Cat Eating - How To Keep Ants Out Of Cat Food (a Quick And Easy Diy)

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cat eating

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Even though our cats are obligate carnivores designed to eat a meat-based diet, sometimes they have a craving for something green. Many cats will show a preference for searching out and eating grass regularly, if they can find it!

Surprisingly, this can have health benefits that you might not be aware of.

While an outdoor cat might just end up chewing on grass from your lawn, an indoor cat without access to any grass might start eyeing up your houseplants instead.

In both cases, it’s much better to provide your cat with a safe and non-toxic variety specifically designed for cats. Yes, cat grass is an actual thing!

In this article, we’ll take a look at five health benefits of cat grass, all backed up by science.

First, though, let’s see what makes a cat want to eat grass in the first place.

Why do cats eat grass anyway?

There are many possible explanations as to why domestic cats might eat grass. You’ve probably heard quite a few of them. We’re only focusing on the ones that have scientific backing, though!

One thing to get out of the way is the myth that eating grass means your cat is sick. This theory has been disproven by research focusing on how often cats who ate grass were subsequently sick.

In a survey of cat owners, 71% of cats were seen eating grass, but only 11% to 27% of these cats (the percentage varied with age) actually vomited after eating the grass.

The researchers who conducted this study concluded that actually most cats eat grass as a way of stimulating their gastrointestinal tract, which can help remove worms from their intestines. Of course, your cat most likely doesn’t actually have worms, but their grass-eating habits are an instinctual throwback to their days as a wild species.

What grass is best for my cat?

Not the grass on your lawn! You can buy kits that allow you to sow and grow non-toxic grasses that your cat can happily munch on at home.

There are many different varieties of cat grass available, and your cat might show a clear preference for one or another! Cat grasses include mixes containing wheatgrass, as well as grasses from oats, flax, barley, and rye.

Offering your cat grass on a regular basis is a great idea. Let’s take a look at those health benefits.

The 3 Benefits of Cat Grass

1. Grass is a great source of fiber

As obligate carnivores, our cats should be eating a primarily protein-based diet, but a small amount of fiber is helpful in your cat’s food.

Fiber makes up only 0.55% of the natural diet of cats and would be gained from sources such as the fur and bone collagen of their prey, as well as any undigested fiber that happened to be in the prey’s intestines.

Insoluble fiber, like the cellulose in cat grass, can help maintain a healthy digestive system and prevent both constipation and diarrhea.

As some cat foods contain higher levels of fiber than your cat needs, it’s best to choose a high-protein, low-fiber cat food and offer a supplement of cat grass that your cat can choose to eat when they want to. The amount of cat grass that your kitty needs to eat is small, but you can still give them the choice to eat it!

2. Grass contains vitamins and minerals

As well as containing beneficial fiber, cat grass also contains folic acid, chlorophyll, and vitamin A and D, all of which are great news for cats.

Folic acid, also known as vitamin B9 or folate, helps metabolize fats, increase oxygen levels in your cat’s bloodstream, and helps synthesize new DNA. These all help your cat’s growth and development from a tiny kitten into a healthy mature cat. A deficiency in folic acid can lead to anemia, so adding a supplement in the form of cat grass is a great way to make sure your cat gets enough folic acid.

Chlorophyll gives grass its bright green color. It can also help freshen your cat’s breath, and although this probably isn’t the reason that your cat’s eating grass, it’s a benefit for us as their owners! Chlorophyll has been shown to be effective as another way to increase oxygen levels in your cat’s bloodstream.

Cats cannot synthesize, or make, vitamin D themselves, but unlike us humans, they also can’t make vitamin D in response to sunlight. So, whether your cat lives indoors or outdoors, they’ll need to obtain 100% of their vitamin D from their diets. Cat grass is rich in vitamin D, so offering a tray of grass to your cat is a great way to supplement the level in their cat food.

Vitamin A is another essential nutrient to help your cat maintain a healthy immune system, including their skin. It also aids with night vision. Vitamin A has antioxidant properties and can help your cat fight the effects of air pollution and is even thought to have cancer-fighting properties.

3. Grass can help control hairballs

Indoor cats spend more time grooming themselves than their outdoor counterparts, with the result being that they’re also more likely to suffer from hairballs. This is especially true for long-haired indoor cats.

Some cats will pass these hairballs out with their poop, and others will yak them up on your carpet.

You can get specific types of cat food to help prevent the formation of hairballs. But providing your cat with some grass can also help control hairballs by adding fiber and improving the health of your cat’s digestive system, making it easier for them to poop out a hairball rather than vomit it up.

