Review on 🐱 Barley Cat Green Foods, 3 OZ by Iris Swatson

Cats love to eat grass. If my cat has been housed for several days, the first thing she does when she's released is to chew fresh grass. Even feral cats get their greens, and the reasons seem to be twofold: fiber and nutrition. Grass fibers can induce vomiting and help the cat throw up hairballs or other indigestible objects that it may have swallowed. Barley Cat is made from barley juice, so it won't make you vomit like a whole herb. This is probably good since you don't want your cat throwing up every time you feed her, but it means you should also give her some fresh grass if she or he lives primarily indoors. In terms of nutrition, Green Foods makes the most popular barley grass supplement for humans (Green Magma). Barley Cat is made from the same basic ingredient (also grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers) which is then supplemented with some feline nutrients like taurine. Although it doesn't contain the insoluble fiber mentioned above, it does contain some soluble fiber (beta-glucans) that promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Other benefits include calcium, vitamin C, amino acids, carotenoids, and trace minerals. My cat is FIV positive and I believe Barley Cat has helped him stay healthy for the past 11 years. He's also a picky eater and that doesn't bother him. Overall, I think Barley Cat is a supplement (/garnish) worth trying, especially for cats with health conditions like FIV, and it's the only pet supplement I buy on a regular basis. I sprinkle each plate of food in a very thin layer (less than ¼ teaspoon), so one can lasts about a month. From an ecological point of view, barley grass seedling would probably be the best alternative to buying this product. But I used to buy organic cat grass, and Baggins (my cat, not the hobbit) wasn't interested - he might have if he didn't have access to regular outdoor grass. The company (Green Foods) and its founder (Dr. Hagiwara) appear to be a generally positive force, particularly when it comes to promoting or funding nutrition and cancer research. They don't talk much about the sustainability of their objects, so it would be nice to know a little more about it. The container is at least recyclable (#2 plastic) and the label states that barley grass is grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Another viewpoint is that keeping your cat healthy is more sustainable than a nutrient-poor diet that leads to illness, vet visits, and medication. Overall I give the Barley Cat 5/5 gold stars for product quality and 4/5 green stars based on social, ethical and environmental aspects of production. They lose a green star because they don't provide much information about the sustainability of their facilities and processes (besides not using any pesticides or chemical fertilizers).