Cat Grass

Cat Grass is a general term for grass that your cats can eat. This grass is typically planted from the seeds of wheat, barley, and oats.

Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum)

Wheatgrass is exactly what it sounds like - it's wheat! Only, you don't harvest the seeds, instead you are harvesting the grass before it goes into seed.

Health Benefits:

In relation to the nutrients listed below, these are some of the health benefits you can receive from Wheatgrass:

• Aids in digestion

• Supports healthy liver function

• Detoxes the body

• Increased energy levels

• Boosts metabolism

• Lowers cholesterol

• Boosts immune system

• Lowers blood pressure

• Stabilizes blood sugar

• Improves cognitive function

• Anti-inflammatory properties

Wheatgrass is a source of:

• Potassium

• Iron

• Calcium

• Chlorophyll

• Fiber

• Enzymes

• Magnesium

• Phytonutrients

• Protein

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin B Complex

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin E

• Vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, pantothenic acid, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium

• 17 forms of amino acids, including 8 out of 9 essential amino acids.

Barley Grass (Hordeum vulgare)

Barley grass is the leaf of the barley plant, before it turns to seed.

Health Benefits:

• Increases energy

• Improves eye health

• Improves heart health

• Fights free-radicals

• Balances blood sugar

• High in antioxidants

• Decreases cholesterol

• Decreases blood pressure

• Helps with weight loss

Barley Grass is a source of:

• Fiber

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin K

• Polyphenols

• Flavonoids

Oat Grass (Avena sativa) or Oat Straw

Oat grass is harvested while it is still green, before it goes into seed.

Health Benefits:

• Improves cognitive function

• Improves blood flow

• Reduces inflammation

• Increases heart health

• Stress relief & better able to handle stress

• Helps fight depression

Oat Grass is a source of:

• Antioxidants

• Iron

• Manganese

• Zinc

Benefits For Your Cat

Hairballs is a condition affecting cats when hair from self-bathing becomes stuck in the stomach or intestines in forms of balls or clumps. Cat Grass helps the passing of hairballs by providing your cat with fiber. Fiber is known to help the digestive tract by absorbing water in the intestines since we do not digest it in the stomach. The undigested fiber creates bulk with the food passing through the system so the muscles in the intestines can push waste out of the body more easily, preventing constipation and allowing the hairballs to pass smoothly.

How To Incorporate Cat Grass Into Your Diet

As you read above, Cat Grass isn't just beneficial to cats, it's also beneficial to us! Common ways to get the grass into our diet is to juice it or blend in a smoothie. Other ways you can ingest it is to chop it up with kitchen scheers into a salad! You can also make a tea out of the grass stems. There are also supplements you can purchase from health stores as well. Always check with a doctor if you are unsure if you should take something.

I think it would be fun to add this to my diet and I am willing to try it out and see how I feel! Let me know if you try this new superfood as well, or if you decide to grow this nutritious treat for your pets!

Here's some pictures of my Cat Grass experience so far!

Photography by:

@samybeephotography