Grass for cats: instructions on how to choose and grow grass for a cat

Perhaps you will need grass for cats if your pet has ever bitten flowers. The fact is that cats simply need to eat green sprouts, just like people need to eat salads.

What can't be planted?

How to properly plant grass for cats?

If your cat goes outside, you've probably noticed her chewing on different blades of grass from time to time. This is a harmless action - thereby it determines what can be eaten and what is harmful or even dangerous to health. But animals that don't go outside have no way of finding the grass they need. They begin to eat house plants and can harm themselves. Petunias, hydrangeas, lilies, orchids, ficuses and other house plants cause poisoning, swelling and allergies in the animal. Do not punish your pet for damaging your flowers, but offer him healthy grass for cats that you can grow yourself, decorating your apartment and making your pet happy.

Why do cats eat grass?

The herb is a laxative. Our furry pets often suffer from digestive disorders and slow bowel movements.

The reason for this is the accidental entry into the digestive tract of elements that are not fully digested.
Wild cats, for example, while eating prey, be it a mouse or a bird, absorb meat along with hair or feathers, which leads to constipation and complications in digestion.

Domestic cats are also not immune from foreign elements entering the body, such as their own hair when washing and other debris.

Substances contained in herbaceous plants can cause irritation in the digestive tract, which subsequently leads to easy bowel movements and restoration of stable digestive function.

Poisonous bulbous crops

Often, cat owners do not even suspect that innocent play with a flower or onions added to their pet's food can have a poisonous effect. Therefore, we settled on bulbous plants separately.

Onion and garlic. Due to the high content of disulfides, which give such a specific aroma, they are extremely dangerous for cats. These compounds cause oxygen deficiency because they destroy red blood cells - red blood cells, whose function is to transport oxygen molecules, including to the brain.
Liliaceae. When consuming even a small portion of some types of lilies, cats are highly likely to experience severe acute kidney failure, often irreversible. Tiger lilies, Asiatic lilies, Japanese lilies and Easter lilies are very toxic. Pollen from any of these lilies is deadly poisonous to cats. Licking pollen from fur can be fatal.
Narcissus. The bulb is the most toxic part of the plant. Ingestion of any part of the daffodil may cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm), seizures, and low blood pressure.
Autumn crocus. May cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, liver and kidney damage, and arrhythmias in cats. The whole plant is poisonous, but the highest toxicity is in the bulbs.
Tulip. Ingestion may cause oral irritation, increased drooling and nausea.
May lily of the valley. When eating the fruit, vomiting, diarrhea, and heart problems occur. Blood pressure drops sharply and consciousness becomes clouded. Both flowers and bulbs are poisonous to cats.
Snowdrop. All parts of our favorite spring flowers are completely poisonous to cats. They cause disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, allergies, heart failure and even cardiac arrest.

Care should be taken to ensure that cats cannot drink the water in which these flowers stand. The water is also poisonous, and the animal can be poisoned!

It is recommended to use stable vases with a narrow neck and place them out of reach of a curious “tail”.

Vitamins for cats

A cat’s diet directly affects the condition of its coat, skin and claws, well-being and motor activity. Despite the carnivorous nature of cats, the diet should not consist only of meat products containing animal fats and proteins.

Animals, even the most predatory ones, like any organism, need fiber and certain vitamins, amino acids, micro- and macroelements, which are found in abundance only in plant foods.

Blades of grass contain folic acid in their juice, which is important for the growth and development of the animal, so it is especially important to provide the cat with access to grass during the period of gestation.

Anti-diarrhea remedy

Some types of herbs, in particular those with dense and narrow stems, have a strengthening effect on the digestive tract.

Animals often instinctively sense the slightest changes in their body that bring discomfort, and immediately look for an opportunity to restore health.

Herbaceous plants always come to the rescue if the animal has access to them.

Types of Herbaceous Plants for Cats

What kind of grass do cats eat and what effect does each type of grass have on the animal’s body?