4. It can help stop your cat eating other, unsafe plants

If you don’t provide your cat with greenery in the form of a safe and non-toxic grass designed to be ingested by cats, they might start taking a look at your lawn and house plants. Cats are known to try and ingest more non-grass plants than dogs, so it makes sense to offer an alternative!

Many of us treat our lawns with pesticides or fertilizers, which can be toxic to your cat if they happen to ingest some grass after it’s just been treated. A surprising number of house and garden plants are toxic to cats, and the last thing any of us want is to make our cat ill if they happen to ingest these as a way to get some greenery.

Lilies, cyclamen, azaleas, daffodils, sago palms and more are all toxic to cats, so providing a tray of non-toxic cat grass can act as a great deterrent if your cat is showing signs of interest in other greenery around your house and garden.

5. It’s a great enrichment activity for indoor cats

Indoor cats naturally get less environmental stimulation than outdoor cats. Spending time outdoors can be physically and mentally beneficial for cats, but many of us do choose to keep our cats indoors, and that’s fine too!

But it does mean that means we need to provide our indoor cats with plenty of enrichment opportunities so our cats can maintain the natural behaviors we’d see outside. This includes scratching, investigating, and of course, chewing on grass!

Adding a tray or two of cat grass around the house allows our indoor cats to indulge in a behavior that they won’t get the chance to do if we don’t provide a form of roughage for them to investigate.

Disadvantages

We’ve covered the benefits of cat grass, so what about any disadvantages?

It’s true that some cats will vomit up after eating grass, and if your cat does, then yes, you’re going to have to clean it up!

If you want to offer your cat a selection of grasses regularly, then you’ll need to invest in a kit and take the time to water this until the grass grows, and then re-seed the tray or replace it entirely. Some kits come in sets, so you can always have one starting to sprout as the old one dies.

There really aren’t that many disadvantages to providing your cat with the option of yummy grass to nibble on.

But if your cat seems to be eating excessive amounts of cat grass, then you should get them checked out by your veterinarian. Excessive vitamin D in your cat’s diet can cause problems, as can vitamin A. Your veterinarian will want to check your cat over to make sure they’re not suffering from either deficiencies or excessive levels of nutrients.

Bottom line

Offering your cat an appropriate type of non-toxic grass designed for cats is a great way to give them a supplement to their meat-based diet. Of course, not every cat will appreciate the offer of greenery, but it’s definitely worth a try to see if your cat likes it.

Before offering your cat some grass, you should speak to your veterinarian to make sure they’re happy with this addition to your cat’s diet.

Buying a kit designed specifically for cats is the best way to introduce the option of greenery into your cat’s diet, and be sure to monitor your cat’s habits as you offer them this new supplement.

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On the surface, cat grass seems like a pretty odd invention. We know our feline friends are obligate carnivores, so they’re not exactly fond of eating greenery. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean a little vegetation in their diet can’t be a good thing. Your little meat-eater might actually enjoy having the option to mix up their diet from time to time. You might have noticed your outdoor cat munching on plants from time to time, or your indoor kitty trying to steal your flowers. Greenery in various forms does have some very specific benefits for your furry pal – but not just any plant life will do. Cat grass is a special kind of vegetation designed specifically for the leafy green needs of your kitty. Today, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about it.

What is Cat Grass? An Introduction

The first thing you should know about cat grass is that, unlike catnip, cat grass isn’t a particular type of plant. Rather, when you buy it from a store, or on Amazon, you’re purchasing a selection of seeds carefully chosen for their ability to support cat digestion and health. Cat grass usually features a number of different kinds of cereal grains and seeds, such as barley, rye, wheat grass, and oats – it’s not the same as the standard grass you get in your lawn or on a local field. This type of grass is specifically intended for growth indoors, and it’s designed for your pets. The grass outside could include dangerous pesticides and other harmful edible substances, so your furry pal definitely shouldn’t be encouraged to use your garden as a grass buffet. There are a few different variations of grass on the market, and each has its own ratio of certain seeds to be aware of. To find the right option for your cat, try and keep an eye on their preferences when you’re testing them out on certain recipes. Options include:

Wheatgrass: One of the best all-round cat grasses, wheatgrass is brimming with minerals, vitamins, and useful amino acids for your cat’s health. Wheatgrass is even something we humans eat from time to time, particularly in the form of green juices and smoothies.

Barley grass: The sweetest of the various kinds of grass on the market today, barley grass is more of a treat for your feline friend. This product is usually rich in nutrients, and a good source of fiber for kitties with stomach issues.

Ryegrass: One of the more versatile and durable kinds of grass, many cat grass products feature a decent amount of rye because it’s longer lasting than the other seeds. It gives your kitty something to chew on.

Oat grass: Probably the most flavorful of the cat grass options, Oat grass is a popular pick for many cats, and it’s a fantastic source of soluble fiber and protein too.

