What Type of Grass is Best for Cats?

The cat is a pure carnivore. However, outdoor cats do not disdain one or the other stalk of cat grass in order to stimulate digestion and enable hairballs to pass naturally.

The Benefits of Cat Grass

Indoor cats spend up to 60 percent of their day grooming. So it’s no wonder that a hair or two ends up in the gastrointestinal tract! Hairballs are not only annoying, but they can also be extremely hazardous to health and lead to constipation. While outdoor cats stimulate their digestion by nibbling on blades of grass, this is difficult for purely indoor cats. Quite a few cats attack indoor plants, some of which are poisonous when they are in need.

Cat lovers should therefore always provide their velvet paw with a pot of cat grass!

Cat Grass Varieties

Cat grass is not a specific type of grass, but rather a hodgepodge of different grass-like plants that are suitable as a food supplement for cats. Cyprus grass, green lilies, or sown cereals are mostly used.

• Cyprus grass: Cyprus grass is non-toxic and is suitable as an alternative to cat grass. The only disadvantage: Many cats injure themselves on the sharp blades.
• Green lily: Green lilies cause nausea and nausea, so they are perfect as an alternative to enable vomiting of swallowed hair. Disadvantage: The plant’s store toxins from the air, for example, pass on nicotine to the cat.
• Grain: Cat grass can be grown quickly and cheaply from grains such as wheat or barley. Birdseed for canaries and budgies is also suitable for sowing.

Caution is advised with Cyprus grass, as the four-legged friends can suffer serious injuries due to the leaves. So keep a close eye on your cat after eating Cyprus grass.

Green lily can also cause problems for four-legged friends, as they store pollutants from the air. In smoking households, in particular, offering green lily is problematic, as the plants store the nicotine and thus pass it on to the cat.

Grow Cat Grass Yourself

• Use untreated garden soil;
• Soak seeds in water for 1-2 hours;
• Fill a flower pot with the garden soil;
• Plant the seeds about 2cm in the soil;
• Place the pot in a bright location, but avoid direct sunlight;
• Keep the seeds evenly moist, they shouldn’t be soaked.