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Cat grass is exactly what it sounds like – grass that is safe for your feline to eat. Many cats like to eat it as well, though an equal number of cats are completely uninterested. However, for cats that enjoy noshing on a bit of green, it can provide some stimulation and keep them entertained. Typically, cat grass is actually a mixture of different grasses. Depending on what cat grasses are included in your particular set of seeds, cat grass can also provide a variety of different nutrients. Luckily, cat grass is pretty easy to grow and maintain. Even if you aren’t much of a green thumb, you should find this plant pretty easy to grow.
How to Grow Cat Grass Indoors
Growing cat grass is extremely similar no matter where you are growing it. However, when growing it indoors, you do need to be more concerned with lighting. It does require quite a bit of light. Therefore, you need to be sure to place it somewhere near direct sunlight. Otherwise, a growing light may be necessary. However, you also don’t have to worry as much about diseases and pests. After all, the odds of bugs finding your grass inside are quite low! With that said, it is still possible, especially if you have other plants inside. Beyond these slight differences, the growth procedure is identical for indoor and outdoor cat grass.
1. Pick Your Grasses
There are a few different types of grass you can utilize as cat grass. The most common sorts are barley, oat, rye, and wheatgrass seeds. In the end, which seeds you choose doesn’t matter all that much. You can purchase a mixture of cat grasses from a local pet store or online. Alternatively, you can purchase a specific type of seed separately. We recommend getting your seeds from a high-quality source – preferably organic. Otherwise, you don’t really know what you’re getting. On top of grasses, you’ll also need to pick out soil and a small pot. Be sure that the soil is safe for your feline, as they will likely be digging around in it quite a bit. You don’t want to choose soil with fertilizers mixed in, as many of them are not safe for felines.
2. Plant Your Seeds
These seeds are extremely easy to grow. In many cases, you may simply be able to throw the seeds onto the soil, and they’ll sprout within a week or so. Technically, you should plant seeds about an inch or two into the soil. However, the specifics are not super important for these seeds. There is no need to get your ruler out and measure. You can partially cover your pot with plastic wrap to speed up the sprouting process. This step makes it more humid within the pot, which can encourage the seeds to germinate. Of course, you should place the seeds in direct sunlight. While they will often grow without sunlight, the blades will be tall and lanky – not actually very beefy. You should notice the seedlings sprouting after 2-3 days. However, some may take a bit longer to get going.
3. Location, Location, Location
Whether you’re planting your cat grass inside or outside, it’s essential to plant them in the correct location. Cat grass is pretty sturdy, but it can’t grow well when put in the wrong location. It needs quite a bit of sunlight, for example. Therefore, you should plant it in a location that gets direct sunlight. Indoors, this can be a bit more difficult. However, it is essential if you want your grass to be thick and edible. The most important part of planting cat grass is the location. Beyond this, it can survive in a variety of conditions. Put it in the right place, and you can basically leave it alone beside watering.
4. Keep the Soil Moist
The soil should stay moist. Don’t overwater, as this can lead to root rot. However, if your pot has good drainage, this is less of a problem. After all, the excess water should drain out of the bottom of the pot. Generally, you don’t have to be very specific about the watering pattern. As long as you are providing water, the plant will probably be just fine!
5. Don’t Let Your Cat Eat It Right Away
You may be tempted to see if your feline likes the grass as soon as it sprouts. However, at this stage, your cat can easily overeat the grass at a faster rate than it grows. Therefore, you should be cautious about letting your cat go to town as soon as the sprouts are up. They may destroy the plant pretty quickly! Therefore, you may want to put the grass up somewhere high where your feline cannot get it. If you have indoor cats, the beginning stages may be a good time to grow your grass outside. If your cats are indoor and outdoor cats, you may have to be a bit creative with where to hide the grass before it gets long enough. Once the grass is about 4-6 inches tall, you can introduce it to your cats. At this point, they likely won’t eat it faster than it can grow. If you have multiple cats, we recommend waiting until the grass is closer to 6 inches. After all, multiple cats will be eating the same cat grass.
6. Trim as Needed
Your cat will likely be eating the grass regularly. However, if you don’t consume enough, you’ll need to trim it back at least an inch each week. Otherwise, the ends may flop over, which can cause growth problems. Plus, if the stalks get so heavy that they touch the ground, diseases are far more common. If the leaves start flopping, you should plan on trimming them more.
