Cat Grass – The healthy and tasty vegetal snack for felines

But the cat presents the same meow and even greater curiosity when it sees the pot of grass or, above all, when it smells it. But what is catnip and why do cats love this «cat salad» so much despite being natural carnivores?

Let’s take them one by one and see what catnip really is, why cats are crazy about it, what benefits it has for the health of your furry little one and how you can grow it.

What is catnip?

Catnip is a non-toxic plant, easy to maintain and extremely beneficial and safe for your cat’s health. Although similar in appearance to backyard grass, catnip is different because it is grown from seeds such as barley, rye, wheat or oats. This can be used, in addition to the benefits it offers the feline, to discourage him from staying away from the rest of the plants in the house, which can be toxic to him. Both in mixture and separately, these plants can satisfy the needs of the feline because they have different tastes, as follows:

• oat grass – is considered the most aromatic of all, as it offers, in addition to flavor, numerous proteins and soluble fibers;
• barley grass – is considered the sweetest of all, being extremely rich in nutrients and an excellent source of fiber;
• Wheat grass – is one of the best herbs for cats because it is rich in amino acids, vitamins and minerals. (surely you know how beneficial wheatgrass is for humans too

What are the health benefits of catnip?

There’s an old myth that cats only eat grass when they’re not feeling well. But studies have debunked this myth, showing that cats eat grass even when they are perfectly healthy and happy.

Besides the fact that they gives pleasureCatnip offers benefits to cats by supporting the digestive system. Also, catnip It also helps blood circulationdue to the presence of folic acid, which helps in the production of hemoglobin, the protein responsible for the movement of oxygen in the blood. However, the main role of catnip is to natural laxativewhich helps the cat remove hairballs formed due to persistent hygiene, or pieces of food it has ingested.

Another benefit of consuming catnip is given by the nutrients present in these green leaves, essential nutrients and benefits for the healthy development of the feline.

How is catnip grown?

Keep in mind that catnip is safer than outdoor grass because the latter can be chemically treated with various pesticides that can harm the little feline. Catnip also provides a healthy alternative to «gnawing» houseplants, which can also be toxic to them. And you know what the best part of this whole story is? The fact that you can give your cat a healthy, tasty and truly enjoyable alternative, in the simplest way. Why? Because catnip is extremely easy to grow and subsequently maintain. All you have to do is purchase the catnip kit and follow the instructions.

Here are some useful tips for a delicious, vegetable and healthy snack for your cat:

1. Before the plants from the purchased set germinate, the seeds must be kept constantly moist. Careful! They should not be waterlogged, so in the first days the seeds should be watered more intensively.
2. Once the first shoots appear, use less water than in the previous days.
3. Place the tray or vase in a bright location, but out of direct sunlight.
4. After a few days the grass will start to grow, reaching about 10 cm in a week.
5. From that moment the feline will be able to enjoy the snack.
6. During this time and thereafter, keep the tray or pot in natural light and, using a sprinkler, water the grass daily to keep it alive as long as possible.
7. It is very important to have control of the water level, because excessive catnip can produce mold, which is not beneficial for the feline.

Although for most cats this plant is addictive (and not in a bad way), you should know that there are cats that do not like catnip and do not accept it around them. Or there are cats who prefer slightly drier grass, which is why you don’t have to worry if your feline doesn’t «widen» his eyes when he sees the tray of tender green grass.