A pair of huge eyes looking up as me. Lilly is sat in the kitchen with one paw up in the air with anticipation of what’s coming.
It’s a freshly grown pot of cat grass that she’s getting excited about. I’ve always grown cat grass for her as she really enjoys it. Most people think that cats eat grass just to make themselves sick but there’s much more to it than that.
Why do cats eat grass?
The truth is nobody really knows but it is perfectly normally behaviour. The general opinion is that eating grass helps with digestion and has anti-inflammatory properties. This helps move hairballs through the digestive system. Either up or down as grass does induce vomiting but also breaks up fur so it can pass through.
For wild cats it also helps remove fur and bones out of their system as well.
From a non scientific view I’ve found that Lilly coughing up furballs reduced dramatically once she had a supply of cat grass.
I’ve also found that if Lilly has her own grass she doesn’t bother with my house plants as she has an easy supply of greens.
Are cat grass and wheatgrass the same?
The short answer is yes, but did you know cat grass is not just one plant but a group of grasses.
Oat Grass is thought to have the most flavour.
Ryegrass is durable and a good all rounder grass which will grow in many conditions.
Barley Grass is rich is nutrients and a good source of fibre and some say the sweetest, but personally I wouldn’t know.
Wheatgrass is considered one of the best all-rounder cat grasses it’s full of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. This it the grass I use for Lilly. It’s so good that its considered a super food for us humans. Wheat grass powder is use it in our drinks to help with our digestion and nutrition and it’s the same for our cats.
Why grow cat grass?
Cats do love to improvise and will search for their own greens which means that your prize houseplants could get attacked and eaten.
I’ve also found that if Lilly has her own grass she doesn’t bother with my house plants as she has an easy supply of greens. A lot of house plants are poisonous to cat and a regular supply of cat grass will help stop them searching for an alternative plant to eat.
It’s also incredibly easy and cheap to grow. All you need is soil, water, seeds and you’ll soon have your very own cat grass.
It also another way to give your cat some stimulation and something different to investigate with textures and smells.
When is cat grass ready to eat?
Once planted cat grass grows quickly and about 2 weeks later you cat grass will be ready. Depend on how quickly your cats eat the grass let it grow until it’s between 5cm and 10cm tall before giving it to your cat.
How long does cat grass last?
A pot of cat grass will last about two to three weeks. Keep it watered like any normal house plant and in a light place.
Sometimes I find that the grass is growing too tall and it’s a bit tricky for Lilly to bite as the blade bends out of reach. I find that giving it a quick trim with a pair of scissors back down to 10cms tidies up the uneven blades and makes it more manageable for Lilly. It’s the same as mowing your lawn.
If you’re thinking about cat grass in my opinion it’s worth giving it a go. Of course cats being cats it’s quite possible that you will lovingly grow your grass and your cat will walk past it with a look of disdain but don’t despair leave it down for a couple of weeks as you never know your cat might just one day start to take interest in it.
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