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What is cat grass?
Cat grass (catgrass or kitty grass) is a name used to describe several different types of grass which are popular with cats.
Why do cats eat grass?
We still do not know why cats eat grass, researchers from the University of California, Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine ran a web-based survey asking 1,021 pet owners to observe their cats for three or more hours each day.
71% of cats were observed eating plants at least six times
61% of cats ate plants over 10 times, and 67% of these cats were estimated to eat plants daily or weekly, when asked about how the cat seemed prior to eating plants, 91% of respondents said their cat appeared normal beforehand
Among young cats, 3 years of age or less, 39% engaged in daily plant eating
compared to 27% of cats 4 years or older
compared to 27% of cats 4 years or older 11% of cats were not observed eating plants at all
Only 27% of the cats vomited afterwards
Parasites
A common theory is that cats eat grass because they feel unwell and ingestion helps them to vomit, which may help the cat to feel better. The researchers concluded that this is unlikely, and a more logical explanation is that grass consumption is an instinctive behaviour to purge the gastrointestinal tract of parasitic worms.
Hairballs
When cats groom themselves, they inevitably ingest fur which can build up in the stomach. Adding to the vomiting theory, another possible reason for grass consumption is to assist with the passage of hairballs out of the body either through vomiting or via the feces.
Grass acts as a laxative
The indigestible fibre adds bulk to the feces which makes them easier to pass out of the body and can help speed up the passage of feces.
Cat grass contains nutrients and micronutrients
In particular, cat grass contains folic acid (vitamin B9) an essential vitamin that performs several roles such as helping with the formation of hemoglobin and the synthesis and repair of DNA.
Types of cat grass
There are several types of cat grass that are safe for cats to eat, which are at their best as young shoots, mature grass plants are not as soft and will go to seed.
Dactylis glomerata (orchard grass or cock’s-foot)
Avena sativa (common oat, cat oat)
Hordeum vulgare (Barley)
Triticum aestivum (wheatgrass)
Most garden centres, hardware stores (such as Bunnings for Australian readers), and pet stores sell containers of cat grass. It is also easy to grow from seed and can be grown in pots, which makes it an ideal snack for indoor cats.
Some pet owners plant cat grass seeds in a large, shallow tray (such as the one used to grow seedlings), which not only provides the cat something to munch on but also cool greenery to lie on.
Wheatgrass For Cats
I am a houseplant and gardening enthusiast with an equally enthusiastic cat, so I grow wheatgrass for her to save my plants!
Fresh wheatgrass keeps Lucy out of my potted plants! Suzanne Bennett
Wheatgrass Is Healthy for Cats and Cheap to Grow
My cat, Lucy, loves fresh greenery, and she has made short work of a good many plants. When Lucy goes after a plant, she tears up the leaves, knocks it over, pulls all the soil out of the pot, and strews it far and wide. For this reason, I've had to set up all my plants in areas where they can be behind a closed door when I'm not there to supervise. Even so, occasionally Lucy gets shut in with the plants and mayhem ensues.
I wanted to give her an alternative, so I looked into grass-growing kits for cats and found that they are outrageously expensive. For $10 or more, you get a small plastic tray and a handful of seed. The cat enjoys it for a few days and then it's gone. Then one day, when I was doing research for an article on growing sprouts, I hit upon the idea of growing wheatgrass for Lucy. You probably already have almost everything you need for this project. Here's what I figured out.
The only thing you have to buy specially is the big bag of wheat grass seed. Suzanne Bennett
Reuse Veggie Packaging to Make Your Wheatgrass Trays
Supplies
Growing wheatgrass is an excellent way to reuse the little tubs that are used as mushroom packaging. You'll need two.
Styrofoam veggie trays* make good drainage trays after watering. Use the kind that veggies come in, not meat. Styrofoam trays that have held meat may harbor dangerous bacteria. *Update, November 2021: Actually, I have found that the Styrofoam tray is unnecessary. I just allow the water to run through the holes in the bottom of the inner tub before placing it in the outer tub. Doing this encourages the roots to grow in a way that holds the grass in place so kitty can't pull the whole thing out of the tub!
A single, half-size paper towel, cut in half makes your growing medium. No messy soil.
A piece of plastic wrap(or a clear plastic bag) keeps moisture in for the first couple of days.
You'll also need scissors and some sort of sharp implement to make holes in one of the mushroom tubs.
