Digestive aid
What is cat grass and what benefits does it have for cats?
Cat grass can be a sensible purchase for house cats
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Extensive grooming causes indigestible hairballs to collect in a cat’s gastrointestinal tract, which it regurgitates. To stimulate digestion, the animals usually eat a few blades of grass. For cats who don’t leave the house, a healthy alternative is needed.
Are you wondering why your cat nibbles on houseplants and then vomits in the apartment? There is a simple reason for this: If there is too little liquid in the animal’s stomach – for example because it only eats dry food – it can happen that too much hair collects in it. In large quantities, these are no longer digested and are therefore regurgitated. To make it easier to eliminate, experts suspect that cats eat some grass. It is intended to bundle the hairballs better and prevent (sometimes life-threatening) blockages. But what if the house cat doesn’t have any freedom and only stays in the apartment? In this case, there is so-called cat grass.
What is cat grass and what types are there?
One thing in advance: Not every cat needs grass and not everyone likes it equally. Therefore, there is no guarantee whether your pet will accept the digestive aid. But it’s definitely worth a try – especially if you’ve often seen your cat nibbling on your (perhaps not entirely non-toxic) house plants. In this case, you should purchase cat grass as a useful dietary supplement. There are adult plants that you can order online, for example. Or you can buy something set (including ceramic bowl, bamboo coaster, coconut soil and seeds) and simply grow the grass yourself. You can read how this works in detail in the next paragraph.
Back to cat grass: It is particularly suitable for growing Cereal seeds (e.g. wheat, barley or oats) are particularly good because they have very soft stalks and are therefore easy to chew. Cyprus grass – called Cyperus alternifolius in botany – is also often recommended as a digestive aid for cats because it is non-toxic. However, the stalks have sharp edges and can therefore lead to internal cuts. However, most house cats tolerate it very well. Alternatively, spider plants are also offered as cat grass because they cause nausea and are therefore ideal for regurgitating hairballs. However, the plants filter nicotine from the air, which cats absorb when they eat. Therefore you should be a non-smoker.
Growing cat grass: This is how you proceed step by step
In fact, it’s not that difficult to grow cat grass. To grow, you only need a bowl, some potting soil and a handful of grain – for example wheat grains or one Seed mix. However, make sure that they are untreated, i.e. have not been fertilized or come into contact with pesticides. Then follow these steps:
- Soak the seeds in a little water for one to two hours.
- Take the bowl and fill it with some untreated potting soil.
- Plant each seed one at a time two centimeters deep into the soil.
- Place the bowl in a bright location such as the windowsill.
- Make sure the soil is kept moist but not too wet.
The seeds begin to germinate after just a few days, so that you will have ready-to-serve cat grass for your pet within two to three weeks at the latest.
Alternatives to cat grass: gas bits and malt paste
Many animal feed companies also offer so-called Grass Bits which consist largely of dried cat grass and minerals. They are intended to support digestion if your cat has swallowed too much hair that can no longer be excreted. They are to be seen as a kind of snack that is usually well received by velvet paws. But what if a cat doesn’t like grass but still has trouble regurgitating old hairballs? In this case, the oil-containing and fiber-rich ones should be used Malt paste be a healthy addition to the food. It stimulates digestion so that the hair is more easily excreted in the feces but does not cause vomiting – which many pet owners certainly welcome.
And one more note at the end: When cats regurgitate bundles of hair, the sound isn’t particularly pleasant – and neither is the sight. However, this process is completely normal and not cause for concern. However, if your cat vomits several times a week and the vomit contains more than just hair and grass, you should consult a veterinarian.
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