Someone recently told me cats need grass to help their bodies digest the fur they ingest while grooming themselves. I have a MC type that bolts for the first speck of grass he see's whenever I opens the front door. He seems perfectly healthy, he has no problems with stools or eating. He has the ocassional fur ball. I guess I'm curious if this has any benefits for my Jack. Thanks in advance.

Jim

-- Anonymous, July 17, 2000

Answers

Jim,

I tried the store-bought packages of grass, but they didn't seem satisfactory. So far, two things have worked: 1) bringing in a handful of grass of different types (about 4-7 inches long) daily (I place one end of it firmly under a little cabinet and put something, like a brush handle, under the protruding grass to prop it, so that it sticks up a bit. 2)even better: A one-gallon grass plant that goes outside for light & watering every other day. The girls love to munch on the grass and play around it.

I'm planning to buy several types of one-gallon grasses to bring in and out. This size is big enough to allow them to chomp on it and pull it a bit without it falling over.

If you experiment, I'd like to read about which types of grass they like. We feed the birds in the yard, and the various bird grasses sprout. They like those, but I don't yet know which are which.

Linda

-- Anonymous, July 18, 2000

Jim: According to recent studies, cat and dogs do not eat grass to upchuck furballs! Grass has a nutrient which they disparately need, which is missing in their diet. They crave it! Unfortunately, grass is too tough to digest, and so they throw it up. Hence the misconception that cats and dogs eat grass to eliminate fur balls.

I have two cats, Fred and Alex. Alex is a hunter. My porch is daily daubed with his offerings. Its tough to determine exactly which parts of the chipmunks, squirrels and rabbits he eats, but he most certainly doesnt eat the intestines!! He does eat the brains, and most of the organs. Alex is one mass of muscle. His fur is shiny and his eyes clear.

Fred, on the other hand, doesnt hunt. He is slim and lethargic. Both A & F have IAMS dried food, Fancy Food, and fresh water at all times.

What I have learned is  the products we buy to feed our beloved cats and dogs do not provide their total nutritional needs. Check out Missing Link online.

JKP

-- Anonymous, July 21, 2000