As the weather warms up, our cats spend more and more time outside playing. They like nothing more than to play ‘tigers’ in and around the undergrowth, hiding and jumping out at nothing in particular. There are plants that they particularly delight in playing with and these can also have health benefits too! ‘Cat Grass’ is a plant that falls into this category, it’s a hardy annual that’s very easy to grow. Cat Grass can also be useful for those of us who aren’t fortunate enough to have a garden, as it can also be grown inside!
You can get seed from many good garden centres and can be sown all year round. To use in the house, sow in shallow containers or seed trays filled with sowing compost. Cover the seed with about half an inch of compost, and water liberally until the grass reaches a height of around 6 inches, at which point you can cut the grass with scissors to keep in under control (that’s if your cat hasn’t already done it for you!). This needs to be kept in a bright well lit room in your home. You can also quite easily sow the seed into a convenient patch near the front of a border in your garden, this will enable you to be able to sit back and watch the fun. Cat’s not only find cat grass a stimulating place to play, but will also like to eat it. The natural oils in the plant will help keep their digestive system healthy.
During the summer your cat will have great fun playing in the grass, providing great photo opportunities, so have your camera ready! If you do get a few good shots, think about using them as a reference for your very own pet portrait, it’ll make a fantastic way to remember your pet and a very personal way to decorate your home.
