Many people know how strong predators lions are. Like me, I’m sure you believe the same as well. These big cats are famous for being one of the strongest and dangerous animals around. For this reason, you probably won’t think they eat anything other than the meat of their prey. Thus, you’ll likely believe if I say they eat grass but do they? So, you may ask:
Do lions eat grass? Yes, lions do eat grass. Although they are strong predators, lions are omnivores, which means they eat meat and plants as food. Lions eat grass from time to time since it’s an available plant in the area. Moreover, the grass helps a lion with digestion should it have an upset stomach.
It may sound weird for lions to eat grass since they have a strong reputation for being dangerous predators that attack other animals. However, the grass is something beneficial for them as well. Thus, it comes as an essential source of food for them.
In this article, we’ll give you an in-depth explanation of lions and the necessity of grass for them. This way, you can understand this fact better and see how it makes sense.
Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
Can lions eat grass?
Lions can eat grass, and it’s typical food for these animals. As one of the dangerous predators in the wild, you’ll think that lions are nothing but the meat of their prey. However, that’s not entirely the case.
Lions belong to the feline family, and they do feed primarily on meat. However, they feed on grass from time to time for many reasons.
For instance, lions usually munch on grass as a remedy if they have an upset stomach. Due to eating the meat from its prey, an upset stomach happens all the time.
If such a thing happens, the fiber in the grass helps the digestive system of lions. It aids digestion and eases up any upset stomach.
The grass also helps lions if ever their stomach gets irritated. Munching on grass may cause vomiting, which is typical food they need to stop the irritation.
In a nutshell, lions can eat grass, and they do so all the time as it improves their digestion in many ways.
Why do lions eat grass?
As I said earlier, lions eat grass for many reasons. They usually feed on grass since it works as a remedy to an upset stomach.
Lions need to eat a lot due to their highly active life. Thus, they tend to eat quickly after hunting their prey. With such a lifestyle, an upset stomach can happen from time to time.
If lions suffer from a digestive issue, the grass helps because it is rich in fiber. This nutrient helps the digestive system of lions. It aids digestion and eases up any upset stomach.
This plant-based food also helps lions if ever their stomach gets irritated. Munching on grass may cause vomiting, which is what they need to stop the irritation.
Thus, grass forms part as a remedy and as a regular part of a lion’s diet. While lions don’t eat grass as often as meat, they still feed on it all the time as it improves their digestion in many ways.
How much grass do lions eat?
Lions are heavy eaters, and it’s because of their active lifestyle. However, when it comes to grass, they don’t eat it very often.
In general, a full-grown lion usually needs less than a quarter of its total weight. Thus, lions typically eat around 15-25 pounds of food per day.
As a member of the family of cats, they feed mainly on the meat of the prey they hunt. Since the grass is only a remedy, it doesn’t take much on their regular diet.
Lions may eat grass only when they’re experiencing an upset stomach or if they find it hard to digest their food.
Moreover, when they eat grass, it will usually only be a tiny amount. A lion’s stomach isn’t designed to digest plant-based food, especially in large amounts.
Thus, while they eat grass, it’s only a necessity to have digestive problems or issues.
What other big cats eat grass?
Lions are only one of the many members of the cat family. Since they come from the feline family, they primarily need meat to satisfy their needs. However, other members of this family also eat grass for the same reason.
Among the other big cats that eat grass are the following:
- Tigers
- Bobcats
- Domestic Cats
- Feral Cats
Other cats also munch on the grass to remedy their digestive issues. Like lions, other cats also lead an active lifestyle due to their aggressive hunting. Thus, with meat as their regular food, an upset stomach happens from time to time.
If cats suffer from a digestive issue, the grass helps because of its fiber. It aids digestion and eases up any upset stomach.
This plant-based food also helps if ever their stomach gets irritated. Munching on grass may cause vomiting, which is what lions need to stop the irritation.
In general, grass forms part of a remedy and a regular part of a lion’s diet. While lions don’t eat grass as often as meat, they still feed on it all the time as it improves their digestion in many ways.
Summary
So, do lions eat grass? Yes, they do. While lions eat the meat of their prey, they also much on grass from time to time. The grass is rich in fiber that helps them improve their digestion. It also relieves them from an upset stomach, and it can also cause vomiting if necessary.
While lions eat grass, they don’t eat much in large amounts. The most significant percentage of their diet is still meat. They only eat grass if they find it necessary to do so.
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Image credits – Canva
