

Grass for los gatos


Growing grass for los gatos
Since we live far from the road, our cats are allowed to go outside all summer long. During winter…and especially this winter, they are trapped inside. They’ll whine and complain but we won’t let them out…they have no idea how cold it is out there. Bug especially gets a little, well, buggy. Here he is after he busted into the cabinet and started pushing the cereal boxes out. He could push the cat food container off another counter so it isn’t hunger…he’s just got cabin fever and is being a jerk.

Neither of them shows any interest in chewing on the houseplants which is nice. In addition to being a jerk, Bug has a habit in winter of licking things. Not to excess, but he seems to enjoy licking the dust off the legs of the propane fireplace (they aren’t hot) or a chair leg. I use this behavior as my cue to provide them with some grass to eat.

The brand new 2014 seed packets have arrived at the garden center, and I noticed that the Renee’s Garden selection included some cat grass which is a blend of four types of grass that cats enjoy. Oats, wheat, rye and barley make up the blend. In the past I’ve grown the oats for them and they like it. I decided to give the blend a try to see how that goes over.

Grass is good for cats
It’s well known that cats eat grass. Most often the eating of grass is followed by the cat throwing up. A great many cat lovers have concluded that it is the grass that is making the cat sick. This isn’t an illogical conclusion, but it is nonetheless incorrect. Cats, in their native environment, will kill and eat small rodents like mice. They can’t digest mice hair an bones so they need to vomit to get rid of it. Cats also clean themselves with their tongues and end up swallowing a good bit of their own hair. This hair is also expelled through vomiting. What does all this have to do with them eating grass? By eating grass, cats are helping to induce their own vomiting to get rid of whatever is in their stomach that is causing their distress. In other words, if you see your cat eating grass, don’t stop it. The theory is that the grass induces vomiting since the cats can’t digest it, and it also makes the hair easier to expel. While cleaning up a bundle of grass and fur that your cat puked up isn’t pleasant, it is better than allowing those fur balls to create an intestinal blockage that requires a trip to the vet and, possibly, an expensive operation. You can do an internet search for “why do cats eat grass” and there’s lots of information on the subject. Here’s an article on the subject from petMD

My cats don’t vomit after they nibble on the fresh shoots. Clearly they enjoy it and I suspect there are more benefits for them. They wouldn’t crave it if it wasn’t something they need once in a while in winter.

If you decide to grow grass for your cat, make sure to choose some like Renee’s Garden blend. This insures that you are providing your cat with grass that is good for them. Naturally, you’re going to want it to be organic as well. I showed the packet to Peep, and she literally flipped over it…actually I think she was just flirting with me…she even winked!

Starting cat grass is the simplest thing ever. Put some potting soil in a pot, scatter in a bunch of seeds, cover with a half inch of more soil and soak it well.

To hasten sprouting, I like to put the pots in a plastic bag (unsealed) until it sprouts.

In a warm room, the seed will sprout in about 3 days…fast! I remove them from the bag once they sprout and find a sunny windowsill to help them grow a bit before I let the cats have it.

This is the challenging part since the cats love it and can usually find it before it is tall enough to make much of a meal. Bug managed to find the pot growing on an upper windowsill and decided that it was just the right size for a snack. What Bug wants, Bug gets! Stuck his tongue out at me…jerk.

Then he dove right in!

Peep was more ladylike when given her share.

The packet contains plenty of seeds so I’ll start a couple of pots a week for several weeks. This insures a continuous supply for the rest of winter. The grass will re-grow two or three times after the cats nibble it down so don’t toss it after their first “munch in”.

Once spring arrives, they have plenty of grass to choose from outside, but their favorite isn’t the lawn but the catnip patch.

If you have indoor cats, you should consider growing grass for them year round. Thanks for the read.

Categories: General
Peter Bowden

10 Responses

  1. Magpies says:

    Grass does cause vomiting and helps cats cough up rodent bones.

  2. Jango Davis says:

    What beautiful cats! Love that calico. I would be totally terrified letting them out, but I’m sure they enjoy it…

    It’s a good reminder, I haven’t bought any grass for my herd in a while. Now I feel guilty and can’t get out because of the snow…well maybe I’ll try later….

  3. Peter Bowden says:

    If I didn’t live where I live mine wouldn’t go out either.
    Wait until the storm has passed to get your seeds…besides Hewitt’s is possibly closed today depending on what the store manager decides.
    See details on our Facebook page:

  4. Fran Rossi Szpylczyn says:

    Thanks for the idea to do this… My cat, indoor only, could truly use this.

  5. Kate C says:

    Your cats and the story made me laugh. Especially your calling Bug a jerk as that is what we call our Iggy!

  6. Peter Bowden says:

    He’s only a jerk sometimes but we love him anyway ;)

  7. Mary Martin says:

    Jango Davis is right: your cats ARE beautiful. I have always wanted one of those red boys. Are they really as cuddly as advertised? We have four females. Our one male did his best by them but he passed on. We try to have grass often but not all partake. Will try your suggestions.

  8. Peter Bowden says:

    Bug is a character; very funny and loving. Peep is pretty skittish and cautious which serves her well outside. She was the last of a litter that was captured a week after her littermates and they were pretty young when that happened. It took a long time to gain her trust. We deal with her on her terms. You can’t just pick Peep up…she has to come to you. Inside she is loving if you are quiet and is quite the flirt with me. Outside…it ain’t happening.

  9. Dave says:

    Will the hewitt’s stores be carrying better boy tomato plants this year?
    They are a high yield plant.

  10. Peter Bowden says:

    I believe that we do have Better Boy in May