HELP! My Cat Loves Eating Grass, But It Makes Her Vomit! (Vet Answered)
This question has been answered by a vet
Veterinarian & Animal Behaviorist
With nearly two decades in veterinary medicine, Dr. Paola brings hands-on experience across multiple species. A graduate of the University of Guadalajara, she specializes in preventive care, animal welfare, and positive reinforcement training.
The Question
“Dear Dr Paola,
My 9-year-old cat, Bhelpuri, loves to munch on kitty grass when we go out for supervised garden time each day. More often than not, she will throw it up minutes later. She is in all other ways healthy, so I’m curious if this is something beneficial to her, or if I should remove the grass, even though she loves to chomp on it. Thanks!”
– Duncan
Quick Info about Bhelpuri
Dear Duncan,
What you’re describing is actually quite common in cats. Many cats seem to enjoy chewing grass, and some will vomit shortly afterward. We do not have definitive evidence that cats eat grass specifically to induce vomiting, but it appears to be a normal feline behavior. Think of it a bit like a person enjoying a particular crunchy snack. The behavior itself is not necessarily a sign that something is wrong. The blades of grass can sometimes irritate the stomach lining or tickle the back of the throat, which may trigger vomiting soon after ingestion.
If Bhelpuri is otherwise healthy, maintaining her weight, eating normally, and showing no other digestive signs, I would not be overly concerned. However, because she vomits “more often than not” after eating grass, it may be worth limiting the amount available during garden time rather than removing it entirely. Offering a small patch of safe, untreated cat grass and discouraging large binges may help. If the vomiting becomes more frequent, occurs when she has not eaten grass, or is accompanied by changes in appetite, weight, energy level, or stool quality, a veterinary examination would be warranted.
For now, Bhelpuri sounds like a cat who may simply enjoy her garden salad a little too enthusiastically!
Kind regards,
– Dr. Paola