Wheat Grass for Cats: Living Food for the Modern Housecat ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

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Gail Colombo was contributing editor of the late-great Tiger Tribe magazine where this article first appeared in 1994. It is believed to be the first article in a cat magazine on wheat grass for cats and it has "influenced" others. Gail lives in San Francisco with her 6 cats, 4 bunnies and husband. She owns Cat Faeries, is a flower essence producer and an energy healer.

A word from Gail Columbo: This article is copyright protected. My intellectual property lawyer was a pit bull in a past life and is still mean as can be - don't even consider copying this article without permission. It appears here because I am a huge fan of Pawprints and Purrs, Inc. Susie Bachman's heartfelt and tireless dedication to cats and other animals is truly an inspiration to us all.
Regards, Gail Columbo

Wheat Grass for Cats:
Living Food for the Modern Housecat

Written by: Gail Colombo
Copyright © 1994-2010

Cats don't read health and diet books. Cats don't follow health fads. Cats eat grass. Chlorophyll rich and lush green, grass contains a higher concentration of enzymes, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids than almost any other food. And wheat grass has the highest concentration of any other species of grass. Cats, and most other animals, instinctively seek out grass to maintain health, or recover from an injury. A cat, or any animal, could survive on grass.

In our modern world, much outdoor grass is of little nutritional value and is possibly unsafe. Common lawn is over-hybridized, and is of no nutritional value. Lawn can be full of chemical fertilizers or pesticides. The safety of wild plants and weeds is questionable unless you live in a remote or undeveloped area. In suburban areas, and certainly in urban areas, wild grasses and weeds should be approached with caution. And, of course, there is the whole issue of whether cats should be outside roaming around and facing potentially life threatening circumstances.

Indoor cats often turn to house plants to satisfy their cravings, but this isn't much safer. Some house plants may be fatally poisonous, or bring on other problems. Even if indoor houseplants are perfectly safe and non-toxic, they are not optimally nutritious. And certainly no one wants a house full of chewed up, dug up house plants!

Fortunately there is a very simple solution to benefit all cats. As a cat's guardian you can easily plant a small indoor garden of the highest quality organic grass. Your cat could safely graze at will. By simply sprouting certain seeds, then planting them, anyone/anywhere can grow healthy grass. So, just what is it that cats know about the benefits of eating grass that we don't?

THE QUEEN OF GRASS: ANN WIGMORE

The foremost human authority on grass was the late Ann Wigmore, founder of the famed Hippocrates Institute in Boston. Ann Wigmore learned of the healthful and curative benefits of eating grass and simple foods from her grandmother. Born in 1909, Ann lived with her grandmother, the village healer, in a forest in Eastern Lithuania. During World War I her beloved grandmother nursed hundreds of Lithuanian and Russian soldiers suffering from gangrene and open wounds back to health. She relied upon whatever species of grass was found growing outside her front door, or in nearby forests. Her standard treatment for the soldiers was to withhold solid foods, but to feed grass.

As a child Ann spent most of her time with an array of animals. Animals became her best friends. She developed close relationships with many species of animals, and observed all of them closely. Every day she would share her lunch with birds, squirrels, skunks and so on. She was struck by watching them eat grass, either as their diet mainstay, or as a remedy after an injury. She realized that most animals depend upon grass from infancy through adulthood.

Ann moved to America during her early teens. At 18 years of age, she faced the immanent amputation of her feet from gangrene after a serious accident. Distraught, but determined not to allow the surgery, she recalled her grandmother's grass remedy and the soldiers it saved. Ann told her doctor and her family that she would not allow the amputation, and that she wanted to leave the hospital. Everyone thought she was insane! But she insisted, and took matters into her own hands. Once home she would ask to be carried outside every day, supposedly for a sun bath. When no one was looking, she would eat handfuls of grass, flowers, and leaves. It took several months, but the sores began to heal, and eventually the gangrene passed from her feet and legs.

