Cat grass

Cat grass is the colloquial term for trays or pots of young cereal grasses, most commonly wheat (Triticum aestivum), barley (Hordeum vulgare), oat (Avena sativa), and sometimes rye (Secale cereale), that are grown indoors for cats to chew. Catnip (Nepeta cataria) and other iridoid-rich plants are usually not included in the term, as they primarily elicit rubbing and rolling behavior rather than ingestion.[1][2]

The most common stated benefit of cat grass for the pet is to aid the passing of hairballs.[3]

Cultivation and availability

Commercial and home-grown cat grass typically comprises wheatgrass, barley grass, oat grass, and/or rye, sown densely and cut or presented at the sprout/microgreen stage (about 7–14 days).[1] Cereal grasses at this stage of growth are rich in fiber (including soluble fractions), chlorophyll, and water-soluble vitamins (e.g. some B vitamins).[4]

Cat grass is widely available in seed kits, ready-to-grow pouches,[5] and live trays.[6]

Cat grass can be grown indoors year-round in shallow trays using potting media or hydroponic mats. The process is similar to growing wheatgrass microgreens, and advice for the latter is commonly repurposed to guide "cat grass" cultivation.[7] General microgreen guidance recommends dense sowing, 1–3 days of dark "germination" with high humidity, bright light after emergence, good air movement to reduce mold, and harvest/presentation within 1–2 weeks.[8][9]

Use

External image
Scanning electron micrograph: leaf serrations/trichomes interlocking with hair[10]

Cat grass use by domestic cats is common, and is viewed positively in many cultures.

Many "carnivorous" species also ingest plants, with ethological function dependent on species, context, and plant type.[11] Domestic cats are believed to consume grasses primarily for their fiber content. In this regard, cat grass supplants nibbling on houseplants or lawn grasses.[5]

Cats may use plant fibers to help pass hairballs. A 2025 microscopy study of regurgitated matter found leaf trichomes interlocked with hair.[10] Nevertheless, pet cat owners in surveys have not observed behavioral changes to support this hypothesis.[12]

Persistent vomiting warrants clinical evaluation to rule out gastrointestinal disease.[13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "5 Types of Cat Grass You Can Grow". PetMD. 8 February 2018. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  2. ^ Uenoyama, R.; Miyazaki, T.; Hatanaka, A. (2021). "The characteristic response of domestic cats to plant iridoids allows them to gain chemical defense against mosquitoes". Science Advances. 7 (5) eabd9135. Bibcode:2021SciA....7.9135U. doi:10.1126/sciadv.abd9135. PMC 7817105. PMID 33523929.
  3. ^ "What is Cat Grass? Learn How to Grow Cat Grass for Your Pet". www.petmd.com.
  4. ^ Eissa, H. (2020). "Nutritional value and impact of wheatgrass juice ("green blood")". Bulletin of the National Research Centre. 44: 115. doi:10.1186/s42269-020-0272-x.
  5. ^ a b "Cat Grass: The Ultimate Guide (PDF)" (PDF). Pet Greens. 2025. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Sprouties (UAE) — Fresh cat grass". Sprouties.ae. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  7. ^ "Directions for How to Grow a Wheatgrass Pet Pal (PDF)" (PDF). Oregon State University Extension. 2019. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  8. ^ "A step-by-step guide for growing microgreens at home". Penn State Extension. 9 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Grow Microgreens at Home". Purdue Extension. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
  10. ^ a b Bensel, K. N.; Rudock Bowman, M. E.; Hughes, N. M. (2025). "Plant eating behavior in domestic cats: support for the hair evacuation hypothesis". Journal of Veterinary Behavior. 80: 71–76. doi:10.1016/j.jveb.2025.08.002. SSRN 5243632.
  11. ^ Yoshimura, H.; Shimada, R.; Kawabe, R. (2021). "Plant-eating carnivores: Multispecies analysis on factors affecting plant occurrence in scats and stomach contents". Ecology and Evolution. 11 (18): 12225–12239. doi:10.1002/ece3.7885. PMC 8366844. PMID 34429895.
  12. ^ Hart, B. L.; Hart, L. A.; Thigpen, A. P.; Willits, N. H. (2021). "Characteristics of Plant Eating in Domestic Cats". Animals. 11 (7): 1853. doi:10.3390/ani11071853. PMC 8300339. PMID 34206345.
  13. ^ "Cat-Safe Houseplants and Safety Tips". VCA Animal Hospitals. Retrieved 7 November 2025.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.