You Grow Girl™

Posted: 14-06-05 13:54

This may be a new one...

I have a south-facing deck, and I'd like to have a large-ish container of grass so my cats can have their own little spot of lawn. I bought a large tray that I can plant in (about 4" deep, 20" diam).

Originally I was going to just plant cat grass, but it only lasts for a couple weeks and it would be insanely expensive to buy enough (because I've only found it in itty bitty little packages). So now I'm thinking of planting some lawn grass. It's not like cats don't eat regular lawn grass when they have access, right?

Now, I've never had a lawn before, so I know nothing about planting & growing grass. Let alone grass in a container. Can you think of anything I should be aware of? Will some grasses do better in sunny areas than others? Will some grasses be better suited to life in a container? Will I need to buy a little Barbie lawnmower?

Posted: 14-06-05 16:54

hi - I have kitties and I grow some grass for them to gnaw on during the winter, they really like it and I know in springtime as soon as things start sprouting they are out chewing

I did know that the stuff i buy (in little packets) was wheatgrass

so I peeked on google and right off saw a place that sells 5 lbs of wheatgrass seed for ~$15

that's not that far off from regular grass

here's the link:

http://www.wheatgrasskits.com/petgrass.html

Posted: 14-06-05 17:04

Thanks for the link, pixing!

How long does wheat grass last in your experience? I've only grown the "cat grass" and it usually wilts and dies within a couple weeks. I'm hoping for a nice green "lawn" all summer.

Posted: 14-06-05 17:18

I really have no idea, I bet outside it would get tall and flower/seed up

you would probably need to rotate two trays - I am totally guessing though

but I bet if you did two kitty litter box size trays every 4 -6 weeks you would be golden

I am sure there is more wisdom within the forums

Posted: 14-06-05 17:33

I would agree. An old roomate used to grow wheatgrass to juice and that's what he did - rotating trays (he had 3).

Posted: 14-06-05 18:30

I can see growing and rotating smaller containers of the wheat grass for the cats to nibble on, but I'd still like a larger patch of grass that they can just lay in. And I just don't have the room to have and rotate multiple containers that size. So I'm still thinking regular grass for the bigger container.

Thanks for all the info on wheat grass though!

Posted: 16-06-05 18:07

Well I bought & planted some grass seed last night. I'll let y'all know how it goes.

Posted: 21-06-05 16:35

definately do! sounds like a neat project. let me know if your cats enjoy the grass as well.

i've tried twice now growing grass for my cat, and have been met with an odd kind of failure. The first time he ignored it Sad

and the second time he ate it, but would immediately throw it up.

This was weird to me, but maybe he just doesn't have the taste. It wasn't toxic or anything either; i bought a kit from a local nursery where the salesperson said she grew the grass for her cat and the cat loved it.

Posted: 21-06-05 16:44

rosebug my cat almost always throws up after eating grass. But she loves it.

Both my cats love eating grass (or any grassy leafed plant they can get their paws on), but only one of them throws up afterwards. But then she goes right back and eats some more. Maybe it's just because she's not used to it? I don't always have it available, so maybe if she had access to it more often her system would get used to it. I dunno.

I know they're going to love having a little piece of lawn to lay in though. They always try to lay on all my other plants (grrr).

Posted: 21-06-05 21:50

Yes, the "cat grass" is usually wheat or oats. Buy it bulk or go visit a local farmer and get a few handfuls for a dollar and a smile. I have oat seeds, courtesy of a farming uncle, and one 3/4 full Ziploc bag has lasted me for 2 years. Since this is grain seed, it will of course, last a couple months if it isn't grazed. My cats munch on it and it usually lasts 3-4 weeks. I don't keep rotating containers as a new batch sprouts in 3 days or so.

After reading the YGG book, I bought Pennisetum and Festuca for some variety in their grass diet. The Pennisetum is mowed right down (damn thing was pricey too, I was hoping to bring it inside for the winter and enjoy it!), and the Festuca was loved originally and is now ignored.

Mine used to throw up often because they would eat too quickly. they're much better grass eaters now that they seem to understand it'll be there later.

I'd be cautious about a place for them to lay on. I know mine would tend to use it as a litter box...

Lisa

Posted: 21-06-05 23:40

I finally have grass sprouts! Yay! I've been checking obsessively every day even though the package said it would take 7-10 days... and it's only been 5 now!

Geek that I am, I was going to take a picture, but it's pouring rain right now. Maybe later. Wink

I'm not worried about the cats digging in it. The two I have right now have never dug up any of my plants. But any container that's large enough to accommodate them gets lain in.

Posted: 08-07-05 1:51

Well here we go. A nice lush lawn...

And a nice lush lawn with a cat on it... Very Happy

They both love it. At first I was worried that I'd bought too big a container, but now I see it's not big enough for the both of them. I may have to set up another, but I don't know if I have room... They may just have to take turns. Heh. Poor girls are sooooo hard done by. Rolling Eyes

Posted: 08-07-05 11:03

There are lots of different grasses that cats in general will eat but each cat has their own set of tastes. For example my cat prefers lemongrass and purple fountain grass and is not as excited by ribbon grass and blue fescue. She will chew a huge container of purple fountain grass down to nothing!

Posted: 08-07-05 11:10

I agree. One of my cats loves the standard "cat grass" mix and blue fescue, while the other loves the lemongrass and my orange sedge. This little piece of lawn is partly for grazing (and they've both grazed on it a bit), but mostly it's just somewhere they can lay on the grass, since I don't allow them off the deck.

Posted: 08-07-05 11:17

I think that's just beautiful! They are two lucky cats.

Posted: 22-08-05 18:33

i love this! i got the biggest kick when i got down to the pic of your cat hanging out on the grass nest!!! SOOOO CUTE!

I have been wanting to grow some grass for my little babies. Great tips on different kinds of grass. Very Happy

Posted: 23-08-05 9:00

This is awesome! I so want to grow some grass for my kitty now.

How cute and she looks very happy!

I have a calico by the way. Your tortie is lovely.

Posted: 23-08-05 10:47

that is the cutest thing ever! I actually have a large container like the green one with the cat in it that is un-used at the moment. Soon it will be my kittens playground!

Posted: 23-08-05 11:47

i love to see well cared for pets Smile

can i add a few feline photos?

this is Julian smashing the catnip patch in the garden. (it survived!)

here is his little sister Grayce playing Catnip Princess.

lastly, here is a little catnip salad i made for the furry kids. of cource they went straight for the meat glob, but one of them did eat her salad.

Posted: 23-08-05 13:08

Oh my god, Phlora, that's brilliant! I love my cats but... yeah, I'm not going to be making them catnip salads any time soon. Laughing

They're still loving the grass, but now it's so tall that it just flops over. I think I need to mow it...