Because of her own success with eating grass, Ann was determined to learn more so she could help others. She spent the next years researching, and experimenting with countless species of grass, searching for the one that would be superior to all others. Eventually she discovered grass grown from sprouted hard wheat berries was "perfect." The nutrient content of wheat grass was higher than in any of the 5,000 other species of grass she studied. And it was higher than in cooked food.

LIVING FOODS

Living foods are raw and uncooked, and bursting with life. Topping the list are sprouts, followed by fresh vegetables, greens, fruits, and sea vegetables. Living foods are at their peak of nutritional value. During sprouting the seed releases all of its stored nutrients in a burst of vitality as it attempts to become of full-sized plant. When you eat a sprout, you get the best of the seed, nut or bean all in one bite.

Ann studied and experimented with a diet consisting of wheat grass juice, and living foods on her own body. Her colitis and arthritis soon disappeared. Her experiments broadened and she gave fresh wheat grass juice to a cancer patients and those suffering from similar diseases. Many of the sick were animals. The results were phenomenal. Cancers were disappearing, and arthritics began walking. The aged looked and felt younger. All who participated was literally re-generated.

After experimenting with growing wheat grass in different surroundings, Ann was overjoyed to learn that anyone, anywhere can grow it. Wheat grass does not require elaborate effort or even a green thumb. Nor does it need perfect weather conditions. It simply needs direct sunlight. It actually does better indoors, in a shaded area with indirect sunlight, and a temperature over 60 degrees. A kitchen or pantry is an ideal environment for growing wheat grass.

Charles Ranalli is currently spokesperson (or he was, this article dates back to 1994) at Ann Wigmore's Hippocrates Institute. He himself counts over 20 years of his own personal research. Ranalli tells us that sprouting predigests nutrients. "Sprouts are a form of vegetable with an extremely high concentration of nutrients and life energy (tiger tribe: please don't alter this term)." Sprouts give maximum nutrition in the most digestible form possible. Unsprouted seeds are hard and cannot be digested properly. Sprouting breaks down the sugars. Proteins break down and become amino acids. Fats break down and become essential fatty acids. "Sprouts are more digestible, and the nutrients more assimulable," he says.

Chlorophyll is nature's magic substance. Life on this planet depends upon it as much as oxygen. Chlorophyll supports all plant life, it is considered the blood of a plant. It is similar in its structure to our own hemoglobin. Eating enough chlorophyll assists us in maintaining a healthy blood stream. Extra chlorophyll when we are ill cleanses the blood stream, and strengthens the system in general. Charles Ranalli points out, "Animals instinctively go for grass when sick, for me this says it all!"

THE CATS OF THE HIPPOCRATES INSTITUTE:

Ann Wigmore and her staff provided wheat grass for their cats and other animals. Sprouts of all kinds were always added to food. Charles Ranalli tells of a cat who had come to The Institute so sick that death seemed certain. At this point, Ann had been a long time proponent of juicing wheat grass. She used the juice rectally as an enema and routinely gave herself rectal implants with it (using a baby enema syringe a small amount of wheat grass juice is inserted into the rectum and left there). This cat was very sick and she worried for its life. She decided to try rectal implants with wheat grass juice. It worked as well on the cat as it had on humans. Continuing this treatment for a period of time the cat regained perfect health.

Staff members of the Institute who lived with cats reported their animals had less illness once they provided wheat grass regularly. They noted that fur was more beautiful and life spans longer. Formerly arthritic older cats who could barely get in and out of the litter box, were jumping on top of high surfaces. Immune systems in all the cats grew strong and common sicknesses much more easily resisted. Sores and strange lumps would disappear. Chronic conditions such as upper respiratory problems would clear away for good. Keen observers commented that cat's personalities and behavior changed. The cats became calmer, and more "jungle cat-like" in their gait and mannerisms.