7. Resow Regularly
You will need to add more seeds to the pot regularly. The first few stalks won’t last forever. You want to promote regular growth, which will ensure that your felines continue to have grass for years to come. Plus, it will also prevent your feline from eating all the grass. If the new seeds are sprouting, there will be backup growth once the new plants are tall enough. However, you don’t need to hide the pot again when the new grass is younger. The tall grass should provide some protection and prevent your feline from chewing the newer grass. Plus, if it doesn’t, then your cat isn’t destroying the whole pot, at least.
8. Watch for Pests
You should carefully watch for pests. These can hurt your cat grass and are not appetizing for your felines. If you’re growing the grass indoors, this is often less of a problem. However, it can still happen, especially if you have more house plants. Sometimes, the parasites can jump from plant to plant. Diseases can also spread from plant to plant. Again, these are most common for outdoor plants. However, it can occur with indoor plants as well.
Conclusion
Many cats love cat grass. It provides them with some extra nutrients, as well as some entertainment. Luckily, cat grass is extremely easy to grow. Generally, you can simply put the seeds in the correct soil and location and leave them be. Regularly re-sow them to ensure that there is a steady supply of grass. Of course, don’t use anything on the grass that isn’t safe for your cat. They will be eating it, after all. This includes fertilizers and similar substances. Everything should be made for safe consumption. When in doubt, don’t use it. The last thing your cat needs is to get sick from grass!
Featured Image Credit: lam vika, Pixabay
Can Cats Eat Wheatgrass? The Feline Guide by Susan Grey
Yes, cats can eat and consume wheatgrass. Although, be warned, it’s very common for your cat to regurgitate the wheatgrass and bring up fur balls too. We’ll delve into what this means for your cat, is it even healthy? How much should they eat? And all of your other questions answered.
What Is Wheatgrass?
Wheatgrass is the young shoot of the wheat plant. After you soak and rinse the seeds they’ll begin to germinate and after several days the characteristic green shoots will appear. The germination causes a surge in nutrients in the wheatgrass, making them packed with vitamins, minerals and also chlorophyll too.
Why Can Cats Eat Wheatgrass?
Cats can eat wheatgrass in small quantities and maintain health. Cats are carnivores, they need a diet rich in animal proteins to maintain health. They lack a certain enzyme that allows them to digest vegetables. Cats are not designed to consume high volumes of vegetables, although they do enjoy eating wheatgrass. There have not been any studies that prove wheatgrass to be healthy or unhealthy, therefore it’s not recommended to feed high volumes to your cat.
Can Cats Eat Wheatgrass Powder? - Wheatgrass powder is often highly concentrated wheatgrass, that has been juiced before being dehydrated and turned to powder. As this is so concentrated and cats aren’t exposed to this type of food naturally it can’t be recommended for them to eat.
Can Diabetic Cats Eat Wheatgrass? Yes, diabetic cats can consume wheatgrass. Wheatgrass does not contain high amounts of carbohydrates. The same advice for all cats would be to not overfeed them, or it may upset their stomach.
Do Cats Enjoy Eating Wheatgrass? Yes! Many cats enjoy wheatgrass, it’s a different texture to their normal diet, providing variety and change - it also tastes good too!
Wheatgrass For Cats With Kidney Disease? It’s thought that wheatgrass can help your cat with kidney disease. You may notice that your cat will develop a large appetite for grass, always wanting to consume more than the typical amount. This could suggest that they have an underlying health condition which wheatgrass could help. Be sure to speak to your vet if your cat is acting abnormally.
Health Benefits Of Cats Eating Wheatgrass
There are many reasons why feeding your cat wheatgrass is beneficial to both their mental and physical health.
Here Are Our Top 5:
Mentally Stimulate The Cat - Particularly domestic house cats can get very bored if stuck inside all day with little human interaction. By varying their diet, introducing them to new foods, textures and flavors it can be exciting and good for the cat’s mental health.
Remove Hair Balls - Hearing your cat cough and spit out fur balls is an unpleasant but necessary ordeal. Wheatgrass can aid your cat in removing unwanted fur balls in their stomach by irritating it before they’re sick.
Improves Immune System - The fact that wheatgrass contains lots of vitamins, minerals and nutrients could help your cat to strengthen their immune system.
