Why should I give my cat grass?

In this blog we have cat dad James from local, UK based company Purr Paw share with us why offering your cat their own pot of grass can help them to thrive day to day.

Purr Paw is a small family run company based in Bristol, UK. Owner James Cook started the business out of an initial frustration at the lack of high-quality cat grass on the market for his indoor cat Scamp. He found that the kits on the market were using poor quality plant pots, with seed that failed to germinate well.

After a great deal of research, James and his partner decided to create their own recipe for growing thick, luscious cat grass with minimal effort, at home. They were so pleased with the results that they created their own unique grow kit and launched it as a product for all cat guardians to try.

After since moving home to a property with their own garden and safe roaming, Scamp has since become an outdoor cat, but he still loves munching on his own cat grass plant, when he is indoors.

There are many benefits to offering your cat grass as a part of a healthy diet.

Sadly there is a myth that your cat will only eat grass to make itself sick. This isn’t true. Although lubricating the throat can help them to regurgitate, they are not eating grass to get rid of furballs.

One reason scientists[i] believe they eat grass is to purge their bodies of potential parasites. Grasses are also nutrient dense, particularly at the tips of each grass blade.

Have you ever seen your cat trying to find the ‘puurfect’ blade to eat!?

But avoiding worms is not the only reason you should consider cat grass for your feline friend.

What is cat grass?

Cat grass is the term given to any form of grass that is grown specifically for cats. Depending on where you source your cat grass kit, it’s likely you will have seeds for rye, barely, oat or wheatgrass. At Purr Paw we use organic wheatgrass seeds for our kits, as well as fully compostable growing bags.

As you can imagine, these grasses would have made an important part of your cat’s diet, were they still feral, or had access to outside. Due to the change in life’s landscape it’s not safe for all cats to be outside so that’s why it’s helpful to support their health and well-being to grown your own pot of grass indoors.

Cats won’t get maximum nutrition without it.

They need access to fresh grass for a glossy coat, a lubricated digestive tract, and an easy exit for difficult-to-pass foods, furballs, and parasites. As well as the nutrient boost we mentioned!

What are the signs your cat needs cat grass?

If you ever feel that your cat is trying to tell you something, cat grass could be the missing link. Although cat food gives your pet a balanced diet, it misses out on the micronutrients they would get if they were wild. If your cat is meowing for more and more food, try cat grass. If your cat is eating your potentially toxic house plants, it is time to introduce the grass. Offer them a safe option to eat and enjoy.

Benefits of providing your cat with fresh grass

Let’s discuss some of the very real benefits your cat will get when it has its own pot of grass to chew on.

Cat grass helps cats to thrive.

All types of the grass we grow for our kitties are full of nutrition that they are unlikely to be getting in their diet. Here are the nutrients you might be providing for your cat with just a single plant in your house:

 Folic acid aids digestion

 Wheat grass contains a little protein and some essential carbohydrates.

 It contains vitamins A, E and K.

 A hundred grams of wheatgrass contains 22% iron, important for making new cells.

 This same sample is 15% vitamin C, which helps the cat to absorb the iron and make more DNA.

 In humans, wheat grass can fight infection, lower cholesterol, fights inflammations, helps your digestive system flow smoothly, helps regulate your blood sugar levels, and keeps your brain healthy… so imagine what it does for your cat!

Helps Against Overgrooming

If your cat is overgrooming, cat grass won’t stop it, but it will make it easier to pass the excess fur. It’s not that cats eat oat, wheat, or rye grass for this reason; but it is a helpful side effect.

Eating the grass lubricates the throat and digestive tract due to the nutrients in the grass. Your pet produces excess saliva when they eat the grass, rather like a human chewing gum. This helps them regurgitate the bad stuff, be it a parasite, a furball, or the excess grass when your pet has taken the nutrients out of the plant material.

Fresher Breath

One of the best things about cat grass is that it gives your pet access to chlorophyll. This substance is what makes plants and leaves green in colour. It catches the sun and converts the light into energy. In the days before toothpaste, humans used parsley leaves for the same purpose. Offering cat grass to your cat may support their oral health.

It’s Cleaner

Even if you have a cat which is allowed outdoors, keeping their own grass indoors is a safer option. Cat grass in the wild is dirty, potentially being sprayed with pesticides and toxins or being urinated on by other wildlife. Growing your own at home is cleaner and therefore healthier for your cat.

Can you give your cat too much grass?

Let’s end with taking care of this last worry. Cat grass should not represent more than 10% of your cat’s diet. It would be hard to maintain enough grass for an indoor cat to eat that full 10%. This grass is for nibbling. If your cat eats it all at once, you might need to re-assess your cats diet.

If you’d like to know more about Purr Paw’s grass growing kits you can find them here:

Purr Paw.

I hope your cat will love their pot of grass as much as Scamp does.