WARNING: cats don't need grass

Hello,
I just wanted to comment, I recently purchased and grew some wheat grass for my cat... I have been told it does not matter what kind of grass it is... cats do not need grass if they are getting a good diet.

My cat recently had to undergo life-saving surgery ( at a cost of 1300.00) to remove a blockage in her intestines made up of grass and hair. Eating grass is not a fix for any cat problems and after this experience and discussions with my vet and online research, I have found that it can cause more problems which far outweigh the gratification that a cat owner gets by growing grass and seeing their innocent animals enjoy eating it.

No one should have to go through what I have been through with my cat, deciding to go ahead with the costly surgery has caused a financial hardship for my family. A cats life should not be a financial decision.

Janet

I've never heard that. Thanks for sharing that!

Sorry for your loss... what happened an allegic reaction or blockage?? I have feed grass for 29 years to cats with out trouble

I have catgrass outdoors for mine, and they normally eat it and be sick, so I am not going to worry too much about it, as even if I didn't grow it, they would find it from somewhere - Pebbles is really nice, she waits till she comes back inside!!

that sounds like a horrible accident. possibly some cats just get very unlucky and can't digest it or even get it out.

Possibly the problem is that it is wheat grass. I tried giving some to Gizmo and she puked it up at once. Oat grass did not have this affect.

I'm very sorry you and your cat experienced this. I feel this may be an occurrence that brought in a number of factors, not the cat grass exclusively. Sierra and Serenity have cat grass available at all times. One pot is out for them to munch while the other is growing in the window.

I have a number of cat books that say that cats need grass, that it's a good source of folic acid, and I have wondered if If I'm going against nature by not giving it to my cats. In my experience whenever I gave my cats grass they would puke it up every time and I would have to clean the carpet and they would overindulge. The old folks in my family say they eat it to get rid of hairballs but my cats ate it just because they felt like it and every time they had the opportunity and they would vomit up, not their hairballs but their food. As much as cats have a craving for it I could not find the benefit in giving my cats grass and having them puke it up every single time. The folic acid supplement from the grass is puked up. Apparently it's not like cats HAVE to have grass or their health would suffer. My cats are doing fine without it but a lot of people, especially the ones writing these cat care books are making it seem like if we don't give them some grass to munch on we're going against nature or seriously depriving them of something important, like we should give it to them just because they crave it.

I'm sorry that your cat was obviously overly sensitive to cat grass and/or overate it and that you went through such a bad time over it.

I have wheat grass out at all times for Ginger, and the only time she eats too much is when she has a hairball and needs the extra stimulation to get it up and out.

She likes a little nibble of it now and then, but never overindulges herself. I find that she pukes a LOT more often when there ISN'T any cat grass in the house.

So I'm not about to change. Besides, cat grass is MUCH better for her than my houseplants - which she WOULD go after if I didn't have that grass out for her all the time!

Wheat has gluetin in it- and sometimes, cat's just like people have a sensitivity to gluetin and have an allergy to it. Many times that results in gastroparesis...slow digestion of solids,over time that can cause blockages. Her Gastrointestinal blockage likely occured because the stomach will bloat and swell up as a result of that allergy- when it swells soo much,other food, and hair absorbed cannot pass and the blockage becomes life threatening. I think it's safe to assume that your little furbaby has a wheat allergy or sensitivity and that for her- not having grasses is a wise decision. I would also check the labels on all of her kitty food and put her on a wheat free diet However, for a kitty with a normal digestive track, it is perfectly safe and aids in digestion. I really hope your family recovers financially quickly and your kitty feels better soon. I'm soo sorry to hear about what happened to her. Keep us posted!