Fresh wheat. It is believed that the most favorite grass of cats is wheat. At the same time, cats often prefer freshly sprouted wheat. Fresh wheat tastes sweet, is soft to eat and contains a record amount of nutrients compared to less fresh wheat.
Wheat is easy to grow, unpretentious and does not require intensive care, while it germinates quite quickly.
Barley is rich in folic acid, which is extremely important for the proper growth and development of your pet. In addition, barley has a positive effect on the digestive tract and can significantly speed up metabolism. This herb can also restore the strength lost after physical activity to your pet.
Thyme. This spicy and medicinal plant has an excellent effect on the pet’s nervous system in such a way that it reduces stress, removes anxiety and calms. After eating thyme, the pet becomes affectionate and gentle.
Wheatgrass is a weed, so many people are not even aware of its beneficial properties for furry pets. Wheatgrass contains a large amount of minerals and vitamins A, B and E. Thanks to the tough leaves of wheatgrass, the cat's stomach is well cleansed, and digestion is immediately normalized.
Licorice. This type of herb can prevent allergies and heal irritated mucous membranes. Licorice also has a beneficial effect on digestion.

Herbs that are contraindicated for cats

When it comes to which grasses should not be given to cats, there is often controversy.

Catnip is a low-growing plant that is very attractive to cats.
Many cat lovers believe that catnip is essential for their pets because it reduces stress levels.
There is an opinion that this spicy plant is like wine for humans.
Just as people can relax with a glass of their favorite semi-sweet drink, cats can relax after eating this miracle herb.
In fact, catnip and valerian are completely contraindicated for furry pets in large quantities.
These plants have a narcotic effect and are addictive.

One-time consumption can be allowed, but it is under no circumstances worth growing them for regular consumption.

Price

You can purchase useful vegetation for cats at any pet store.

Prices depend on whether the grass is sprouted or not, and whether there is a special container included in the supplement:

Seeds of oats or wheat, simple, not grown, cost between 20-30 rubles.
A set of seeds, soils, not grown, have a price of up to 50 rubles.
A sprouted set with seeds, pots and instructions costs up to 150 rubles.

Considering that the seeds germinate quite quickly, you can, in the absence of sprouted ones, or to save money, purchase regular grains in a bag.

Algorithm for growing herbaceous plants for cats

There are many ways to grow grass for cats. The main and most affordable way is to grow grass in the ground.

First, you need to purchase quality seeds at a pharmacy or pet store. It is important that they are not treated with fertilizers and chemicals. Nowadays, every animal store has a full range of planting material of various types, so there will be no difficulties in finding seeds.

When the seeds are purchased, you need to think about the choice of soil. Before planting, the seeds are soaked for a day in warm water, adding a pinch of soda. Moistened seeds are sown in the soil and sprinkled with soil on top. For accelerated growth and rapid germination, containers with soil are covered with cling film, which creates a greenhouse effect.

As a rule, the first shoots appear already on the 3rd or 4th day.
As soon as the shoots appear, the film must be removed.
Then the grass grows under normal conditions.

The only care during this period is timely moistening of the soil. After 6-7 days, the grass will finally germinate and be ready for use.

What indoor flowers can spoil?

Cat people often complain that their pets spoil their indoor flowers. The interest is not always gastronomic. They play with stems, dig in the soil, and turn over pots. Indoor flowers serve as a substitute for grass in winter. They are not always useful, often even poisonous. Cats will not touch flowers if greens are grown for them at home. This is especially important in the city, where the necessary plants cannot be found in the yard.

Ways to preserve indoor flowers:

place in a place inaccessible to the pet;
regularly spray with a solution of lemon juice, table vinegar or special sprays;
place sprouted cereal next to it;
cover the soil in pots with shells, pebbles, gravel;
saturate the mulch with an unpleasant odor, cover with a plastic mesh;
buy special grilles.

These measures will not help completely prevent damage to ornamental plants, but the risk will be reduced.

Following some simple rules also helps:

plant flowers in hanging pots, on the walls;
choose heavy containers;
do not place plants on the windowsill too closely, use stands;
secure racks and racks.

Ornamental plants can be protected with fences and display cases can be used.