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Curiosity may have killed some cats, but others thrive even in precarious situations. Food is one of the most tempting things you can put in front of your cat. Many will eat just about anything offered to them, even things that are bad for them. Wheatgrass is a common addition to pet foods and a tempting treat for your cats. Luckily, it’s perfectly safe for them to eat in small amounts. Read on to learn more about the benefits of wheatgrass!
Cat Nutrition Made Simple
The health benefits cats get from wheatgrass may surprise some cat owners. As obligate carnivores, cats lack the proper enzymes to break down plant material into nutrients. These missing enzymes help the animal’s stomach break down plant materials into the basic nutrients that sustain its body. Since cats don’t have these enzymes, they don’t get the same amount of nutrients from eating plant material that omnivorous or herbivorous animals do.
The working scientific theory is that in the wild, cats and dogs would derive most of their plant-based nutrients directly from the stomachs of their prey. Since cats, especially, eat all the bones and organs of their prey, they would benefit from the enzymes present in the stomachs of their prey — much like humans when they take supplements.
This nutrient source would be lost in domestic cats fed food from a bag or can and don’t hunt their prey. As a result, the nutrients that cats need to get from their prey’s diets are lost on the domestic cat, which could be a reason why domestic cats live five years less, on average, than they’re supposed to (a healthy cat should live 18 to 20 years, while most domestic cats live 12 to 15 years.)
Wheatgrass is one plant that shouldn’t take much convincing for your cat to eat. It’s a tasty treat that cats and dogs seem to love, and luckily for us, this treat is healthy for cats in moderation.
What Is Wheatgrass?
Despite the name, wheatgrass does not contain wheat gluten. Wheatgrass is a leafy green vegetable harvested from wheat plants before the plant becomes a gluten-forming grain. It’s rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that most animals could use a little more of in their diets.
Wheatgrass is one plant that cats seem to like to eat. Wheat plants are an essential part of the cat grass mixture. Cats will nibble on this leafy green happily, unlike many other plants.
Health Benefits of Wheatgrass for Cats
Wheatgrass contains chlorophyll, carotene, fiber, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that make a great addition to any cat’s diet. These nutrients support the healthy development of blood and muscle tissues. The additional fiber from the wheatgrass also supports healthy digestive function and can help cats pass gastric obstructions like hairballs more easily.
Wheatgrass contains vitamins A, E, C, K, and B. Vitamin A helps maintain your cat’s vision and promote healthy eyes. Vitamin E helps them have a shiny, luxurious coat. Vitamin C can boost their immune system, while vitamin B boosts metabolism. Lastly, vitamin K helps promote good liver function! These vitamins are great for keeping your cat healthy and happy!
Additionally, wheatgrass plants provide a healthy alternative for cats who love to eat your houseplants. If you have issues with your cat taking bites out of your beloved houseplants, consider planting some cat grass or wheatgrass to give them something to eat that won’t harm them or your home decor.
Safely Feeding Wheatgrass
One of the most accessible ways to get your cat eating wheatgrass is by purchasing a cat grass plant from the pet store. Cat grass is a mixture of grass seeds, including barley, rye, and wheatgrass. This is a great way to get your cat some healthy grass they can eat. You can allow them to eat the live plant if they like to do that, or you can clip some of the plants and serve them to your cats with their regular food.
Clipping your wheatgrass is a great way to serve wheatgrass to a cat who likes to overindulge in the live plants. Keep the grass out of reach of your cats and help them with some clippings with their regular food.
Other Cat-Safe Plants for Your Home
If you have a cat who is constantly curious about your houseplants, one of the best things you can do is keep plants that won’t harm your cats if they take a curious nibble. There are a lot of plants that are safe for cats to ingest, whether accidentally or on purpose. Here is a list of some of those plants:
Catnip – While most cat parents are familiar with the dried herb version you can purchase in most pet stores, you can plant and keep catnip plants! Cats can eat and play with the plant, both fresh and dried. So, if you have a little catnip addict, growing your catnip might help you cut down on costs!
– While most cat parents are familiar with the dried herb version you can purchase in most pet stores, you can plant and keep catnip plants! Cats can eat and play with the plant, both fresh and dried. So, if you have a little catnip addict, growing your catnip might help you cut down on costs! Cat Grass – Cat grass is an excellent plant option for pet parents who have a cat who loves to eat their houseplants. Cat grass is a blend of grass seeds including barley, rye, and wheat that cats can snack on for health benefits! Since the cats will eat the wheat when it’s still wheatgrass — a leafy green that grows before the wheat turns into gluten-forming grains — which is exceptionally healthy for cats and could even be considered an essential part of their diet.
