Can I grow grass in my house for my cat to snack on?

ASK THE HORT AGENT

Question Can I grow grass in my house for my cat to snack on?

Answer Absolutely. It is perfectly legal as long as they are eating it. Although cats are carnivores (meat eaters), they do crave a bit of greenery now and then. Even wild cats will sometimes floss with a blade of grass. There’s no known nutritional explanation for this behavior. Some experts suspect that cats are attracted to the high-fiber and moisture content of grass. Whatever its purpose, occasional "grazing" seems to be a natural feline behavior.

You can provide your indoor cat, dog, rabbit or other furry creature with all the grass they desire. You may be surprised to find out that the fastest, cheapest and easiest thing to grow is not turf grass. Instead, it is recommended you plant wheat, barley or rye. Small bags of “cat grass” can be found at most pet stores. Larger bags can be purchased from most farm supply stores. A 25 pound bag of rye would supply a cat with grass for 25 years if you could keep the moths, weevils and mice out of it. I would suggest you put a pound in a zip lock baggie and sow the rest on your vegetable garden in the fall.

For the cat’s garden, all you need is a bowl, potting soil and some oats. Dampen the potting soil then lightly push the seeds (about ¼ inch deep) into the soil. It will probably take about 3 tablespoons of seeds per average soup bowl. Water them after planting. Keep the seeds moist until they sprout. Replant a new bowl every two weeks. Most cats do not like old oats that have hardened off. They prefer tender new growth. Wait until the wheat is about 2 inches high before you open up the salad bar.

Keep this in mind. Grass is a natural emetic. This means the cat induces vomiting when eating grass. Vomiting is often used as a means to eliminate hairballs (trichobezoar) or excess food. Some veterinarians say there should be no need for this grass, if your cat is fed correctly and brushed. A good quality diet will prevent over grooming (licking themselves) and therefore the swallowing of fur (which causes hairballs). The cat's food should be highly digestible so the feeding amounts are minimal. This helps to avoid digestive problems, which usually result in cat yakking. If you have any questions about your cat yakking, then call your veterinarian.

If your cat turns this new treat into an “all you can eat salad bar,” then put the cat's grass down for only a few minutes at a time. Be sure to keep the bowl of grass out of view and out of reach, when you’re not around. It will also be up to you to teach your flealion (feline) the difference between their bowl of grass and the rest of the houseplants. Good luck with that.

Remember that even temporary, indoor grass needs sunlight. For more info on indoor turf, visit http://www.hgtv.com/landscaping/growing-grass-indoors/index.html If you do not have internet access or you have outdoor grass questions, call me at 910-893-7533 or email me at gpierce@harnett.org

While side bowls of ranch, Italian or French dressing are not necessary for your cat's salad, they do sometimes like a sprig of cat nip after yakking.

Gary L. Pierce

Horticulture Extension Agent

Harnett County