cats start eating your flowers.
Cats like the smell of flowers
The next thing is the cats like the smell of flowers. The smell of flowers attracts the cat into the house to explore this beautiful part of the plant.
There are flowers that are dangerous for your cat to consume so you need to make sure your cat doesn’t hold on to those flowers.
What are the major threats of consuming flowers for your cat?
Following are the threats of consuming flowers for your cat:
Stomach upset in cats
The first thing is the stomach upset in your cat. It is due to consuming more and more flowers which the cat’s stomach is not able to digest. Cats are obligate carnivores, they like to take protein from the animal source and are not specialized in digesting plants and plant parts.
Following are the clinical signs of stomach upset in your cat:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain
Mouth lesions in your cat
The next thing is the mouth lesions in cats. Certain plants have spines on the body which can cause mouth lesions in your cat. Mouth lesions can prove dangerous as they can damage the teeth and your cat will not be able to eat anything.
Choking in cats
The spinous plants can cause choking in your cat because the spines can get stuck in the esophagus of the body. They can also rupture the esophagus of the body.
Following are the major clinical signs of choking in your cat:
- Decreased appetite
- Expanded esophagus
- Difficulty in breathing
- Unable to vomit
- Head towards the ground
The spines can rupture the esophagus of the body which can lead to hemorrhages in the esophagus of the body.
Intestinal obstruction in cats
The next thing is an intestinal obstruction in your cat which can cause enteritis in your cat. The spins of the flowers can be stuck in the intestine as it is narrower than the esophagus of the body.
Following are the major clinical signs of intestinal blockage in your cat:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Pawing at abdomen
- Enteritis
- Painful abdomen
- Weakness
- Lethargy
The next thing is the intestinal rupture in your cat. Rupturing the intestine will cause peritonitis in your cat. Peritonitis is the inflammation of the body. This is extremely dangerous as it can cause the death of your cat.
How can you prevent your cat from eating flowers?
Following are the ways by which you can prevent your cat from eating your flowers:
- The flowers should be kept in a place where your cat cannot reach them.
- The flowers should be enclosed so that your cat’s paws do not reach the flowers of your home.
- The next thing is the use of cat repellent, as they can keep the cats away from the flowers. The most common cat repellent is a lemon spray which can keep the cats away from flowers.
- The last thing is to provide adequate food along with enrichment to your cat so your cat is not attracted to the flowers at home.
Conclusion
In this cat blog, we entertained our important question, “Why do cats eat flowers?” we also discussed the reasons for cats consuming flowers, the dangers of consuming flowers for cats, and how you can prevent your cat from eating flowers.
References
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.pawtracks.com/cats/cats-eating-flowers/%3famp
https://www.greatpetcare.com/wellness/10-flowers-that-are-poisonous-to-cats/