– Cat grass is an excellent plant option for pet parents who have a cat who loves to eat their houseplants. Cat grass is a blend of grass seeds including barley, rye, and wheat that cats can snack on for health benefits! Since the cats will eat the wheat when it’s still wheatgrass — a leafy green that grows before the wheat turns into gluten-forming grains — which is exceptionally healthy for cats and could even be considered an essential part of their diet. Mint – Mint is another excellent cat-safe plant that cat parents can grow or add to their cooking repertoire. Catnip is in the mint family. So, if your cats enjoy a bit of the ‘nip, they might also find themselves in awe of its fresh-smelling cousin.
– Mint is another excellent cat-safe plant that cat parents can grow or add to their cooking repertoire. Catnip is in the mint family. So, if your cats enjoy a bit of the ‘nip, they might also find themselves in awe of its fresh-smelling cousin. Lemongrass – Lemongrass is a fantastic choice for pet parents who hate mosquitoes and love citrus scents because this citrus plant is well known for its mosquito-repelling quality. Lemongrass also makes great tea if you’re into teas!
– Lemongrass is a fantastic choice for pet parents who hate mosquitoes and love citrus scents because this citrus plant is well known for its mosquito-repelling quality. Lemongrass also makes great tea if you’re into teas! Lemon Thyme – Lemon thyme is another option for pet parents who like citrus scents. However, lemon thyme doesn’t repel mosquitoes as lemongrass does. Fortunately, it is straightforward to raise; you only need to place it in a location that regularly gets lots of sun and water for it to thrive. You can add this herb to your cooking, too.
– Lemon thyme is another option for pet parents who like citrus scents. However, lemon thyme doesn’t repel mosquitoes as lemongrass does. Fortunately, it is straightforward to raise; you only need to place it in a location that regularly gets lots of sun and water for it to thrive. You can add this herb to your cooking, too. Valerian – Valerian is the cat-safe plant for cat parents who desire a beautiful home. Every part of the valerian plant — stems, leaves, and flowers — are safe for your cat to ingest, and the valerian flowers are a gorgeous, elegant, purple flower that will add to any room! They can be grown indoors or outdoors if you want to beautify your yard while you’re at it!
Final Thoughts
Curiosity doesn’t have to kill the cat! Adorning our homes with cat-safe plants can protect our furred companions from their interests. Wheatgrass is a safe and healthy additive, whether you see it on the ingredient list for your cat’s food or grow it at home for their enjoyment.
If you’re worried about something your cat has ingested, it’s always best to contact your veterinarian. They can use the information you have to best provide you with guidance on ensuring that your cat stays healthy and happy. If there are any concerns with their health, a veterinarian has the best ability to stabilize the situation and minimize the damage done.
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Featured Image Credit: Boumen Japet, Shutterstock
Have you ever wondered where does your cat’s irresistible urge to nibble on houseplants, come from? And why she does that? No matter how odd this indulgence appears to you, it is your cat’s way of saying
“I want more greens on my menu’’.
There is a theory suggesting that all pets are instinctively attracted to chlorophyll-rich plants. Although cats are obligate carnivores, they are capable of digesting plants and utilizing their nutrients. It is assumed that prior to domestication, cats hunted small, grass-eating animals such as birds, rodents, reptiles and when consuming them whole, they would receive green nutrients through the content of their prey’s digestive tract. Therefore, adding wheatgrass to your cat’s menu is the best alternative for enhancing your domesticated cat’s health and satisfying its attraction to greens5. Furthermore, adding wheatgrass to your cat’s diet is a smart and simple way of discouraging your cat’s appetite for harmful and potentially toxic household plants and chemically-treated outside grasses.
Wheatgrass contains a plethora of useful micronutrients such as chlorophyll, antioxidants, vitamins A, B-complex, C, E and K, several minerals and a complete set of amino acids7. In a nutshell, this leafy green’s powerful nutrients are known to provide the following benefits:
Chlorophyll, also known as liquid sunlight , is a green pigment that acts as the life force of plants and is produced through sunlight exposure. Being a natural blood booster, chlorophyll aids the cat’s health by enabling her body to produce stronger blood and by eliminating toxins that lead to bad smells 11 . In older cats, chlorophyll has been proven to slow down the aging process. Containing up to 70% chlorophyll, wheatgrass is a great cat product.
