If you asked a cat whether she gave up her cat grass for he alth reasons, she would definitely say no. The pets are almost crazy about the green stalks. After all, consumption promotes the shedding of hairballs and provides important nutrients such as folic acid. However, animal researchers view the question a little more critically. In her opinion, feeding cat grass also poses some risks. Find out more about the dangers on this page and decide for yourself whether you should continue to feed your cat the food plant.
Is cat grass dangerous for cats?
Cat grass can be dangerous for cats if the stalks have sharp edges, absorb pollutants from the air or have been treated with pesticides. Pay attention to natural cat grass and replace woody stalks regularly.
Dangers of cat grass
- Sharp-edged stalks
- Airborne pollutants
- Treated cat grass
Sharp-edged stalks
Some types of cat grass become woody after a while. This not only poses a risk of cuts to the mouth. Much worse, consumption can also cause internal damage to the esophagus. In addition, hardened stalks are often not chewed properly and get stuck in the animal's digestive tract.
Airborne pollutants
Cat grass filters substances from the air and absorbs them. If you smoke near the plant, your cat will eat nicotine, so to speak. The wrong substrate also causes your cat to absorb too many nutrients and suffer long-term damage.
Treated cat grass
Cat grass is a popular dietary supplement for cats, but it is not only traded as a food plant. Plants that are purely used to decorate the home are often sprayed or treated with pesticides to produce a lush green color. Do not use natural cat grass, you will cause serious damage to your cat's he alth.
Is cat grass addictive?
Cat grass advocates argue that a cat who can nibble on cat grass regularly will not go to other poisonous houseplants. The only question is whether your cat would also leave the dry food for the plant. Cat grass is only used as a dietary supplement and not as a complete food. Instinctively, your cat will also eat the normal food. However, there is still a risk of overfeeding your cat with cat grass. In this case, the stomach lining becomes irritated.
Don't want to give your cat cat grass? You can find alternatives here.