Why Do Cats Eat Grass?

Cats are unusual and complex creatures, with equally complicated diets. Most kitties will be able to get by comfortably in life without consuming any cat grass, so you don’t need to worry if you haven’t been growing this treat in your home over the last few years with your cat. Usually, grass will play a number of important roles in ensuring the good health of your kitty. Cat grass can be a helpful deterrent if you tend to bring a lot of plants and flowers home and want to prevent your furry pal from trying to chew on those (perhaps more dangerous) plants. If your kitty has a habit of gnawing on and destroying your personal plants, a cat grass garden could be a great way to minimize this behavior. In the wild, cats occasionally seek out grass and vegetation for digestion purposes. Usually, when your cat is gnawing on grass, it’s seeking something it might be missing in its existing diet. Plants, and particularly cat grasses, are notoriously rich in soluble fiber, which helps to promote good digestion for your cat, and keeps their bowels working well.

If your cat is having tummy trouble caused by issues like hairballs, grass can also be helpful in this instance, as it helps to move things along the digestive tract and gets rid of the excess fur which could be building up. Although it might not sound particularly fun, many cats ingest grass instinctively when they want to induce vomiting, because they’ve eaten something they think disagrees with them. Get 30% off and FREE shipping on cat food!

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Generally, your cat won’t need cat grass specifically for nutritional purposes. Although cat grass is rich in various nutrients and vitamins, your kitty should be getting most of what they need from their existing diet. However, that doesn’t mean your cat doesn’t enjoy eating grass. Cat grass can be something of a treat for your furry friend, because various kinds of grass have a unique flavor - and it's a lot safer than letting a cat eat chocolate. If your cat likes the taste of cat grass, they might eat it for this reason alone. It can be especially decent for indoor cats as it can act as a source of environmental enrichment. In some cases, it may provide some micronutrients, such as vitamins A and D.

Is Cat Grass Safe?

In general, there are only a handful of specific kinds of plants you should be feeding your kitty. As mentioned above, cats are designed to get the majority of their nutrition from meats, so vegetation isn’t really necessary. In fact, there are a number of plants which can be extremely dangerous to your cat, like lilies. Even the standard grass outside on your lawn may not be safe for your cat. Everyday outdoor grass can be covered in pests, pesticides, and other unwanted substances which cause sickness in your feline friend. However, cat grass isn’t the same as your “everyday” grass. In general, grass should be safe for your furry pal, because it’s specially designed to only include seeds which aren’t going to cause cats any harm. Just make sure you keep your cat garden separate from any other houseplants and greenery. There’s a comprehensive list available from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals which highlights the most dangerous plants for cats. If you’re worried about the quality of the cat grass you’re buying, we’d recommend doing as much research as you can before you invest. Take some time to examine the ingredients in the product and read the reviews from other customers. This should offer some peace of mind.

Do Cats Only Eat Grass When They’re Sick?

Cats frequently eat grass to manage their digestive system and address various problems with sickness. If your furry pal eats something that disagrees with them, you might have noticed them chewing on grass outside or seeking out some extra plant life. This is because vegetation can help with inducing vomiting in cats. However, just because cats frequently eat grass when they’re unwell, doesn’t mean they only ever use grass for sickness. Cat grass can positively influence your cat’s digestive system, and it can benefit your kitty’s life by giving them something fun and delicious to chew on. Most forms of grass will contain valuable substances for your feline friend, including folic acid. This vitamin is commonly found in human cereals and grains, and it helps to promote proper bloodstream flow. Cat grass also works as a handy laxative for flushing out hairballs and getting rid of bits of food that your cat has ingested. If your furry pal starts eating excessive amounts of grass, or throwing up regularly, of course, it’s important to check with your veterinarian. Your vet can ensure there are no underlying medical reasons for the over-consumption of grass.

Can Cats Eat Too Much Grass?

Cat grass is a relatively safe alternative to most outdoor grass and plants. However, like any vegetation, it’s not the healthiest product your kitty can eat. There are no strict guidelines or “dosage” suggestions when it comes to cat grass, so the best thing you can do is keep an eye on your feline and pay attention to how they’re using their very own cat garden. If you notice your cat throwing up a lot of hairballs, or consuming excessive amounts of cat grass, to the point where they’re not eating their other food as much, this could be a sign of a problem. Ideally, you should only plant around a handful of seeds at a time and try not to leave your cat alone with the plant to eat everything at once if you know they have a habit for binging. Watching your cat when initially introducing them to grass is also helpful because it will allow you to pinpoint signs of other issues like Pica. If your kitty starts eating the soil or other products around your cat grass, this may indicate a more significant problem, like an absence of crucial nutrients in your cat’s diet. Keep in mind there are also cats who may not enjoy eating grass at all. Cats are notorious for snubbing all kinds of food – even the ones they’re supposed to enjoy.