Weight Loss - If you have a slightly chubby or lazy cat, by giving them wheatgrass it’s a healthy snack that contains very few calories. Leaving them to feel more satisfied and craving less food at meal times.
Dental Health - Wheatgrass has been shown to improve gum and oral health of cats, and has even been suggested to reduce tooth decay. This could save you a lot on vet bills!
For more reading on health benefits check out: Vivipet.com TrueLeafMarket.com.
How Much And How Often Can Cats Eat Wheatgrass?
We would suggest a small handful at most. Often popular planting and growing kits will let your cat just come and graze on the grass as they’d like. They’ll know how much they want, and then it will grow back quickly too.
Can Cats Eat Wheatgrass Everyday?
Yes you cat can have a small amount of wheatgrass daily and stay healthy too.
Recommended Wheatgrass For Cats
Wheatgrass typically falls into pre grown, off the shelf solution and also home growing kits. We’ll break them down to better understand which variety suits your house and needs.
Recommend Fully Grown Wheatgrass
With the rise of popularity, more and more stores are starting to carry wheatgrass. We would suggest looking at your local health food stores, pet stores, farmers markets and even local Facebook groups (check out growing, microgreens and sprouting).
Growing Wheatgrass For Cats
There are a lot of popular home growing wheatgrass kits, as well as different brands, and styles. Here is our favourite:
Brand: Window Garden
Overview: A simple and stylish transparent tray allows you to be able to view your growing wheatgrass from seed to shoot. Coming complete with both seeds and soil - this is the convenient all in one solution for you.
Recommended Wheatgrass Seeds
Picking the right seeds is essential to a fruitful crop. We would always look for certified organic and non-gmo from a reputable seed supplier.
Brands: Powergrow
Overview: Powergrow guarantees all of their seeds to grow, giving you the reassurance to buy. These seeds can be used for many different uses including sprouting, growing, juicing, baking and so many more.
Common Health Concerns
What To Do If My Cat Has Already Eaten Wheatgrass?
This isn’t a problem, with cats eating wheatgrass, although be warned they may have some adverse effects such as vomiting, or even itchy skin. If you suspect that your cat has become unwell you should always contact and visit your vet immediately.
Can Wheatgrass Make Cats Sick?
It’s unlikely to make your cat sick however there are some common side effects. Cats are missing the enzyme that allows them to digest vegetables meaning that it’s common for certain symptoms to develop. Don’t be alarmed a lot are natural and normal. The most common reaction is for cats to cough up fur balls, after wheatgrass is in the stomach it may irritate it bringing up all the unwanted fur balls with it.
Can Wheatgrass Cause Diarrhea In Cats?
Wheatgrass could cause diarrhea in cats due to the high fibre content and inability to digest it. If it’s persistent or more than you’d expect, you should contact your vet - be sure to keep your cat hydrated.
Common Questions
Is Cat Grass The Same As Wheatgrass?
Yes, cat grass and wheatgrass are the same, however both are different to catnip. They also have different effects on your cat too, be sure to check what you’re feeding your cat first.
How Do I Give My Cat Wheatgrass?
You can let them eat straight out of the pot, juice it or feed them individual sprouts. Each way is good and enjoyable for your cat to drink.
What Is The Best Grass For Cats To Eat?
Cat’s can be found eating many different types of grass, including your lawn! We would recommend wheatgrass as cats enjoy it and it’s safe for them to eat too.
Is It Okay For My Cat To Eat Grass?
Yes, your cats can eat grass. Although we would recommend making sure it comes from a reputable source that is not covered in chemicals, pesticides or harmful bacteria.
Is Wheat Gluten Bad For Cats?
Most cat’s are not allergic to gluten, however they do exist. Gluten is also not a requirement for your cat to eat to stay healthy either. Although some gluten may be beneficial it’s not necessary to eat.
Does Cat Grass Make Cats Throw Up?
It’s thought that the cat grass cleans out the cat's stomach, which will irritate it causing it to throw up. Oftentimes the cat will vomit fur balls, or spiders webs that had been stuck.
Is Wheatgrass Good For Pets?
Wheatgrass can provide animals with concentrated vitamins and minerals, as well as give good antioxidant effects too. Be sure to speak to your vet to understand the individual pets requirements and if they can consume it, how much is suitable.
Do Indoor Cats Need Grass?
Cats can live without grass cna cat grass, although it would be good for the cat to have more variety and change. This can include changing the diet and including some grass too.
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