The Benefits of Cat Grass for Your Feline Friend
As cat owners, we are well aware that our cats are carnivores, requiring meat in order to achieve a balanced diet and meet their dietary needs. What you may not realize is that your cat can also benefit by adding some greens into the mix. I’m not talking about adding lettuce or spinach to their kitty dish. The easiest solution to keep your cat happy and healthy is to explore the benefits of cat grass.
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If you’ve never heard of cat grass, it is a safe, non-toxic grass marketed to pet owners. Designed to be grown indoors, the seeds often include wheat, barley, oats and/or rye.
Unlike much of the grass grown outdoors, this grass is free from pesticides.
In fact, if you are purchasing a cat grass kit from your favourite pet retailer, you will be growing the cat grass yourself. This means that you will know exactly what the grass has been exposed to, allowing you to keep your cat safe and healthy!
Does your cat regularly get into your house plants? You’re not alone! In an attempt to fill that desire for greens, many cats resort to nibbling on whatever plants are accessible.
While these plants may be pretty to display in your home, not every houseplant is safe for consumption! By growing and providing cat grass, you can redirect your cat to a safer alternative. For more information about poisonous houseplants, you can read THIS comprehensive list from the ASPCA.
Types of Cat Grass
Many commercially available cat grass kits will contain a variety of different seeds, creating a mixture when it is grown. Each variety has its own advantages, meaning that you may want to select a seed mixture that includes a specific grass if it best fits your home situation.
The most common varieties of cat grass include:
- Wheatgrass: Arguably one of the most common cat grasses on the market, wheatgrass is reliable and easy to grow. Not only will this benefit your cat, but you can also share the garden with your cat, incorporating wheatgrass shots into your own diet!
- Rye Grass: Another highly durable grass, rye grass is super flexible. This means that it is the ideal option for a cat that may enjoy not only nibbling on their grass treat but also lounging in their own patch of greenery.
- Barley Grass: If you are sharing your home with multiple cats, barley grass is the way to go. This variety is best noted for how quickly it grows, meaning that your cats won’t have to wait as long.
- Oat Grass: If you have a cat that regularly suffers from hairballs, this may be your best option. This specific variety is packed with both soluble fibre and protein, which can help your cat to easily pass the fur they are ingesting while grooming through their digestive track without allowing it to build up.
Benefits of Cat Grass
Many cat owners believe that a cat will only eat grass when they are sick, however, this is just a myth. Not only are there are a number of great health-related benefits of cat grass, most cats simply enjoy the green treat.
Cat grass is packed with folic acid, contained in the juices of the grass. This is an important vitamin to your cat’s overall health and well-being. It assists the body in the production of an important protein called hemoglobin, which transports oxygen through the bloodstream.
A reduced level of hemoglobin in the blood can result in anemia and lead to a number of health complications related to a lack of oxygen in the body.
It should be noted, however, that cat grass is NOT a substitute to proper veterinary care. If you suspect that your cat is suffering from the signs and symptoms of anemia, please contact your veterinarian immediately.
Cat grass has also been found to contain B vitamins and niacin, essential vitamins for your cat’s health.
Another great benefit, adding cat grass to your cat’s regular diet can improve their digestion. Packed with fibre, the grass can speed up the overall digestion process.
It can also work as a natural laxative, helping the body to pass any indigestible substances they may have eaten. Alternatively, it can induce vomiting, allowing the cat to safely expel these substances. This is where the myth of the sick cat got its start!
Is your cat a mouser? If so, cat grass can play an important role in his/her health.
Not all parts of their prey can be broken down by their digestive system. It is believed that the instinct to consume grass is actually hardwired in a cat for this reason, even if they have never caught a bird or a mouse before.
While no cat owner wants to clean up vomit, it is preferred to health complications from an obstruction!
How to Grow Cat Grass at Home
If you’re not a skilled gardener, don’t fret! Commercially available cat grass kits are designed to be incredibly easy-to-follow for cat owners everywhere.
These kits can easily be purchased online and delivered right to your door. For some great examples that I personally recommend, check out the Hagen Catit Senses 2.0 Grass Kit from Pets Warehouse or the Priscilla’s Pet Products Cat Grass Kit from Amazon.
Before the seeds sprout, they should be kept damp but be cautious about giving too much water. They should never be soaked. It will take, on average, 3 to 7 days for your seeds to sprout.
Once the seeds have sprouted, they will require even less water. Using a spray bottle, spritz the cat grass daily and ensure that you are providing it with access to sunlight. Avoid overwatering as this can lead to the development of mould.
After approximately 10 to 14 days, your cat grass should be tall enough for your cat to enjoy! You don’t need to cut the grass or ‘serve it’ to your cat in any fancy manner. Simply make your freshly grown cat grass available to your cat right in the container and he/she will help themselves.
Watch for your grass to wilt or turn colour. This is the sign that it’s time to plant a new container, as this specific batch is now past it’s prime.
Caution: Signs to Watch For
If you notice that your cat is eating a large quantity of cat grass rather than just nibbling at the cat grass, or that they vomit every time that they ingest the grass, this is a sign that there’s a medical condition that needs to be addressed.
Your cat may be suffering from a blockage somewhere in their digestive tract, eating the grass in an attempt to unclog their system. Contact your veterinarian immediately.
Do you currently grow cat grass for your cat? If so, I’d love to hear your experiences!
We’ve been meaning to get some for our two house cats. Although one gets outside and is able to eat some of our grass in the yard, the other refuses to step a paw onto the concrete. I think now would be as good a time as any to start growing some of this for them.
