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Trade Items With Other Players, Share Designs, And More! | Animal. Cat Grass Planting Cat parents, did you know that your little meat eater may like some vegetation in her diet? That's right, she may enjoy having cat grass. Despite being obligate carnivores (that is, they have to eat meat in order to get their necessary nutrients), cats like to munch on plants for a variety of reasons. But what is cat grass, you may be asking? And is it safe for my fur baby? It's always best to check with your vet before allowing your cat to feed on anything, but you can learn a little more about this interesting feline salad green.

What Is Cat Grass?

Cat grass is not a specific kind of plant, but a grass mixture that is grown from seeds, such as wheat, barley, oats or rye. It's not to be confused with the grass outdoors in your lawn, which has the potential to contain toxic pesticides. Cat grass is grown indoors specifically for household pets.

Another benefit of cat grass? It can be used as a deterrent, as Trupanion recommends. Having a tasty, dedicated cat snack can lure your pet away from other dangerous or delicate plants. If your kitty likes to chew on or tip over your houseplants, a cat grass garden is the perfect way to foil her antics.

Cat grass kits are more popular than ever. You can look for one at your local pet store, online, or even at your veterinarian's office. You can also create a DIY greens buffet for your kitty by purchasing your own seeds at the store — wheat berry is a popular suggestion. Just as you would when potting any plant, cover the seeds in soil and place the container in a sunny spot in your home, making sure to water it regularly (misting may help avoid overwatering). Your seeds will start to sprout in a few days and should be ready for consumption within two weeks. No need to transplant the grass into a dish. Your cat can graze directly from the garden pot.

Is Cat Grass Safe?

One long-standing cat myth is that cats only eat grass when they are sick, but research shows that this is not the case. In addition to providing enjoyment, cat grass benefits your kitty's life by helping her digestive system.

The grass contains folic acid, a vitamin that aids the bloodstream (and is commonly found in human breakfast cereal that includes the same grain mixture). Cat grass also works as a laxative to help push out hairballs or bits of food that she's ingested. However, because cats may eat excessively when they are sick, always check with your veterinarian to be sure there isn't an underlying medical reason for over-consumption of cat grass.

It's also important to keep your cat garden separate from any other houseplants. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides a comprehensive list of common household plants that are poisonous or irritating to cats and dogs. Keep philodendrons, aloe, parsley and other dangers on a high shelf or hanging pot she cannot reach, and place your cat grass in a spot low to the ground where kitty knows it's hers.

How Much Is Too Much?

It's a fact of life with cats that you'll clean up your share of hairballs, particularly if your cat is a long haired breed or sheds a lot. Cat grass will help this process along, especially if she eats a large quantity at one time. "After munching away on grass," notes Animal Planet, "a short time later, cats inevitably upchuck those greens." You cat will NOT barf every time she nibbles on her grass, but if she does, or if you see blades of grass in her vomit, it's probably a sign something needed to be unclogged.

There is no tried-and-true amount of grass that you should plant, but most experts, including the Burpee Seed Company, recommend planting about a handful of seeds at a time. If you have multiple cats, consider giving each cat her own patch of grass so that there's no competition.

When it comes down to it, is cat grass safe? Yes, especially if you take care to buy the appropriate kit or seeds and, as always, keep an eye on your cat's habits and health. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, contact your vet right away.

Not all cats will eat cat grass (they are notorious food snubbers, after all), but many of them do. So why not offer some to your furry friend to see what she thinks? She just may love having a little garden all to herself.

You may have seen your outdoor cat nibbling on the grass outside and wondered what they were up to. Many cats enjoy eating grass, but what about indoor cats that don’t get the chance to chew on that green stuff?

Cat grass is the solution! If you haven’t heard about this before, we’ll tell you everything that you need to know about cat grass. We’ll take a look at exactly what cat grass is and the health benefits that it can offer your cat.

If you’re worried about whether it’s safe for your felines, the good news is that cat grass is completely safe for your cat.

What is cat grass?

Cat grass is sometimes confused with catnip, but they’re completely separate things.

Cat grass is grown from a mixture of different grass seeds, including:

Oats

Oats Rye

Rye Wheat

Wheat Barley

You can buy cat grass kits that include everything that you need to get started, including a planter, soil, and seeds.

It’s also possible to buy bags of seeds, so you can plant them however you like. This works out as a more cost-effective option if you’re looking to offer your cat grass all year round. Some brands offer one type of grass seed, such as solely wheat or oats, while others offer a blend. You may find that your cat prefers one type of grass to another.

