Plants
Cat Grass
Cyperus zumula · Cyperaceae
Cats nibble on greenery — you cannot train it away, only redirect it. That is exactly what cat grass is for: a dedicated, guaranteed non-toxic pot the cat is allowed to graze on, so it leaves the Monstera, the pothos and the flower bouquet alone. The grass also helps it bring up swallowed hair. In our view, a pot of cat grass belongs in every home with an indoor cat.
- Light
- Bright, with some morning or evening sun; avoid midday sun.
- Watering
- Regular — the soil should never dry out completely.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Cyperus zumula
Why do cats eat grass in the first place? The blades provide fibre that binds swallowed hair into balls in the stomach, which the cat then either brings up or digests. The urge is innate — outdoor cats satisfy it on the lawn, indoor cats otherwise turn to the nearest houseplant. And that is exactly where it gets dangerous.
Many of the most popular houseplants are toxic to cats: Monstera, pothos and Dieffenbachia irritate mouth and stomach with calcium oxalate, and lilies in a bouquet can even be life-threatening for cats. Cat grass is the safe alternative — a look at our toxicity guide shows which plants you should additionally swap out or move out of reach.
The Cyperus zumula commonly sold as cat grass has soft, narrow blades without sharp edges — important, because tough ornamental grass with serrated margins can injure the lining of the mouth. Alternatively you can sow wheat or barley grains yourself: after a good week you have a fresh, tender lawn in a pot that many cats actually prefer.
Cat grass is a consumable, not a plant for life: grazed pots do regrow but eventually look tattered — at that point you simply buy a new one or resow. We stock fresh pots from the Veiling Rhein-Maas all year round; ideally keep two, so one can recover while the other takes the hit.
Is Cat Grass toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
Cat grass is expressly meant to be eaten and is harmless to cats, dogs and children — the safe alternative to toxic houseplants such as Monstera, pothos or Dieffenbachia. If your cat brings up hairballs after nibbling, that is normal and in fact the point.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Choose a bright spot without harsh midday sun — on the windowsill or near your cat's favourite place.
- 02Keep the soil evenly moist; cat grass dries out quickly in the pot.
- 03Do not feed — the grass gets eaten and should stay free of fertiliser.
- 04Trim tattered blades regularly and the pot will resprout fresh.
- 05Buy a fresh pot or resow wheat every few weeks.
Frequently asked
- Is cat grass really non-toxic to cats?
- Yes — grasses sold as cat grass, such as Cyperus zumula or young cereal grass, are meant to be eaten and are harmless. Just do not confuse it with sharp-edged ornamental grasses, and never feed or spray the pot.
- My cat still nibbles the Monstera — what can I do?
- Make the cat grass more attractive and the toxic plant less so: put the grass at your cat's favourite spot and move the Monstera out of reach — up high, into another room or behind a closed door. Our toxicity guide also lists cat-safe alternatives such as the spider plant.
- Can I sow cat grass myself?
- Very easily: scatter wheat or barley grains from the health-food shop densely over moist seed compost, press down lightly and place somewhere bright. After seven to ten days the blades are about ten centimetres tall and ready for the cat. That way you have a constant supply for pennies.
- How long does a pot of cat grass last?
- Depending on how enthusiastic your cat is, two to six weeks. Grazed blades regrow once or twice, then the pot is spent. It is best to rotate two pots — one recovering, one on duty.