Why are my cats eating charcoal and ashes?

[Denim Deb]

I've noticed that both Dust Bunny and Rerun will go to my ash bucket and take out a chuck of charcoal and eat it! And, while I haven't seen Dust Bunny do this, I have seen Rerun lick the ashes off of the trowel I use to take the ashes out of my wood stove. Any one have any idea why they'd be doing this?

 

[Wifezilla]

Maybe they needed a little more potassium? Calcium?

 

[freemotion]

Plants that have deep roots and are growing for a long time have more minerals.....kale and collards more than lettuce, and trees more than almost everything else. Burning the wood makes the nutrients available to many animals that might not ordinarily eat the leaves.

 

[Denim Deb]

Should I be worried, or add anything to their diet?

 

[big brown horse]

Charred wood is also a natural dewormer for livestock. My sheep have access to the fire pit (only wood is burned) and I often see them in there eating bits of charred wood and licking the ashes. I also toss chunks of charred wood to the pig too...he chews on it here and there.

Personally I wouldn't worry, but that is just me.

 

[SKR8PN]

Our 3 dogs fight over chucks of charcoal left over out of my smoker........

 

[freemotion]

I don't worry about it, either. I actually dump the ashes from my woodstove into the pasture or compost pile where the animals will have access to it.