, is a green pigment that acts as the life force of plants and is produced through sunlight exposure. Being a natural blood booster, chlorophyll aids the cat’s health by enabling her body to produce stronger blood and by eliminating toxins that lead to bad smells . In older cats, chlorophyll has been proven to slow down the aging process. Containing up to 70% chlorophyll, wheatgrass is a great cat product. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals before they can harm your cat’s health. Free radicals cause damage in the form of oxidative stress and the oxidative stress is directly linked to aging and disease.
Vitamin A is essential for your cat’s night vision, maintenance of soft mucous tissues, and normal growth.
B-complex vitamins are vital to the health of the nervous system
Vitamin C is important in supporting a healthy immune system. In synergy with vitamin E, it acts as a powerful antioxidant. It also aids the assimilation of essential minerals.
Vitamin E is the most potent fat-soluble antioxidant. The more polyunsaturated fatty.
Vitamin K is crucial for regulating the blood clotting process and activating some clotting factors. It is also essential for proper kidney function and bone metabolism.
Overall, wheatgrass improves your cat’s health and is beneficial for:
Weight loss decreases the cat’s appetite by turning off the appestat in the brain.
Enhancing fertility hormones since it is rich with Mg, which produces enzymes essential for binding and healing sex hormones, wheatgrass is an important addition for pregnant cats and cats that are being bred on a regular basis.
Expulsing hairballs and feathers acting as a laxative by increasing the intestinal motility and adding valuable vegetable-based fibers, wheatgrass supports healthy digestion and helps to control and eliminating harmful hairballs. Furthermore, eating too much wheatgrass can cause vomiting. In the process of vomiting the grass, the cat also throws up indigestible products, including hairballs or feathers.
Skin moisturizing stomach issues often cause dry skin and flaking. By eliminates bad bacteria whilst helping good bacteria in the stomach flourish, wheatgrass makes the skin soft and moist and the coat, silky.
Relieving musculoskeletal pain by restoring bone and muscle tissue and acting as a nerve tonic, especially in older cats.
Removing potentially harmful elements such as fluoride and heavy metals by binding with them.
Amplifying dental health wheatgrass is rich with substances able not only to cure but prevent teeth decay and eventual teeth loss.
It is advisable to get a wheatgrass kit and have fresh growing wheatgrass in your home, year-round.
Growing your own wheatgrass (instructions):
Step 1. Acquire the needed materials, such as:
A low-wide glass or ceramic tray
Water beads
Coffee filter or unbleached paper towel
Organic wheatgrass seeds
Preferably filtered water.
Step 2. Fill 2/3 of your tray with water beads and cover them with a paper towel.
Step 3. Disperse a thin layer of wheatgrass seeds on top of the paper towel. To speed up the process, you can pre-soak the seeds in water over-night.
Step 4. Add water to fill the jar up to the paper towel. That is the water level you need to maintain while the grass is growing.
The seeds usually sprout in 7-10 days. After the roots grow down into the stones, the water levels do not have to be kept as high as during the sprouting time. Wheatgrass can grow in poor light conditions too.
If your cat does not start grazing the wheatgrass on her own, add clippings in her food and treats or try mixing them with water.
Once she consumes this leafy green, she will realize that it is a tasty treat and will be encouraged to graze on it. If your cat does not enjoy any of the previously mentioned methods, try adding a small amount of wheatgrass juice or wheatgrass powder in her meal.
No matter what the label displays, commercially produced nutritious cat products often lack necessary greens. Therefore, improving your cat’s health by implementing green nutrition is not only an emerging trend but also a conscious choice of cat parents " going green’’. Due to its powerful nutrients, today the wheatgrass is considered to be a sought-after cat product and its popularity increased dramatically over the past two decades. This leafy green is a natural supplement and potent booster for your cat’s health. Additionally, wheatgrass is gluten free because it is harvested before it develops the gluten-forming grain.
Want more information about wheatgrass?
Here is a comprehensive review of the scientific research into wheatgrass benefits:
https://healthybutsmart.com/wheatgrass-benefits/
Check out How to grow soil free cat grass!
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