HOW TO GROW YOUR OWN:

Making sprouts and growing wheat grass for your own cats is quick and easy! Begin by sprouting Organic Hard Wheat Berries in a jar. The sprouts are then planted in soil. Within a few days little green shoots begin pushing through. In a few more days short grass will appear. The wheat grass will continue growing for about one week until it reaches 4 - 6 inches tall. The entire process is done indoors, during any weather. The instructions that follow were provided by Charles Ranalli. They vary slightly from the instructions found in Ann Wigmore's books, The Wheat Grass Book and The Sprouting Book. However, both methods seem to work well. Ranalli tells us that this method is the most mold resistant.

The biggest problem facing us is mold growth. This can happen during the sprouting and draining phase if the jar is not tilted at the proper angle and air cannot circulate. Some stores carry gizmos and contraptions that claim to make sprouting easier. From my own experience I found they are a major nightmare. I have tossed out more "science projects" than I ever got in edible sprouts! And I live in a climate that doesn't have conditions that should make sprouting difficult.

These instructions will be for a small amount of wheat grass - a bowl the size of a soup bowl. Once you've gotten the hang of sprouting and growing grass, and you want larger crops, simply increase the amount of wheat berries; use a bigger jar for sprouting; and consider planting on a cafeteria tray. You may follow these same instructions for barley grass, rye grass, and oat grass.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO GROW GRASS FOR YOUR CAT:

Organic Hard Wheat berries, about 1 tablespoon for 1 crop of grass
A clean glass jar with a wide mouth (peanut butter or mayonnaise jar, Ball jar)
Soil, preferably organic, or use what you have handy
Peat moss
A shallow ceramic bowl, approximately 2 inches deep and 4 or 5 inches in diameter
Spring or filtered water
Nylon mesh screen or cheese cloth
A rubber band

Place wheat berries in the jar.
Place nylon mesh or cheese cloth over mouth of jar. Secure with a rubber band.
Fill jar with a small amount of water - swish the berries and drain.
Fill jar half way with Spring or filtered water.
Allow to soak for 6 - 8 hours.
Drain out the water.
Tip the jar at a 45º angle and prop it up in a dish drying rack. Let drain for another 6 hours.

At this point we have two options: we can plant the sprouts for grass. Or we can continue letting the sprouts grow in their jar for a few more days when we will have full grown edible sprouts which may be added to your cat's food (or yours). These sprouts will not grow grass. (Please see below for instructions on further sprouting.)

Fill ceramic bowl with approximately 1 inch of soil.
Gently, not firmly, pat it down.
Spray or sprinkle the dirt with a very small amount of filtered or spring water. You want the soil wet - not swampy (you may add kelp to the water which will ensure a hardier crop of grass with added minerals).
Sprinkle the sprouts across the soil. Take care the sprouts are not stacked up on top of each other. They should touch each other, however.
Cover the sprouts with 1/4 inch of peat moss or more dirt.
Keep moist, spraying water as needed. (It may not need it! Too much water causes mold.)
Place in a bright area. However, if sunlight is scarce a temperature of 60º is sufficient.
Your grass will be ready for kitty in less than 10 days.

If your grass should ever droop from lack of water, simply water it and soon the grass will stand up again.

Charles Ranalli tells us that a drop in temperature below 60º impedes growth. No need to panic during the dead of winter - wheat grass is tenacious! Even if you don't follow the instructions carefully, grass will probably grow. It may not be quite as hardy as grass grown in "ideal" surroundings.

MAINTAINING A CONSTANT INDOOR GARDEN:

To keep a constant supply of grass for your cat you will want to "begin at the beginning" every 2 to 4 days. If you have multiple cats and want to grow large quantities, or if you want to grow extra grass for juicing, you can easily do so. Please refer to the diagram excerpted from The Wheat Grass Book for the stages of Ann Wigmore's complete indoor gardening plan.

