Why and why do cats eat grass?

Surely every pet owner knows about special grass for cats. Many owners even buy it in specialized stores, and someone plants grass on their own at home. Why do cats need grass?

You should buy grass for cats for the following reasons:

• grass is a source of vitamins for cats;
• plants contribute to the removal of wool from the cat's stomach;
• the presence of special grass in the house allows you to save indoor plants.

Scientists still have not received an answer to the question why cats so love to eat grass.

Herb for cleansing the stomach

Cats specifically eat grass in order to induce vomiting. During this process, along with the grass, the remnants of food that did not have time to digest also leave the stomach, as well as everything that was swallowed by the cat by accident and can provoke gastric obstruction. Through this method, cats cleanse their stomach.

There is a theory that cats, being predatory animals, eat captured birds and mice with wool, bones and feathers. Which, in turn, are practically not amenable to digestion in the stomach. However, one should take into account the fact that domestic cats eat ready-made production feeds or home-made food. Such nutrition contributes to good digestion and complete assimilation of the cat eaten.

Lumps of grass

However, not every cat vomits after eating grass. Therefore, this method of cleansing the stomach from hairballs is not suitable for all cats.

Herb for Vitamins

According to scientists, cats are able to sit on the lawn and bite off grass blades for a long time. Often, animals, having bitten the grass, only chew it, after which they immediately spit it out. So, scientists came to the conclusion that cats act in a similar way in order to obtain the necessary vitamins. In particular - folic acid, the content of which is so rich in green grass.

One way or another, this theory finds a refutation, the arguments for which is that not all cats eat grass, some pets are absolutely indifferent to it.

What if a cat likes to eat grass?

In cases where the cat is prone to eating grass, you should provide her with this opportunity and satisfy her need. Moreover, given the availability of grass, doing this is absolutely no problem. Various grasses can be used for cats to eat: germinated sprouts of barley, oats, wheat, as well as special grass, which can be purchased at any pet store.

Since cats are distinguished by their finicky, you should first give your pet a choice to find out which grass is preferred for him. Some cats do not eat all types of plants.

How to grow grass for a cat at home

Method 1
For cat owners who have opted for self-growing grass for their pet, the most optimal way is to purchase vermiculite. This natural mineral is sold at any flower shop. Vermiculite is capable of absorbing an amount of moisture up to 5 times its own weight.The use of such a substrate will avoid the problem of constant watering of the soil and prevent its acidification.

Soil fertilized with vermiculite will allow for the growth of grass for 3 weeks. At the same time, the grass will grow back gradually, as it is eaten by the cat.

Upon completion of the procedures with the soil, it is necessary to soak the grain, the most common is oats. Which, by the way, must be soaked in cold water along with prepared vermiculite. After 1 hour, the water must be drained and pour all the contents into a wide container. The container should be filled no more than half to avoid spilling out of soil. Cut holes in the tank is not necessary.

Next, you need to make a greenhouse. To do this, the filled container should be wrapped in a cellophane film and placed in a warm place. The first sprouts will begin to appear in 2-3 days after this. The advantage of planting in this way is the longevity of the grass, which will grow gradually, which will allow the cat to eat growing grass for a long time. This effect is achieved due to the location of oat grains at different distances relative to the ground, and therefore, they germinate at different times, and not together.

About a week after planting, the grass will grow back and may be offered to the cat. Subsequently, to maintain such a lawn, it is necessary to fill the container with water every 5 days, after which, after 10 minutes, the remaining excess water should be drained. This method of grass germination is not suitable for every cat, because some pets dig up the soil that is used for such cultivation, and scatter it around the dwelling. In this case, you should choose the next method.

Method 2
Growing grass with this method is carried out in a plate of plastic, in which it is necessary, using an awl, to make holes. As with the first method, you should soak the grain, then put it on the prepared plate, cover with gauze on top and place the container in a warm place.

After 2-3 days, when the roots appear, the grain should be poured into a plate pre-coated with several layers of gauze. Next, the stacked grains need to be poured with water. Drain the remaining water. The plate is covered with cellophane and placed in a warm place. The first shoots appear in 4 days, and after 7 days the grass will be ready for consumption by the cat. This method is less practical than the first. Since, grass grown in this way requires more care and retains its properties only 7 days, after which it dies.

Some owners grow grass for cats in ordinary soil brought from the street, or pick grass that grows in the yards. It is worthwhile to understand that such weed carries a danger to the pet, since there is a risk of infection with worms and other diseases, including "Plague."

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