Cat grass is actually a common name given to all the herbs that a cat may eat or is willing to eat. The phenomenon is natural even if it might not seem obvious at first to a carnivore.
Why Use Cat Grass
That may seem obvious to some owners: a cat eats cat grass. Yet, asking why cats eat grass is a legitimate question, especially since they almost exclusively eat meat, small prey. Still, even though cats are what we call strict carnivores, that doesn’t mean they don’t sometimes ingest plants, often inadvertently through their prey.
Whether they like it or not, cats need a portion of fiber in their diet to maintain a healthy digestive system and a balanced gut flora.
In other words, plant fiber in cats plays the same role it does for us!
Which Cat Grass to Use
To know which cat grass to use, you also have to understand that even the scent of this grass will be one of the keys to attracting your cat and encouraging it to take care of its digestive system.
If your cat happens to fall for one of your indoor plants, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing as long as it doesn’t cause too much damage, in general you’ll want to grow it specifically for him because many houseplants can present a toxicity risk for your furred friend.
4 Plants That Can Serve as Cat Grass
There are basically four kinds of plants that can act as cat grass, starting with the most well-known and widespread, catnip (Nepeta cataria). Also called nepeta, cat mint or simply catnip, it suits most cats!
The Silver Vine (Actinidia polygama) is another cat grass that often edges out catnip in garden beds, and no one’s quite sure which is best. After all, not all cats are clones and don’t respond the same way, as we know well.
Finally, valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and honeysuckle (Lonicera) are alternatives to the first two cat grasses that are far from uninteresting, especially if your cat is picky.
How to Care for Cat Grass
The fundamental idea when growing cat grass is to assume that once the feline starts eating it, it should be available to eat all the time.
It’s therefore recommended to grow at least two plants to rotate between the one that regrows after your cat nibbles on it and the one that serves as the “dining hall.”
As soon as your cat grass, of whatever variety you choose, becomes too old and too tough, your cat may lose interest. Cats can have their own little preferences. Try to make sure to offer them fresh shoots, watered regularly so they stay nice and lush and placed in a sunny spot so they stay vigorous.
Your cat will know how to thank you for the time you spend pampering them!
