Many cats are really into nibbling on cat grass. These are special grasses that are particularly well-tolerated and suitable for cats. But how is it that cats, as hunters and carnivores, also eat grass and greens, and what are the advantages of cat grass?
You can find the answers to these questions and everything you need to know about cat grass here.
Why do cats eat grass?
Scientists are relatively unanimous here: Grass or cat grass has the health advantage for cats above all of being able to get rid of swallowed hair and hairballs more easily or to be able to spit them out again. Thus, cat grass is a kind of “strangle aid” and helps the four-legged friends to excrete hairballs again.
Does my cat need cat grass?
If you look at what the main and favorite activities of cats are: The velvet paws sleep a large part of the day, the rest of the time they are exploring or hunting and also devote a large part of the time to their extensive bodies – and grooming. And therein lies a possible problem. Because during daily fur care, a not inconsiderable amount of cat hair gets into the cat’s digestive tract through intensive licking.
As a result, large accumulations of fur and balls of hair quickly form in the stomach and intestines, which can cause problems for the cat. If the cat’s diet is as species-appropriate as possible and contains a lot of meat, there is usually enough stomach acid to naturally dissolve any hair build-up.
Useful for the stomach and intestines
Changing eating habits and different food preferences can lead to a decrease in gastric acid production over time, especially in domestic cats. It is not only in this case that cat grass can provide a gentle and natural remedy. Logically, cats with a particularly large amount of long hair also have an increased incidence of hair in the stomach and digestive tract. Cat grass can be the remedy of choice here and can be very helpful. In addition to nutrition, including the option of cat grass, cat breeds with long hair can and should also pay attention to regular hair care.
In addition to a balanced and species-appropriate diet, sufficient water and, if necessary, a supportive coat care, good cat grass is not only a cheap but also a very helpful method to do something good for the velvet paws. In particular, hairballs caused by extensive grooming can be more easily rid of by a cat if it has enough “green food”.
For nutritional supplements
Cat grass is not only ideal for excreting and getting rid of swallowed hair. Many grasses are also a welcome change for cats and at the same time a dietary supplement, as they contain folic acid, which is essential for blood formation and many other bodily functions.
Cat grass is therefore a good and sensible addition to the standard diet, and not just for domestic cats with a pronounced diet. Above all, the digestion is stimulated by the consumption of suitable cat grass, but it also enables the velvet paws to quickly get rid of the hair picked up by grooming.
Pros:
- helps to eliminate hairballs
- healthy herbal supplement
- contains important dietary fiber
- Folic acid contributes to blood formation
- stimulates digestion
- inexpensive and easy to maintain
- sow and plant yourself possible
Grow your own cat grass
You can also easily plant cat grass yourself. You can get the seeds inexpensively in specialist shops or online. Rearing is easy:
Soak the seeds in a glass of water for 1 to 2 hours. They then usually germinate better and faster.
Then carefully press the seeds 2 to 3 cm deep into the soil of a planting tray. It is best to use potting soil for this.
Keep the soil evenly moist. However, it must not get completely wet.
At high temperatures or low humidity, the planting tray should be covered with transparent film.
Beware of poisonous plants!
Cat grass is primarily beneficial for purely indoor cats, as they do not have the opportunity to find and eat grass in the wild. In order to compensate for the lack of fresh green, indoor tigers that are not offered cat grass often use other options to get their “vegetable ration”. And so it is not uncommon for different indoor plants to serve as a substitute.
Unfortunately, however, many balconies and house plants are unhealthy or poisonous for cats and should therefore be avoided.
Important tips about cat grass
In addition to normal cat grass, you will also find alternatives such as Cyprus grass or spider plant. However, you should note a few things:
Cyprus grass can be too sharp and injure your four-legged friend’s throat and mouth.
Spider plants should not be used as supplementary cat nutrition, especially if people smoke in the home. Spider plants are able to absorb toxins and pollutants such as formaldehyde and nicotine. These are then stored in the plant and can therefore be stressful for the cat.
Even if you want to grow cat grass yourself, you should avoid potting soil that has already been fertilized and use untreated garden soil. In any case, it is advisable to grow cat grass without fertilizers and additives.
If in doubt, opt for particularly soft cat grass to give your cat a boost in digestion and to give her a varied and healthy diet all round.
