Find out why quality and variety make all the difference when giving catnip to your feline companion.
Cats are carnivores, but they also benefit from fresh green vegetables. Catnip is a solution, but not all herbs are created equal. It’s important to buy a top-of-the-line product that will provide your cat with the right type and quality of grass.
“A combination of grain seeds is the healthiest,” says Lindi Hunt of Priscilla’s Pet Products, which specializes in grass kits and products for cats and other animals. “Wheatgrass alone is too rich for them and can cause diarrhoea. We have done many years of testing and research and believe barley, oats and rye are the best, although we use a small amount of wheat in some of our blends for added flavor.
These grasses are rich in chlorophyll, which helps support blood and kidneys. In addition to improving the health of your cat’s circulatory and digestive systems, chlorophyll helps the body rid itself of harmful toxins. Catnip is also a great way to get rid of hairballs.
“Our blend also contains antioxidant nutrients, vitamins A, B, C, E and K, as well as calcium, iron, lecithin, magnesium, pantothenic acid, phosphorus, potassium and protein , as well as a full set of amino acids,” adds Lindi. .
Priscilla’s Pet Products was founded in 1993 by Priscilla Riggs. She wanted an herb that her own cat, Jazzie, would like, and some pet herbs,” Lindi explains. “Growing up with horses, Priscilla knew her grain and quickly created a mix of barley, oats and rye that Jazzie liked. She got her weed into a local pet store and it was well received.
In addition to grass kits for cats, horses and other critters, the company offers grow kits for organic catnip, as well as catnip toys and refillable pillow covers, planters decorative, etc. Everything is produced in the United States. “We primarily hire stay-at-home moms and make all of our products ourselves, right here in Costa Mesa, California,” Lindi says. “In recent years, we’ve also sold to zoos in California, where our live herb mix is fed to the animals as an enrichment treat,” Lindi says. “We support shelters and rescues across the United States.”
Just as Jazzie inspired Priscilla to start the business, her current cat, a gorgeous Siamese named Colonel Cromwell, plays an important role in the business. “He was found with his mother and seven siblings in a crate in one of the receiving areas of our grocery store, so we rounded them all up, cared for them for eight weeks and found homes for them. Colonel Cromwell and some of his friends are still testing the ideas we come up with. We talk about his favorites on our website as well as Facebook and Twitter, and he has a huge following.
“To offer a healthy, lively, green, fresh and edible treat to all animals determined to grow their own. “Jazzie wasn’t a fan of publicity, that’s what we enjoy most about what we do,” Lindi concludes.