We recommend selecting a brand that uses organic and non-GMO seeds.

Why do cats eat grass?

Most of us know that cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their digestive systems are designed to process a purely meat-based diet.

So, why do they want to eat grass?

Researchers have studied cats in the wild that often eat a small amount of grass after catching and eating their prey. It’s thought that the grass may help them pass the parts of their meal that aren’t digestible, including the hair, feathers, and bones. Grass can help cats regurgitate hairballs as well.

Another reason cats might eat grass is that they know that it can be good for them. Grass contains nutrients that cats need, so they may be topping up their levels of vitamins and minerals by eating grass.

Health benefits of cat grass

Cat grass offers plenty of health benefits for your cat, and here, we look at each one in more detail.

Vitamins and minerals

Cat grass is packed full of things that give your cat’s health a boost. It’s full of vitamins A, C, E, and B, and it also contains iron and calcium.

Cat grass is rich in folic acid, a vitamin that helps your cat’s red blood cells produce hemoglobin. This protein carries oxygen through your cat’s body and is essential for keeping them healthy.

Digestive benefits

Grass adds roughage and fiber to your cat’s diet, which can help their digestive systems function at their best. Cats that regularly eat a small amount of cat grass often have less diarrhea or constipation, fewer hairballs, and a healthier digestive system overall.

Cat grass can be a good alternative to expensive hairball prevention supplements.

Grass contains chlorophyll

The green color of grass is due to the high amount of chlorophyll that it contains. This is a natural breath freshener, so you may find that your cat’s breath smells sweeter after they’ve been nibbling their cat grass.

Chlorophyll also used to be a popular remedy for pain and infection before antibiotics were discovered. So, it could be that your cat is enjoying those advantages as well.

Is cat grass safe?

You may have heard that cats will only be tempted to eat grass when they’re not feeling well, but cat behaviorists have found that this isn’t actually the case. Some cats genuinely just like eating grass! It’s a great enrichment activity for your cat, whether they go outdoors or not.

Eating grass from your lawn or other outdoor areas should be discouraged, however, as this may have been sprayed with pesticides or other harmful chemicals that could affect your cat’s health.

Other benefits of cat grass

If your indoor cat gets a craving for green roughage in their diet, they may start looking around your house to see if they can find anything suitable. If there’s no cat grass on offer, the next best thing is going to be your house plants!

Some cats might like to nibble on the edges of your plants’ leaves, causing damage. While the plant is likely to recover, if your cat chews on a plant that’s toxic, you could be left with an expensive veterinary bill.

The ASPCA has a comprehensive list of which plants can be toxic to cats.

If your cat knocks your plant pots over and leaves a mess of soil and chewed leaves, they might be trying to tell you that they’d like something green to eat.

Cat grass offers enrichment to your cat’s environment, which can help reduce the chances of them getting stressed and carrying out antisocial behaviors, like scratching furniture.

How to grow cat grass

If you don’t want to have trays or pots with soil that your cat may tip over, the good news is that you can successfully grow cat grass without using any soil.

Keep a careful eye on any cat grass that you grow, to make sure there is no mold developing. If you’re growing cat grass in soil, inspect the roots regularly, and plant a new pot before the stalks get eaten down to the bottom. If your cat grass is in water, change this every few days.

Follow the instructions for your particular brand of cat grass, and replant it regularly so your cat always has a fresh supply of new shoots to enjoy. We like to plant cat grass in small pots and have a continuous rotation of newly planted seeds, just-sprouted seedlings, and fresh shoots. Our cats eat the fresh shoots, which are replaced by the seedlings after 10-14 days.

How much cat grass should my cat be eating?

While a small amount of cat grass is beneficial, how much is too much? Any treats, cat grass included, should only make up 10% or less of your cat’s diet. If you find that your cat is regularly eating a whole pot of cat grass within a day or two, consider speaking to your vet for advice or limiting the amount of time that your cat has access to the grass.

Wrapping it up

Cat grass is completely safe for your cat and is part of an enriching activity that mimics the behavior of wild cats. It’s cheap and easy to grow, so you can buy a pack of seeds and make sure your cat always has a fresh supply of cat grass to enjoy.

Cat grass is full of beneficial vitamins and minerals and adds fiber to your cat’s diet. It can also help them deal with hairballs by aiding regurgitation. If your cat is eating too much grass, though, you may want to speak to your vet for advice.

Featured Image Credit: QueenNuna, Shutterstock

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