Giving Kitty Something to Nibble On
Cat grass is an increasingly popular phenomenon.
Written by: Tracy Vogel, Staff Writer

Cats graze. Not as much as sheep, obviously. But they do a little vegetation munching, as your houseplants will attest.

Picking up on this, a variety of companies offer "cat grass," grass blends to tempt cats hungry for greens. The verdict from veterinarians is that it can't really do any damage, and may have a few benefits.

"It doesn't hurt anything," said Dr. Les Hickman of the Cat Hospital of Memphis, Memphis, Tenn. "In nature most cats, if you give them a chance, will eat grass."

That doesn't necessarily mean they know what they're doing. "The primary reason they eat grass is so they can throw it up on the rug," he theorized. "If he likes eating it, and you don't mind cleaning it up, that's fine."

But cat grass -- generally oat grass, but occasionally blended to include wheat grass and barley grass -- may have some benefits other than satisfying cravings.

"They typically prefer cat grass to houseplants, so it's a good deterrent," said Dr. Kim Percival of The Cat Hospital of Austin, Austin, Texas. "It's not something they need in their diet, but they occasionally like it -- the crunchiness, the texture."

The increased fiber could also help cats prone to hairballs, said Dr. Michelle Rudd of the Annapolis Cat Hospital, Annapolis, Md. Treats meant to help with hairballs also commonly increase the fiber content of the cats' diet, helping them pass the material.

If you're going to feed your cat grass, don't take it from your back yard, Dr. Rudd advised. The grass might have been treated with chemicals, been contaminated by rain water, or contain hazardous plants. "I'd say, to be on the safe side, stay with what's on the market."

Pet stores sell cat grass in either small pots, already grown, or in bags of seed. Refrain from adding your own fertilizer to the grass, to avoid endangering your cat with chemicals. You might also want to regulate how much grass your cat eats. "Sometimes cats chomp it down and throw it up," Dr. Rudd said. "It's not particularly harmful for cats, but owners don't like it."

Check out our top selling Cat Grass Items:

Ozzy Att Wheatgrass for Cats Ozzy Att is the incredible, edible, radical cat! All you have to do is add water and the cute, reusable container will grow fresh wheatgrass for your favorite cats. Non-toxic and chemical-free, Ozzy Att is a great solution for saving houseplants from curious felines. Once they discover Ozzy Att they will leave your houseplants alone! Container is 4" high. Get your Ozzy Att Wheatgrass for Cats today!
Cosmic Kitty Cat Grass Cosmic Kitty Cat Grass is a natural food supplement that complements your cat's regular diet. Cosmic Kitty Cat Grass provides essential elements for helping cat digestive processes. Just add water and it grows indoors in a matter of days. Grow a mix of herbs and greens that cats love to eat. Kit includes seed mix, growing medium, and plastic planter bowl. It aids in achieving normal digestion without the chemicals added. Get your Cosmic Kitty Cat Grass today!
Barley Cat Give your cat maximum health with great tasting super green nutrition. Barley Cat is the original "green" supplement made from the juice of young Barley grass with a taste cats crave. Provides Vitamins B1, B2 and B6 A source of protein and essential minerals Chlorophyll can help freshen breath Features valuable amino acids and "antioxidant" Vitamin E Get your Barley Cat today!

*Article courtesy of VetCentric.com
Originally published May 03, 2006
Written by: Tracy Vogel, Staff Writer
For more information on this article, please visit http://www.vetcentric.com