Wheatgrass For Cats

Cats are known as hunters and meat eaters, so seeing them chomp on some grass can feel confusing. Yet cats have been casually chewing on grass for centuries, and these days some owners even deliberately grow little pots of cat grass in the house for them. Wheatgrass is just one type of cat grass, and today i’ll share whether it’s a good idea to give it to your kitty.

Contents

• Wheatgrass vs cat grass
• What is in wheatgrass?
• Why do cats like eating it?
• Is wheatgrass safe for cats?

What is Wheatgrass?

In its natural raw state, wheatgrass is a thick-blade dry cat grass. Wild wheatgrass grows fast and will mature in as little as 10 days. Typically, the wheatgrass you will see in stores (which is where most people encounter wheatgrass) is harvested when the plant is very young.

Wheatgrass is also grown as graze for livestock, and wild animals like antelope and deer enjoy noshing on it as well. It has earned itself the nickname of “green blood” for its high chlorophyll content, which gives this grass an unusually vibrant green hue. The nickname, however, actually refers to the plant’s cells, which are similar in structure to the human body’s own red blood cells.

This plant was initially cultivated by a chemist named Charles F. Schnabel. His original goal in doing this was to save chicken lives! Schnabel rescued a flock of ill chickens and began feeding them fresh grasses, including fresh wheatgrass; the chickens recovered and produced large crops of eggs.

He then began feeding wheatgrass to his family as well, and a new nutrition movement was born.

Nutritional Benefits

Wheatgrass has a reputation as a superfood and nutritional powerhouse. But many claims made about the potential for wheatgrass to soothe or heal are exaggerated. Or based on very small amounts of evidence. However, the benefit of wheatgrass across multiple fields of human and veterinary medicine remains an interesting area. Researchers might still find provable applications.

And none of the controversy changes the fact that wheatgrass still contains important nutrients, including iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and selenium.

Wheatgrass is also unusually high in protein for a plant. Protein content is especially high when the wheatgrass plant is young and decreases as the plant matures. It also contains large amounts of insoluble (non-digestible) fiber, which can be very helpful to get a sluggish digestive system moving again.

Why Do Cats Eat Wheatgrass?

Cats are obligate carnivores, which means their digestive tract is extremely specialized to process animal protein. This also means that the cat digestive system doesn’t handle vegetables, fruits or grains well. Eating grass is like taking a fiber pill. It goes in one end and comes right out the other.

In past decades, seeing your cat chowing down on grass meant stomach issues. He had an upset tummy or needed to clear out excess bones or skin, cat hair or some other potential obstruction. Modern feline researchers are starting to rethink this theory however.

Some cats may not ever touch the stuff, while others seem to make a beeline for anything green – safe or toxic, tasty or not. One recent theory is looking at cats with an oral fixation and whether grass might satisfy a continual need to chew. Yet another theory ponders whether cats have evolved to eat grasses to keep their digestive tracts clear, much in the same way that wild felines (lions, tigers and others) use vegetation to combat gut parasites.

Another theory is that wheatgrass for cats with kidney disease, diabetes or respiratory infection might be using their grass ingestion to flush toxins, bacteria, fungi, viral matter or poisons out of their body. But at this point, we just don’t know for sure.

Is It Safe To Grow Wheatgrass For Cats?

While even feline veterinarians don’t know precisely what draws cats to green growing things, the general consensus is that it isn’t anything to worry about.

Some cat owners worry about food allergies when they see their cats eating wheatgrass. After all, wheatgrass is related to wheat, and wheat contains gluten, and many people and pets have gluten allergies. It is a pure plant fiber. The gluten proteins are only found in the seeds and not in the sprouted plant.

The main side effect cat owners report when their kitties eat too much is increased vomiting or pooping. This is due to your cat’s inability to digest. The fiber will prompt what is in your cat’s stomach to come out one way or the other.

How Much Is Too Much?

Can cats eat wheatgrass daily? At the most fundamental level, clearly some cats do eat wheatgrass daily and seem none the worse for it. A New York Times points to a burgeoning market for “pet salad”. Proof that some pet owners are even purchasing or growing wheatgrass for cats and other pets.

Not only do some cats eat wheatgrass daily, but other cats are using it in their litter boxes! A newer product called Cat Country organic wheatgrass litter uses wheatgrass fibers for an all-natural form of odor control. It is perfume-free, chemical and polymer-free litter box material.

Wheatgrass For Cats

Cats can and do eat wheatgrass as well as other types of grasses. And it’s possible they do it to clear out their digestive system. If your cat seems to be eating a lot of green grass chat with your veterinarian. She could be trying to clear out illness or parasites or have some other health reason for seeking out grass.

And if you would like to offer your cat wheatgrass or cat grass, this is a good way to ensure that if your cat does decide to ingest plant matter, she will be eating something you know is safe for her to eat!

Do you offer cat grass or wheatgrass to your cat? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!