I use the tip of a heated awl to poke four holes in the corners of the inner tub. 1 / 2
1. Make Drainage Holes in One of the Mushroom Tubs
You'll need one mushroom tub to plant your seed. Begin by poking holes in the bottom of the tub to allow excess water to drain out. I use a heated awl for this purpose because I have found that using a cold implement just tears up the container. They are a little bit fragile.
Be careful using a heated implement. Make sure it has a handle that will protect you against accidental burns. Set it on a hard, non-flammable surface (like the top of your stove or in your kitchen sink) to cool off completely before putting it away.
Once you've made your drainage holes, cut your half-sized paper towel in half and line the bottom of the tub with one half.
Sow a handful of wheat grass seed on the paper towel. 1 / 3
2. Prepare Your Growing Medium and Sow Your Seed
Sprinkle a handful of seed over the piece of paper towel to result in a single layer of seed completely covering the towel. Put the other half towel over the seed and press it down.
Gently run water from the tap over the seed. I usually let it half fill the tub and then just set it in the sink to allow the excess to run out. Don't tip the tub to hurry the drainage because this will displace the seed. You want to keep it in a single layer.
Water generously and gently. Allow water to drain out gradually. 1 / 2
3. Water the Seed, Cover With Plastic Wrap, and Set Aside to Germinate
Once most of the excess water has drained out of the tub, set it on your Styrofoam tray to prevent dripping.
Cover the tub lightly with plastic wrap, or place tub and all into a clear plastic bag, to hold moisture in.
Put the tub in a warm area with bright, indirect sunlight to germinate. Run water over the seed and allow it to drain every day. You should see sprouts within a day or two.
Days 1 and 2 Day #1: You can barely see the sprouted seeds through the paper towel. 1 / 2
4. Water Daily and Give Your Sprouts Some Head Room
Every day, take the tub to the sink and run fresh water through the seeds/sprouts. This provides them with the water they need and washes away any fungus that may try to grow.
On the first day, you'll be able to see that the seeds have just started to sprout. On the second day, you'll see green. This means you can remove the top towel so the grass can start to grow upward.
Leave the plastic in place for another day or two.
Days 3 and 4 Day #3: Remove the plastic and continue watering daily. 1 / 2
5. When It Looks Like Grass, Remove the Plastic
Once green grass starts to grow, remove the plastic so that it can get tall. You'll want to let it grow for another two or three days before you give it to your cat. If you want, you can move the tub to an area that gets some direct sunlight. This will encourage it to grow a little faster and produce more chlorophyll.
Continue to wash water through the container every day to water the grass and prevent fungal growth.
Day 5 and 6 Day #5: This grass is just about ready, but I want it a little taller. 1 / 2
6. Now It's Ready to Meet Kitty
Your grass should be tall enough to give to your cat on the fifth day, but I like to give it another day to get a little taller. Before I present it to my cat, I set the planting tub into the second tub (the one without drainage holes). This prevents leaks and protects the roots, which grow out through the holes.
Lucy comes running when a fresh batch of wheat grass is ready. Suzanne Bennett
Start a Fresh Batch Right Away
I like to keep two batches of wheat grass growing at once. It's a good idea to start the second one three days after starting the first one so that you'll always have fresh grass ready. I alternate the pots of grass every day to give them a break from Lucy and make them last longer.
I let her keep one pot to chew on during my waking hours. Before I go to bed, I take that pot away and water it. The next morning I put out the alternate pot so that the one that's been chewed on can have a rest.
Doing it this way makes each pot last about a week. When one really begins looking ragged, I just let Lucy keep it until it's destroyed. I dump the grass in my compost bin, wash out the pot and start over again.
This Grass Is Ready to Be Retired This grass is a couple of weeks old altogether. 1 / 2
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2020 justmesuzanne
justmesuzanne (author) from Texas on November 23, 2020:
My pleasure! :) Glad I could help!
JC Scull on June 23, 2020:
I am a cat person, so I appreciate this tip. Thank you for sharing.
Devika Primić from Dubrovnik, Croatia on March 26, 2020:
Great tips on how to grow wheat grass. I did grow wheat grass a few years ago for the Christmas tradition and succeeded however your tips are useful
Anya Ali from Rabwah, Pakistan on March 26, 2020:
Thank you for a very useful hub.
What Weed Is It? Putting Names To Pesky Plants - A Way To Garden
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