The Natural Cat - the Great Grass Experiment
Have you ever wondered why your cat goes outside to eat grass then comes in the house to vomit on your Persian rug? Why do cats eat grass anyway? I have always followed the traditional belief that it was to help them rid themselves of hair balls. After all, there usually is a large clump of fur mixed in with that yucky green stuff.
Regardless of their motivation, my cats are great eaters and hurlers of grass. Our home on the California Delta does not have a lawn. Actually, we don't have much of a yard, either. Our back yard is water and our front is mostly driveway. Since we have no lawn, our cats eat the wild river grasses that grown on the bank next to the water. A couple of years ago, we became concerned about the hazards of eating that sharp grass. We bought a large flat clay planter and a package of rye grass and planted a "lawn" for our kitties. The experiment wasn't very successful , however. The grass was slow to germinate, and because of the heat and our afternoon delta breezes, I had to water the "lawn" several times a day. We finally succeeded in growing a few sparce strands of green kitty health food, and proudly displayed it to the three who rule our house. Shannon yawned and went back to sleep. Arthur blinked her large blue eyes a couple of times and walked away. Bubba glanced at our offering with disdain and turned his back. A few days later we discovered dirt thrown on the deck around the perimeter of the planter. Sure enough, one of our brood had used it for a litter box. Muttering something about "casting pearls to swine", I repotted the soil and planted petunias.
I used the power of the Web and found, not only a source for purchasing the wheat grass, but confirmation that it is, in fact, a great supplement for cats, as well as humans. Cat Faeries'Webzine has an informative article about the research done by Ann Wigmore, founder of the famed Hippocrates Institute in Boston. You will also find the "recipe" for sprouting wheat berries, growing the grass, and a handy form for ordering the berries.
In our newfound horticultural zeal, we're also planting catmint and catnip for our motley band of ingrates. Both are perennials, so the little darlings will have to wait awhile for full enjoyment. Richters Herbsis a good source of several varieties of seeds and plants. (This is a secure order site, so be prepared for a warning.)
Stay tuned for a follow-up on our horticultural progress! Or, if you know of other cat-beneficial herbs that might be grown at home, drop me a line to: cats.guide@ .
Follow-up:
I promised to keep you updated on the herbal experiment. Shortly after writing that feature, Asa and I were sharing a frozen yogurt at our local health-food store. I poked around on their shelves and found a package of whole wheat berries for only $1.69. Now, I knew that the instructions for planting alfalfa called for sprouting the seeds first. So, I bought the stuff, brought it home and soaked a bunch overnight in a glass jar, covered it with a bit of plastic and put it in a dark cupboard to "sprout". The result within a few days was one of the foulest-smelling messes I have ever tossed down the disposal. Sort of like sour-dough starter gone bad. I think the clue was the "processed under California something-or-other standards" on the label. Now I'm looking for some good whole-wheat bread recipes. This time I'm going to do it right and order my grass from the source I originally quoted: Cat Faeries Meantime, the cats continue to eat the sharp wild river grasses.
Every life should have nine cats. - Anonymous
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