Originally Posted by StarryEyedTiGeR

Wheat has gluetin in it- and sometimes, cat's just like people have a sensitivity to gluetin and have an allergy to it. Many times that results in gastroparesis...slow digestion of solids,over time that can cause blockages. Her Gastrointestinal blockage likely occured because the stomach will bloat and swell up as a result of that allergy- when it swells soo much,other food, and hair absorbed cannot pass and the blockage becomes life threatening. I think it's safe to assume that your little furbaby has a wheat allergy or sensitivity and that for her- not having grasses is a wise decision. I would also check the labels on all of her kitty food and put her on a wheat free diet

However, for a kitty with a normal digestive track, it is perfectly safe and aids in digestion. I really hope your family recovers financially quickly and your kitty feels better soon. I'm soo sorry to hear about what happened to her. Keep us posted!

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The gluten in wheat grass is not high at all( I speak from 15 years of a low to no gluten diet) ... the glutens seem to rise upon the mature grains..

My cats are fed a very good quality diet, and still enjoy grass. But Spooky would rather eat lettuce over the grass.

Originally Posted by sharky

The gluten in wheat grass is not high at all( I speak from 15 years of a low to no gluten diet) ... the glutens seem to rise upon the mature grains..

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Do you by chance have Celiac disease just out of curiosity??? I'm getting tested for it on friday. - i'm attempting to learn about the wonderful world of gluetin free foods at the moment / Thanks for the info about the gluten in wheat grass. I'd still be leary of giving it to a kitty though if it has a very very sensitive tummy to it.

I grew some cat grass for my cats and neither of them would touch it. They don't bother my 1 houseplant either though.

Originally Posted by StarryEyedTiGeR

Do you by chance have Celiac disease just out of curiosity??? I'm getting tested for it on friday.

- i'm attempting to learn about the wonderful world of gluetin free foods at the moment

/ Thanks for the info about the gluten in wheat grass. I'd still be leary of giving it to a kitty though if it has a very very sensitive tummy to it.

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No Celiac... I am gluten intolerant ... basically I get sick if I eat it but I am not slowly killing myself like a Celiac... Mine is more like an allergy .. It can be fun I hope you can cook ... I have been this way for over 13 yrs

I have a little bit of cat grass sitting in my window. Stanley and Sadie munch on it until it falls off the ledge

I haven't experienced any problems with it though. Not sure what kind it is, basically just bought it at the pet store ha ha.

Stanley when he goes outside always finds a patch of grass and sits there munching for a while.

I don't think grass itself causes that problem... it sounds like something else was the trigger, or the specific cat had an unusual reaction.

Grass isn't necessary if cats are getting a good diet, but it is good for them.

I've known a lot of cats to eat grass regularly and be fine. Some throw up when given it... apparently helping cats to vomit is one of the useful purposes of grass, but if you as the owner don't enjoy that, you can just stop giving it.

My cat eats all varieties of pet grass -- wheat, oat, rye, whatever -- and never throws up or has digestive upset as a result. And he eats large amounts.

Originally Posted by sharky

No Celiac... I am gluten intolerant ... basically I get sick if I eat it but I am not slowly killing myself like a Celiac... Mine is more like an allergy .. It can be fun I hope you can cook ... I have been this way for over 13 yrs

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Goodness! I'm sorry to hear you've had it for 13 years. Fortunately, I can cook pretty well and don't mind learning new recipies so it won't be too bad of an adjustment if i have it, i'd just prefer not to have it . I had my Celiac test done today, so I will know on Wednesday hopefully what my results are. Thanks for the info! I appreaciate it. I may be pm'ing you for recipies if I wind up having it. Have a good night!

Zissou is sort of the opposite. She seems to crave grass, and eats it at least three times a day. When she has a big hairball she eats enough that it makes her puke up the grass and the massive hairball. I almost feel she'll have a problem without it. She also loves spinach and lettuce and such.

It is good to hear about a possible danger so that I can watch out for it, keep it in the very back of my mind...

Oscar would munch grass when available, like, if I take him outdoors, but he doesn't really crave for it, might as well bring up the subject with the vet next week, thanks guys for the information.