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By Stacia Friedman
Nibbling on grass is a natural behavior for all cats. If you have an outdoor cat, chances are it’s part of your kitty’s daily routine. But if your pet spends all of its time indoors (like most domestic cats), you may want to consider growing cat grass in your home.
Why Do Cats Eat Grass?
“Research has not yet shown why cats eat grass, but we have several ideas,” said Carlo Siracusa, animal behaviorist of University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. “In the wild, cats eat grass after they have eaten their prey. In many cases, the grass causes the cat to vomit. We believe this is nature’s way of helping the cat expel the parts of their prey that are indigestible.”
Even if your indoor cat has never caught a mouse or bird, she will instinctively be attracted to cat grass. Why? “It’s a behavioral instinct,” Siracusa says. “Grass is also a form of fiber that helps cats either throw up hairballs or digest them by acting as a laxative.”
Another theory is that cats may eat grass for some trace minerals and the vitamins A and D. Grass also contains chlorophyll, which, before the discovery of antibiotics, was a remedy for pain, infection, ulcers, skin diseases and anemia. Grass also contains folic acid, which helps with the production of hemoglobin, the protein that moves oxygen into the blood to help kitty’s circulation. Plus, there’s the benefit of breath cleansing chlorophyll.
What is Cat Grass?
Not to be confused with catnip, which is a member of the mint family, cat grass is typically grown from rye, barley, oat or wheat seeds. You will find a variety of kitty grass kits at your local pet store, which contain everything you need, including seeds, soil and a potting container. All you’ll need to provide is water and sunlight, and within one week, your cat will have her very own organic garden for safe, healthy nibbling.
“Cat grass is safer than outdoor grass which may have been chemically treated with pesticides,” Siracusa said. “It also gives your cat a healthy alternative to nibbling on houseplants and flowers, many of which are toxic to cats.”
Talk to your veterinarian before you bring any flowers or plants, including cat grass kits, into your home.
Is Cat Grass Safe?
Cat grass is a safe alternative to outdoor grass, which can be treated with weed killers or other pesticides, and to certain houseplants, which can be toxic. It provides your cat with an opportunity to engage in a natural behavior. For outdoor cats, an indoor garden provides a healthy alternative to nibbling on the neighbors’ possibly pesticide-laced lawn. For indoor cats, it offers a delicious taste of the outdoors.
How to Grow Cat Grass
Your cat grass kit will likely come with easy-to-follow directions, but here are some basic tips for caring for and growing cat grass:
Before sprouting, seeds should be kept damp but never soaked. Once sprouts appear, use less water.
Allow three to seven days for seeds to sprout.
The grass will be ready for your cat to eat in 10 to 14 days after sprouting, or once it has reached a height of four inches, and will last one to three weeks.
Continue to keep it in natural light and water daily with a spray bottle.
Do not over water, as this causes mold.
Allow your cat to eat directly from the container.
When the grass starts to wilt or turn color, plant a new container.
Image: Veera / Shutterstock
Have you ever noticed your cat eating grass or nibbling on plants and wondered why? The answer may be as simple as your cat satisfying a natural craving for grass.
Although some cats are more interested in nibbling on grass than others, if yours is one that does, you should be careful about allowing your cat to go outside to munch away. Lawns and other outside plants are often treated with chemicals such as pesticides, fertilizers, or insecticides that are poisonous to cats.
If your cat isn’t able to satisfy its craving for grass outside, it may turn to nibbling on your houseplants. Unfortunately, not only might this be undesirable, but it may be deadly. Certain houseplants can be very dangerous or deadly to your cat regardless of whether they have been chemically treated.
A simple and safe solution to satisfy your cat’s craving for grass is to grow cat grass indoors. Growing cat grass is easy! It grows quickly and is very easy to tend. Here’s How To Grow Cat Grass For Your Kitty 1) Fill a container with drainage holes nearly to the top with moist potting soil (we use organic potting soil) 2) Generously place seeds atop the soil 3) Cover seeds with more potting soil 4) For the initial watering, use warm tap water 5) Keep seeds moist but do not overwater. Misting is a good method to keep topsoil moist. Do not let soil dry out 6) In about 3 days, seeds will have sprouted sending up new shoots 7) Move pot to lighted area and it will grow rapidly into beautiful, healthy green grass for your pet.
Knowing how to grow your own cat grass is beneficial for both you and your kitty. Let’s take a look at some of those benefits. How Cat Grass Benefits Your Cat Adds roughage to your cat’s diet providing health benefits such as adding fiber and vitamins to your cat’s diet. Fiber and vitamins are vital to the overall health of your pet.
Helps to eliminate hairballs. Read more about hairballs and cats .
. Satisfies your cat’s craving for greens
Can help keep your cat away from dangerous plants – Providing your cat or other pet with cat grass can help prevent them from nibbling on toxic plants.
Lucy’s Cat Grass sells a variety of seed kits and seeds for growing cat grass for your pet including oat grass, wheat grass and our very own unique variety, Lucy’s Special Buck Oat Grass.
Cat grass provides pet owners with an affordable and safe way to enrich their cat’s diet, eliminate hairballs and keep them safe from toxic plants.
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