How to Grow Chia Cat Grass for Your Favorite Feline

Almost everyone has owned at least one Chia Pet since they were introduced in 1982, but whether they'll admit it to anyone is an entirely different story. Regardless, it's hard not to smile when that silly "Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia!" commercial comes on TV.

One of the newer Chia products is the Chia Cat Grass Planter, touted as a perfect gift for cats and cat lovers. The "Chia for Cats" is also said to be a great way to keep kitty from munching on the houseplants or the sprouts of your beloved Chia Pet.

Most kitties do like to chew on grass from time to time, and now with the Chia Cat Grass Planter, they can have their very own cat grass buffet. Even better, they can enjoy a cat grass snack right in their own home, even in the middle of winter!

What's in the Chia Cat Grass Planter?

The "snoozing kitty" Chia kit contains everything you need to grow grass for your cat: a seed packet with enough for three plantings, a bag of growing mix, easy instructions and a really cute planter with a gray kitty lounging on one side at the top. At 5" long x 3 ½" wide, the ceramic planter is a bit on the small side, but since the Chia Cat Grass grows so fast, you can always start a new batch when your kitty has munched it into oblivion.

The seeds in the Chia Cat Grass kit are a blend of oat and wheat grass, which contain healthy vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Eating the Cat Grass can aid digestion and help to prevent hairballs (something every cat owner is all too familiar with!). Cat grass is also a good source of fiber and chlorophyll.

How to Grow Chia Cat Grass

Step 1. Empty the growing mix into the planter, reserving about two tablespoons.

Step 2. Scatter the seeds evenly on top of the growing mix, then loosely sprinkle the remaining mix over them.

Step 3. Add one-fourth cup of water.

Step 4. Place a plastic bag loosely over the planter so that air can circulate.

Step 5. Place the Chia Cat planter in a sunny location.

Step 6. After about three days sprouts will emerge. When they are 1" tall, remove the plastic covering.

The Chia Cat Grass grows quickly, as much as 1" a day! It's best to wait until the grass has grown to at least 4" high before letting your cat eat it. The grass will continue to grow for many weeks, depending on how much is eaten daily. After you've used all of the seed provided in the Chia Cat Grass kit, you can buy more seeds and reuse the planter over and over.

About the Chia Pet

Chia Pets are produced by a San Francisco, California-based company called Joseph Enterprises, Inc. The original Chia Pet was a ram; over the years many different animals have been produced, including a turtle, kitten, frog and hippo, as well as licensed characters.

The terra-cotta animal shaped containers sprout chia seeds (salvia hispanica) in a manner that resembles "fur." More recently, Chia President Heads were introduced, including Washington, Lincoln and Obama.

The Chia Cat Grass is easy to grow, it's fun, and sprouts quickly for those impatient types. Whereas Chia Pets are strictly ornamental, the Chia Cat Grass actually serves a purpose -- to provide grass loving cats with a nutritious snack!

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