Is Cat Grass Safe for Cats?

Wheat, oat or barley grass

Cat grass is simply wheat, oat or barley grown as a young grass. It is safe for cats and gives them the fibre and chewing outlet they are looking for when they attack houseplants.

It is not catnip and it is not a laxative. Cats eat it because grass is a normal part of a cat's outdoor diet, and providing it indoors reduces plant destruction.

What to watch for in the UK

• Kits are sold in garden centres and pet shops; a tray of wheatgrass from a supermarket works too.
• Sow in shallow trays on a windowsill and replace when it yellows.
• Keep it away from treated lawns and pesticide.
• Vomiting grass is normal; repeated vomiting is not.

If your cat has already chewed it

1. Nothing to do.
2. Occasional grass sick is normal cat behaviour.
3. If your cat vomits repeatedly or stops eating, see the vomiting guide.

Take a photo of the plant, and a cutting if you can do it safely — identification is half of the vet's decision. Out of hours, use your practice's emergency number. This page explains risk; it cannot diagnose your cat and it contains no home treatments.

If your cat has vomited after eating a plant, see the cat vomiting guide and, if there is blood, vomiting blood. For a general red-flag checklist, use sick cat symptoms. If the worry is food rather than a plant, the can cats eat guide covers 36 everyday foods.

Related plants

Browse the full UK plant checklist (72 plants).