Cat Grass and Catnip - Which Should You Choose for Your Cat?
For cat owners, providing the best care and enrichment for their feline friends is a top priority. When it comes to plants and herbs for cats, two popular options are cat grass and catnip. Both cat grass and catnip are safe for cats to enjoy, but they have distinct properties that affect cats in different ways. By understanding the key differences between these plants, cat owners can make the ideal choice for their individual pet.
Let's start by defining these two feline-friendly plants.
What is Cat Grass?
Cat grass refers to a mixture of wheat, barley, oats, rye, and other grain grasses that are grown specifically for cats. Unlike grass grown for lawns, cat grass is grown indoors in pots so it is fresh and readily available for cats to nibble on.
Cat owners may also see cat grass referred to as kitty grass or pet grass. Whatever name it goes by, the purpose remains the same. Cat grass provides cats with nutritious greens that aid their digestion and help prevent issues like hairballs.
The tender shoots and leaves of cat grass are loaded with fiber, minerals like iron and calcium, and vitamins A, D, and C. As obligate carnivores, cats need vegetables and greens in their diet to stay healthy. Cat grass gives them access to these nutrients in a natural, grassy form their instincts tell them to consume.
In addition to its nutritional value, cat grass satisfies cats' instinctual need to chew on and nibble grass. This habit of grazing on grass stems from their ancestral origins as desert dwellers. Consuming grass helped their systems expel any bones, fur, or other indigestible material consumed while hunting prey.
Key Benefits of Cat Grass
- Aids digestion
- Provides fiber, vitamins, and minerals
- Prevents issues like hairballs or constipation
- Satisfies natural grass-nibbling instinct
- Can be grown fresh indoors year-round
Unlike catnip, cat grass does not cause any intoxicating or mind-altering effects in cats. It simply provides nutritional and digestive support.
What is Catnip?
Catnip is a flowering herb belonging to the Nepeta genus of the mint family. Its scientific name is Nepeta cataria. The plant contains a chemical compound called nepetalactone that is uniquely attractive to cats.
Catnip grows wild in many parts of the world, thriving in open grassy areas, woodlands, roadsides, and wastelands. The plant features grayish-green leaves and small lavender flowers on stiff, upright stems that can grow over 3 feet tall.
When cats detect the smell of nepetalactone in catnip, it triggers a response that varies from cat to cat. Most cats will act playful, hyperactive, and even euphoric when exposed to catnip. It makes them roll around, rub up against, and even eat the plants. On the other hand, some cats become more relaxed and docile around catnip.
Researchers still don't fully understand why catnip elicits this chemical reaction in cats. The response is believed to be an inherited genetic trait. Interestingly, kittens younger than six months old typically do not react to catnip.
Key Features of Catnip
- Contains nepetalactone chemical
- Grows naturally in outdoor environments
- Triggers a behavioral response in susceptible cats
- Causes a temporary high-like reaction
- No nutritional value or health benefits
Catnip is purely a source of enjoyment and stimulation for cats. It does not provide any nutritional benefits the way cat grass does.
Key Differences Between Cat Grass and Catnip
Now that we understand the basics of cat grass and catnip, let's look at some of the key differences cat owners should recognize:
| Cat Grass | Catnip |
|---|---|
| Mixture of grasses grown for cats | Single plant species |
| Grown indoors in pots | Grows naturally outside |
| Provides nutrition and aids digestion | No nutritional value |
| Satisfies natural grazing instinct | Triggers temporary behavioral high |
| No intoxicating effects | Causes reactant euphoric response |
As you can see, while both plants are enjoyed by cats, cat grass and catnip have very distinct properties. Cat grass offers health benefits, while catnip provides temporary enjoyment and stimulation.
Choosing Between Cat Grass and Catnip
When deciding between growing cat grass or sourcing catnip for their feline friends, cat owners should consider a few important factors.
Considerations for Cat Grass
Cat grass offers nutritional benefits, making it a great option for cats' health. Since it is grown fresh indoors, it can provide year-round access to greens. However, there are some downsides for owners to consider:
- Requires access to soil, pots, water, and sunlight to grow indoors
- Involves regular maintenance like watering, trimming, and replanting
- Can attract insects or leave mess from digging/grazing
Indoor growing does have an environmental impact, so owners should carefully assess if they can commit to maintaining cat grass plants.
Considerations for Catnip
For those looking for safe recreational fun for cats, catnip is an excellent choice with very little required from owners:
- 100% natural stimulation from catnip's chemical compounds
- No effort required beyond sourcing/purchasing catnip
- Grows sustainably outdoors so eco-friendly option
There are a few limitations to be aware of, however:
- Some cats do not react to catnip
- Outdoor growing means limited winter availability in some regions
- Purchasing catnip doesn't support local green producers
Ethically sourced catnip avoids sustainability concerns, but it is weather-dependent.
Key Questions to Ask
When deciding between cat grass and catnip, cat owners should reflect on a few key questions:
- Does my cat need extra nutritional and digestive support from greens?
- Do I want to commit to growing and caring for an indoor cat grass garden?
- Does my cat positively react to and enjoy catnip?
- Can I access or grow catnip ethically and sustainably?
There are no right or wrong answers, but thinking through these considerations helps owners select what makes the most sense for their situation.
Making the Best Choice for Your Cat
Ultimately, what matters most is choosing cat grass or catnip based on your cat's specific needs and preferences.
Assess whether your cat struggles with digestion, constipation, or hairballs. If so, the nutritional and fiber benefits of cat grass could be a game changer. But if you cannot accommodate an indoor garden, catnip may be more realistic.
You also want to choose plants your cat actually enjoys. Offer a catnip sampler to see if it causes a positive reaction. If your cat could not care less about catnip, grazing on cat grass will provide more enrichment.
It is also perfectly fine to offer both catnip and cat grass! Having both plants in moderation provides the most benefits. Cat grass supports healthy digestion while catnip satisfies behavioral stimulation needs.
In the end, observe your cat's preferences and needs, consider your own constraints as an owner, and select the feline plant option that everyone can enjoy responsibly.
When it comes to cat grass vs. catnip, both plants have value for cats but for very different reasons. Cat grass provides nutritional and digestive benefits. Catnip offers temporary recreational enjoyment thanks to its nepetalactone compound. Understanding these key distinctions helps owners choose the best plant for their feline friend's needs and their own caretaking abilities.
Cat owners can make informed decisions with the aid of cat grass and catnip. Offer whichever plant your cat responds to positively, and consider providing both if possible. Cats benefit from having access to healthy greens as well as the mental stimulation from catnip. As long as these plants are given safely and responsibly, both catnip and cat grass can be great additions to a cat's happy, enriched life.