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Do cats like to chew on certain types of grass?
- Thread starter smoky
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most grasses lablelled cat grass are oat , rye , barley mix
if your cat would like to chew on some grass, you can get some of that cat grass or as an alternative pick up some alfalfa sprouts from the grocery store (harmless and also helps some plant chewers get their fix)
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this is a good idea but realize many cats are allergic to alfalfaOriginally Posted by Tink80
if your cat would like to chew on some grass, you can get some of that cat grass or as an alternative pick up some alfalfa sprouts from the grocery store (harmless and also helps some plant chewers get their fix)
For some reason both my cats rarely sample the Pet Grass (wheatgrass) that we traditionally purchased. They love Pennesetum (the one we have is purple fountain grass). But I make sure they get to it only when I have not recently treated with plant food etc. So I have about 10 plants so I can rotate which ones they can graze on. They like Flax too.
Ritz loves loves loves "fox tail", it's a type of grass, long stem, related to wheat. It looks like a cat or fox tail, similar in concept to feather at the end of a stick. Ritz thinks it's a mouse, she plays with it, chases it, pounces on it and best of all gets to EAT it. Unfortunately it's a seasonable plant, so her treat won't last much longer.
Sea Oat is similar, but much messier (that's what vacuum cleaners are for) and not as tasty.
Sea Oat is similar, but much messier (that's what vacuum cleaners are for) and not as tasty.
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those can be dangerous to your cat ...
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^Aren't those a problem for various grazing animals, too? The seeds stick.
Stick with common used grasses for this purpose. They sprout very quickly and have a decent flavor which is why they work so well.
Stick with common used grasses for this purpose. They sprout very quickly and have a decent flavor which is why they work so well.
We have some of those too, and when they blow off they are everywhere. Short of vacuuming Mother Nature into oblivion these and other such grasses can't be avoided and in most cases don't cause problems. SInce cats groom themselves they end up OK, but if you also bursh and inspect your pet after going out, which most everyone does, there's no reason to stop this fun game. The biggest issue is if the barbs get caught and work their way under the skin or if they eat it and it gets stuck. But your cat is not outside unsupervised, right, so this is like a million other things they can get inside or out.
My kitties are so very much healthier being in the outdoors and they eat bugs, cobwebs, spiders (ugh) and who knows. It's what they do and have been doing for millenia before we came along and forced them to eat biscuits out of bags.
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As always, not all cats would actually benefit from this. I have a cat with a mosquito and (suspected) chigger allergy. The three kittens may end up where they can't be around many allergen triggers.
I do monitor Ritz while she is eating the leaves. Before giving her the fox tail, I cut down the leaf parts so they are less wide and shorter. She has ocassionally bitten off more than she can chew and has a hard time swallowing it. That's why I monitor her. She rarely touches the fuzzy part (looks like fluffed up tail).
I have bought the grass in a pot that PetSmart/PetCo sells and she likes that as well--but she can't chase it. Does anyone have any suggestions of a similar food that once Ritz "catches" it, she can eat it. She liked DaBird before she discovered Fox Tails, but she cannot eat, only chew the plastic and that's not too safe. (Which is why I don't leave it out when I'm not home). I don't think she'd get the concept if I hid a piece of food and led her to it via the laser. She's smart, but not that kind of smart! Thanks.
I have bought the grass in a pot that PetSmart/PetCo sells and she likes that as well--but she can't chase it. Does anyone have any suggestions of a similar food that once Ritz "catches" it, she can eat it. She liked DaBird before she discovered Fox Tails, but she cannot eat, only chew the plastic and that's not too safe. (Which is why I don't leave it out when I'm not home). I don't think she'd get the concept if I hid a piece of food and led her to it via the laser. She's smart, but not that kind of smart! Thanks.
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http://www.drbarchas.com/foxtails
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...1225844AAS6m0R this one list s as toxic via this site http://www.cathelp-online.com/emerge...isonplants.php
As for the off topic of outdoor cats being healthier... they live 1/5 to 1/10 th the lifespan of an indoor only so obviously the outdoors has some dangers( do a seach on site for loads of info)
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...1225844AAS6m0R this one list s as toxic via this site http://www.cathelp-online.com/emerge...isonplants.php
As for the off topic of outdoor cats being healthier... they live 1/5 to 1/10 th the lifespan of an indoor only so obviously the outdoors has some dangers( do a seach on site for loads of info)
Sharky, you convinced me. No more fox tail for Ritz. And she loved them so....
Pa nsy likes young tender grass that grows as weeds I guess. I cut them short, as if it is too long, he can't get it all down with a decent chew.
Nora likes the plain old grass that grows in our yard. LOL Don't worry, we don't use any type of products on our yard, it is au natural, so she isn't harmed by any of that. She is an indoor only cat, but occasionally we let her onto the front porch supervised and she loves to roll around on the concrete and to chomp on the grass and eat flies and moths (she is scared of ants, though LOL!).