Now is a great time to start – We’re going to be kicking off a new pot this week… the other isn’t wilting yet but I’m sure it will be soon, so it’s time lol
I dont have idea about grass cat even I never heard of it thanx for sharing
I don’t think it’s talked about nearly enough – So simple, and so many great benefits!
I’ve never had a cat so this is all completely new information to me. Such an informative post!
It’s definitely something you wouldn’t learn about if you didn’t have a cat – even many cat owners aren’t aware of the benefits 🙂
We haven’t tried this with our kitten yet. I’m sure he would really enjoy it since he likes to chew on everything in the house. Should we plant it and place it near his food dish so he associates it with eating?
You could definitely do that, or place it in the vicinity of anything he tends to chew regularly so that it acts like a safe and preferred alternative.
This is very interesting. I never realised that cats are supposed to eat or nibble on grass. They say every day you learn something new. Well, today this is it for me. haha! I am obviously not a cat mom hence my naive response. Thanks so much for sharing, I am now wiser.
Honestly, the ‘cats only eat grass when sick’ myth is so deeply ingrained in our society, many cat moms don’t realize it either.
I just got a new cat and didn’t think about getting her this. I got her a catnip plant but now I’m definitely going to get her cat grass. I didn’t even know it existed honestly.
It’s such a great low-cost option, especially when you consider all the benefits!
This grass sounds amazing for cats. I don’t own a cat, but I know a few people who do, and I love that it is packed with all those beneficial vitamins. How awesome!
Ours LOVE it – Especially Jinx!
I have 3 cats. They are all outdoor cat, but I guess this would be useful for them.
It’s a simple, low-cost way to promote better health!
My friend has cat grass for her cats! I always thought it was so cute to watch them in it. I wish I had a cat because I do think they make such fun pets.
One of my cats goes all out – laying in it, rolling around, etc…The other one will nibble on it in passing but doesn’t care nearly as much (or doesn’t want to show it lol)
I did not know this! My husband and I would like to get cats when we are able to have pets so this is such a useful tid bit of information!
It’s a really cheap way to see some great health benefits (plus they just enjoy it lol)
I had no idea that cat grass was a thing! I am not a cat owner but do have dogs and my beagle always looks for grass outside to calm his stomach. It’s like a natural reaction they have. I will pass this on to my cat friends, very informative.
Our dogs will when their stomach is upset as well. Cats do, however, just because – they just enjoy it.
I honestly have had cats my whole life and have never heard of this. But this is awesome, and I’m seriously going to look into it for our cat!
Isn’t it great? Our cats LOVE it!
I had no idea cat grass existed. But now that I think about it, our first cat would take every opportunity to run out and rub on the grass. I’ll definitely have to get some for our new indoor cat.
Our cats go CRAZY over it!
This is my first time of hearing about cat grass but then again I’ve never had a pet so how would I know?
A lot of cat owners don’t actually know either, so you’re far from alone!
I knew about cat grass. But i was not aware of all the benefits. Thanks for sharing so many tips.
Thank you!
I grew up with cats and would always see the cat grass in the shops, but we never had any need for it. Our cats were always outdoors and the grass in our yard was completely pesticide free, so they just ate that. However, if your cat stays indoors or if you live in a region where grass is treated with pesticides, cat grass is definitely the way to go. I didn’t know that they like it as a treat as well, I always thought they only used it to help get rid of hair balls.
The idea that they only eat it when sick is definitely the biggest myth out there – one that SO many of us grew up with (I did).
I did not know cat grass was a thing! I’m definitely going to suggest that my son and daughter-in-law start growing it for their kitties.
My cats both LOVE it!
I know a friend who will love this post. She’s got 2 cats. I’m sharing this with her.
Thank you for sharing!
What a fascinating blog post! I saw cats eating grass before but I had no idea that there is a whole science behind this and that cat owners actually grow different types of grass for their furry friends. You learn something new every day!
It has SO many benefits – yet it costs SO little and is incredibly easy to grow. A win/win if you ask me!
I had thought that grass is not for cats. Good to learn something new. Forwarding to a friend of mine who has 3 cats and in case he too is not aware.
There has long been the misconception that grass is only for when a cat is sick and seeing your cat eat it is a bad sign. I know that I believed that myth for quite a while!
I used to have a cat before and we always grew some grass for her. she loved it so much. thanks for this post
It’s funny how they LOVE something so simple, isn’t it? I know that mine think it’s the greatest thing ever! Lol
We started growing cat grass last week! It’s so easy to grow and get a hold of.
It really is very low maintenance. Definitely worth the benefits!
I didn’t even know cat grass was a thing! My little guy is 12 years old, and this is the first time hearing about it. I think it would be great for him. Especially since it is so inexpensive and easy to grow. He chews on plastic for some reason. I’ve never figured that one out. But he loves the plastic packaging of bottled water and toilet paper. Maybe that would cut down on him trying to chew on plastic too.
My cat has ‘obsessive licking disorder’ where she randomly licks anything and everything in sight. I have found that she does it less when she has the grass to focus her energy on.
This is an informative post about Cats. It has never occurred to me that they have cat grass. Sharing right away.
Thank you – Our cats have been LOVING it! Especially over the winter when we couldn’t take them out for a walk in the fresh grass outside.
I thought the only vegetation that cats liked was catnip. Who would of thought there was vegetation that was actually good for a carnivores animal such as a cat
It was a surprise to me when I first learned as well. In researching the science behind it, it makes sense! Just like some animals eat rocks to aid with digestion – cats use grass.