How to Grow Cat Grass

If you think your kitty might enjoy having access to their own little feline garden, then you’re in luck. These days, there are tons of cat grass growing kits available, so you shouldn’t have too much problem growing your own cat grass. Because you’re basically just growing a number of seeds, the grass is also reasonably easy to take care of too. To begin, you’ll need a shallow container – some of the cat grass kits on the market come with a container, while others require you to find your own. You’ll also need some potting soil, a little water, and the selection of cat grass seeds you’re going to be using. Ideally, you’ll want to place your cat grass in a relatively sunny area in your home, out of the way of paws while it grows. Once you’ve chosen your cat grass:

Find a shallow container your cats aren’t likely to accidentally knock over on their own. Although it’s best to keep the container out of the way during the growing period, you don’t want your cat to flip it when they’re eating the grass shoots that eventually grow.

Fill your container of about three-quarters of the way with loose, organic potting soil. You’ll need to keep the soil damp and reasonably flat as you’re adding it. To avoid allowing water to go everywhere, place your container on a tray or saucer.

Sprinkle a handful of your cat grass seeds on the surface. You’ll usually see instructions on how many seeds you should add at one time on the packaging for your cat grass. Try not to grow too much at once, as this can be harder to maintain.

To help the seeds germinate and grow, cover your container with a very loose strip of plastic wrap. You’ll need to keep the tray and the seeds at room temperature, so avoid any overly hot or cold spots. Before sprouting, your seeds will need to be kept reasonably damp at all times.

When sprouting starts, usually within 3 to 7 days, you can remove the plastic wrap, and move your cat grass to a sunny spot with natural light, where it can begin to thrive. Again, try to avoid choosing a space too warm, as this can dry out the seeds.

Water the seed sprouts regularly when the soil begins to feel a little dry to the touch. You don’t want to add too much water here. Excessive amounts of water can cause mold to grow around the container – which isn’t good for your cat.

Wait until the grass sprouts to around 3-4 inches tall before you begin offering it to your cat. This usually takes a couple of weeks after sprouting, so be patient. You don’t need to snip off sections of grass for your kitty, just let them eat it out of the container.

When the grass begins to wilt after a few weeks, pull the shoots from the soil, and plant a new selection of seeds. If you want to maintain a consistent supply of cat grass, you can always plant a few different pots a week or two apart. Make sure you monitor your cats for signs of excessive consumption and vomiting.

What if My Cat Doesn’t Like it?

Even if your cat likes to spend their afternoons in the summer munching on your grass outdoors, this doesn’t mean they’re definitely going to love cat grass. Our kitties are often confusing and fickle creatures, so it’s worth keeping this in mind when you’re introducing the grass to your furry pal. Remember, if your cat doesn’t like eating cat grass, you can always consider trying a different mixture of seeds. However, most cats can easily get by and enjoy a healthy life without consuming cat grass. If you can’t convince your feline to eat this treat, just let them go without. No matter what, don’t allow your cat to eat outdoor grass and other plants instead of cat grass. You could be exposing your cat to some dangerous additional substances this way.

FAQs

Do indoor cats need cat grass?

If your cat spends most of its life indoors, you might assume it needs more vegetation than an outdoor cat. The reality is grass isn’t a required part of your kitty’s diet, but it could be something they enjoy. Indoor cats could see cat grass as a source of valuable environmental enrichment.

What are the benefits of cat grass?

Generally, cat grass is best suited to giving your cat an extra source of dietary fiber. This fiber helps to speed up and stimulate digestion. Because of the high fiber levels, cat grass can also work as a natural laxative, and it’s great for getting rid of hairballs.

Can cat grass make cats sick?

While your cat might vomit after eating cat grass, this doesn’t mean the grass itself is “making” your cat sick. Your cat might be inducing vomiting on purpose to get rid of something in their system they don’t like, such as a bad piece of food.

How do you serve cat grass?

You can allow your cat to eat grass directly out of the container it comes in. Usually, you should serve cat grass when it’s around 3-4 inches tall. Continue to keep it moist with a spray bottle over time and remove the grass when it begins to wilt.

Should I let my cat eat grass?

Allowing your cat to eat regular grass can be dangerous due to the pesticides and other substances on outdoor fields. However, you can safely allow your kitty to eat cat grass if they enjoy the taste. Try not to let your cat eat too much grass without supervision.

Can I grow cat grass without soil?

Yes, all you need is a jug filled with stone and a piece of paper towel. Place the seeds on the paper towel and fill the jug with water below the towel. The seeds should begin to sprout within a few days, and the grass should grow normally.

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