Miscanthus Grass
Our ingredient score: 2 / 5 · Processed fiber · How We Score
Miscanthus is a fast-growing type of grass, and in ground form it is used in pet foods as a natural alternative to cellulose. As an insoluble fiber, it adds bulk to stool and helps the bowels work regularly. Because it makes it easier for swallowed hair to pass through the gut, it is favored in hairball foods. It has no nutritional value, and no harm is known at these amounts.
Miscanthus Grass also appears on labels as Ground Miscanthus Grass.
Common Questions
Does miscanthus grass help with hairballs?
It is favored in hairball foods because it makes it easier for swallowed hair to pass through the gut.
Is miscanthus grass safe for cats?
Miscanthus is a fast-growing grass, dried and ground into an insoluble fiber for pet food. It has no nutritional value beyond fiber. Tufts veterinary nutritionists explain that insoluble fibers enter and exit the body virtually unchanged, which is how they add bulk to stool. For a cat with a digestive or other medical condition, ask your veterinarian about fiber in the diet.
Source: sites.tufts.edu
Why is miscanthus grass in cat food?
It is used as an insoluble fiber, often in place of powdered cellulose. Manufacturers add it to hairball and weight-control recipes because it adds bulk without calories and helps keep bowel movements regular. Pettings describes it as a plant-based alternative to cellulose, which is usually made from wood pulp.
What is the difference between ground miscanthus grass and miscanthus grass?
They are the same fiber under two label names. Ground miscanthus grass spells out that the grass was milled, while miscanthus grass leaves that word off. In kibble it is ground either way. Pettings keeps both pages because labels use both names, and both share a score of 2 out of 5.
Is miscanthus grass the same as cat grass?
No. Cat grass sold for cats to chew is usually young oat or wheat sprouts. Miscanthus is a tall perennial grass, also called silvergrass, grown mainly for biomass. In cat food it is dried and milled into a fiber powder, so it has little in common with fresh grass beyond being a plant.
How does Pettings score ground miscanthus grass?
Pettings gives ground miscanthus grass 2 out of 5 and lists it as a processed fiber. It appears on 6 of the 149 dry cat foods we list. It adds insoluble fiber and no other nutrition. Each food's page shows how it scores overall.
How Foods With Miscanthus Grass Compare
Miscanthus Grass is on the label of 6 of the 149 dry cat foods we list.