If you’ve ever taken your cat outside to play in the grass and watch the birds, they probably ignored the sun and the birds and went straight for the tasty grass.
For cats, this is entirely typical behavior. Your cat is predisposed to this behavior.
Have no fear; feeding your cat cat grass is perfectly fine. Cat grass provides numerous advantages for your feline friend.
Indoor cats can get the same health benefits from cat grass as their outdoor counterparts by having it grown specifically for them.
Read on to find out how to grow cat grass indoors without risking the health of your cat.
What Is Cat Grass?
Cat grass refers to a group of grasses that are popular among feline snackers. The most nutritious kinds are usually cereal grain grasses like:
- Oat
- Wheat
- Barley
- Rye
- Alfalfa
Catnip and cat grass are two entirely different things. Cats’ behavior can be altered by catnip, a plant in the mint family. Not even cat grass.
Benefits of Cat Grass
Although they are obligate carnivores, cats occasionally enjoy a salad of cat grasses. Your cat will love eating them, and you’ll both reap the health benefits they provide.
1. Hairball Removal
You know how horrible it is to see your long-haired cat (or short-haired cat prone to hairballs) try to cough up hair if you have one.
The high fiber content of cat grass aids in the digestion and elimination of hairballs.
2. Indigestion Relief
Cat grass is also useful for settling an upset stomach.
The natural instinct of cats to graze on grass in the wild may have evolved so that they can more easily vomit up the indigestible parts of the small animals they eat.
Hair, bones, and feathers are indigestible to cats, but high-fiber grass aids in their elimination.
3. Laxative
Cat grass can induce vomiting and also have a laxative effect on felines. This can make sure that they aren’t having any problems with digestion or elimination.
4. Mental Stimulation
Most cats really enjoy playing. The unique form and feel of the grass piques your cat’s interest and piques their natural hunting drive. If your cat is bored, try giving it some cat grass to chew on.
5. Prevents Parasites
Parasites in cats are another thing cat grass can help with. Parasites may be wrapped up in the grass and then either vomited out or released in the stool. This is one way that cats get rid of worms on their own.
6. Vitamins and Minerals
Last but not least, the vitamins and minerals that your cat needs can be found in abundance in cat grass. In particular, cat grass is rich in:
- Three essential vitamins: A, B, and D
- Sodium Folate
- Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll has additional benefits, including reducing bad breath in cats.
Why Do Cats Like Cat Grass?
Cats have been observed nibbling on grass, including cat grass, for reasons that remain mysterious despite extensive study.
It was once thought that when a cat was sick, eating grass would help them feel better. Nonetheless, research1has called into question this assumption.
A survey of cat owners found that 65 percent of felines regularly consume plant matter.
The owners of only 6% of these animals reported feeling unwell prior to eating the plant, while 37% of those animals reported frequently throwing up afterward.
Since 94% of the cats in the survey appeared to be fine before eating anything, this would imply that cats don’t eat plants, including cat grass, to feel better.
. It has been hypothesized that eating cat grass can aid in the passing of hairballs. Would giving a long-haired cat, which is more likely to eat grass, help it cough up a hairball if it did make it sick?
This idea was investigated alongside whether or not grass-eating by cats helped their stomachs.
However, they discovered no distinction in vomiting rates between cats with long and short hair.
Some people have speculated that ingesting grass could help them manage and eliminate intestinal parasites.
Research conducted in Belgium2examined many species of wild canines and other canids as well as several species of wildcats such as lynx, cougars, pumas, and leopards.
This research confirmed that grass-eating was not limited to domestic cats, but was present even in wild felines.
Growing Cat Grass
It is best to feed your cat grasses grown in your own home if you intend to make grass a regular part of their diet.
Yard grass is vulnerable to contamination from harmful chemicals and pesticides. Also, if you grow grass indoors, your cat is less likely to ingest anything harmful.
Growing cat grass requires little effort. Grass can be easily grown at home with the help of a kit available at most pet stores.
The grass should be planted in the provided container. You should give it the recommended amount of water.
It will take about 10-14 days for the grass to mature enough for your cat to eat after the seeds have sprouted.
The grass should have reached a height of four inches by then. The grass can remain in the pot at all times. Instead, serve your cat from the dish itself.
Keep an eye out for mold between 1 and 3 weeks, but otherwise the grass should be fine. It’s time to replace the grass if it turns brown and wilted or if mold starts to grow on it.
Where Can You Purchase Cat Grass?
It’s not hard to track down some cat grass. You can buy it in small trays from nurseries or from pet supply stores.
Keep in mind that “wheat grass,” ”barley grass,” ”alfalfa grass,” ”rye grass,” etc. can all be types of cat grass.
You can also buy cat grass seeds and grow it at home. These seeds might not even be sold as cat grass, but rather as wheat, barley, alfalfa, or rye.
Where Can You Plant Cat Grass?
Growing cat grass is as simple as planting seeds in a pot or soil in your garden. Plant the seeds in the ground or move a healthy clump of cat grass from a pot into the soil if you want to grow it outside. I
If you’re starting from seed indoors, you can plant at any time. They need to be sown 1/4 inch deep and the soil must be kept moist.
The seedlings should emerge after a week or two. At this point, you should keep them where they will receive consistent exposure to sunlight. Planting cat grass outside requires full sun and should be done in the spring.
Why Is It Better For Cats to Eat Cat Grass Than Regular Grass?
There are a few reasons why cat grass is preferable to lawn grass for your cat to nibble on. Your cats could get sick if they accidentally ate any of the pesticides you use on your lawn.
Your cat may ingest parasites or come into contact with fleas and ticks if it likes to nibble on lawn grass.
This could also be the case if your feline friend enjoys nibbling on cat grass or any other outdoor plants.
If you don’t want your cat eating the plants in your yard, you can either bring in some clippings and wash them before giving them to your cat, or you can plant some cat grass in a pot and bring it inside.
No one knows for sure why cats enjoy eating cat grass, but it’s not dangerous for them to do so. It could serve as a nice addition to their decor.
Conclusion
When cats eat cat grass, it’s not because they’re sick and need to vomit, but rather because it’s a natural reaction to the taste.
The best way to make sure your cat isn’t ingesting any harmful chemicals is to grow it yourself. Try growing some cat grass for your cat as a simple and nutritious addition to their diet.