Once grass is available on a daily basis you'll be completely familiar with the complete life cycle of indoor grass and will know exactly how much to sprout and plant for your household. Environmental gardeners encourage that we compost the soil and grass remains.

INCORPORATING "LIVING FOODS" INTO A CAT'S "NATURAL DIET"

Living foods will beautifully compliment a cat's raw meat diet creating the perfect meal. Many different seeds and nuts may be sprouted and added to your cat's food. Sprouts put in a food processor don't grind up very well. A mortar and pestle work perfectly. If you add a spoonful of water while you are grinding a milk will appear. Better yet, rather than using water, use the beverage called Rejuvelac. Rejuvelac may also be added to any recipe you are already using for the Natural Diet for Cats in lieu of water.

Rejuvelac is an enzyme rich water that was used to soak soft wheat berries. This marvelous drink is not made from hard wheat berries that produce grass - it is made from soft wheat berries which do not produce grass. You would purchase soft wheat berries specifically for Rejuvelac. See Suggested Reading section for obtaining the recipe.

OTHER SPROUTABLES:

Among the list of sproutable foods are alfalfa seeds, millet, clover, fenugreek, sunflower seeds, buckwheat, almonds, oats, barley, and rye. From this short list oats, rye and barley will grow grass, the others will not. But they will grow into little plants for your garden. All sprouts can be ground in a mortal and pestle, and be added to your cat's food. Start with small amounts to see which your cat likes best.

RECOMMENDED READING

Sadly, Ann Wigmore passed on (from smoke inhalation during a fire in her home) before I got to speak with her. In every one of her books she mentions some of the hundreds of animals that were her teachers and friends. My absolute favorite book is the inspiring Why Suffer? Her animal stories read like faerie tales and there are many of them. She was first touched by animals when she was about 6 years old growing up in a lonely forest. I would have loved to have sat down with her, tape recorder softly buzzing, and talked about the animals in her life. Her books are richly written, and full of heartwarming stories and miraculous information. My favorites are:

Why Suffer?
Very inspiring. Ann's life from a child in a Lithuanian forest with her grandmother and many wonderful animals to her life in America as a health pioneer.

The Wheat Grass Book
Very practical, however you'll notice the sprouting instructions are slightly different from what we printed here. Experiment, use which ever way is best for your area.

The Sprouting Book
Again, very practical. Useful if you want to sprout things other than wheat berries.

Our Precious Pets
This book is out of print and only available at the Institute. Most of is very good and practical. However, some of it may annoy you, as she recommends a vegetarian diet for cats. The book is old and could fall apart, but get it anyway!

Re-Build Your Health
Are you inspired to include living foods in the diets of your cats, your entire household and everyone you know? Read this book!

You may order these books and more from the Hippocrates Institute, 1340 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02134.
Phone 617.267.9424.

Water Filters

Pure water is very important when sprouting. If you've been meaning to buy a water purifier, a great one comes from Holy Water. The prices will make any natural cat on a budget purr with delight: $124.95 for a counter top model, or $139.95 for an under-the-sink model. The filter cartridge that will last a family of 4 (plus a few cats) about 1 year and is about $26 to replace it. To order or receive information: call the nice people at 408.476-8248 or write to Holy Water, PO Box 1753, Santa Cruz, CA 95061. (These prices are old; call for current prices.)

Juicing Machines for Wheat Grass Juice

The Hippocrates Institute carries several electric models, and a very inexpensive and easy to use manual model ($65). (This price is old; call for current price.)

Further Sprouting

After the wheat berries have soaked for 6-8 hours drain out water.
Turn jar to a 45º angle to allow for further draining. Leave for 3 days.
During those 3 days you must wet the sprouts down 2 times a day - fill the jar, swish and drain 3 or 4 times.
After 3 days either use sprouts immediately or store in refrigerator.
Discard any uneaten sprouts after 5 or 6 days as the sprouts will have continued growing somewhat and are now tough and tasteless. Give them to birds - they'll love them!

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