Why Pets Need Cat Grass (and How to Give It to Them Safely)

If you've ever watched your cat nibble at a houseplant with slightly too much enthusiasm or caught your dog grazing on the lawn mid-walk, there's a reason for that. Both cats and dogs are drawn to grass, and it's not just idle curiosity. Grass serves a real digestive purpose for both species, and giving your pet access to it safely is easier than you might think.

Why Cats Are Drawn to Grass

In the wild, cats occasionally ingest small amounts of plant material, often as a natural byproduct of eating prey. Domestic cats retain that same instinct, and chewing on grass appears to serve a few practical purposes:

• Aiding digestion. The fibrous texture can help move things through the digestive tract.
• Helping with hairballs. Grass can help a cat bring up a hairball more easily, acting almost like a natural aid rather than letting it sit in the stomach.
• Adding folic acid. Grass contains small amounts of folic acid, a nutrient that supports normal growth and red blood cell production.
• Satisfying a natural urge to chew. Some cats simply seem to enjoy the texture and the act of chewing on something green.

Why Dogs Graze on Grass Too

Dogs do it for overlapping but slightly different reasons. Grazing on grass in dogs is generally linked to:

• Mild stomach upset. Some dogs seem to instinctively eat grass to help settle their stomach or induce vomiting when something isn't sitting right.
• Added fiber. Small amounts of grass can supplement fiber intake, similar to the digestive role it plays for cats.
• Boredom or habit. Plenty of dogs just seem to enjoy grazing during walks, without any obvious digestive trigger. It can simply be a normal exploratory behavior.

Occasional grass-eating in dogs is considered normal and not usually a cause for concern. It's worth mentioning to your vet if it becomes frequent, sudden, or paired with other symptoms like lethargy or repeated vomiting, since that combination can occasionally point to something else going on.

Is It Actually Safe?

Yes. Pet-safe grass (usually wheat, barley, oat, or rye grass) is non-toxic and fine for regular nibbling in reasonable amounts, for both cats and dogs. The important distinction is pet grass vs. houseplants, garden plants, and treated lawns. Many houseplants (lilies especially, which are seriously toxic to cats) pose a real risk, and lawn grass may have been treated with fertilizers or pesticides. Pet grass is specifically grown and sold as a safe option precisely because it satisfies the chewing instinct without that risk.

A couple of sensible guardrails:

• Only offer grass grown specifically for pets. Not garden or lawn grass, which may have been treated with fertilizers or pesticides.
• Moderate access is fine; if your cat or dog eats a large amount in one sitting, mild vomiting can occur simply from the volume of fiber, not from toxicity.
• If your pet shows no interest at all, that's completely normal too. Not every cat or dog is drawn to it, and it's not a required part of their diet.

Fresh-Grown vs. Freeze-Dried: What's the Difference?

Traditionally, cat grass is grown at home in a small pot from seed, which cats nibble on directly. This works well but comes with upkeep, regrowing trays, watering, and managing mess as cats dig at the soil.

Freeze-dried catgrass offers the same fibrous benefit in a more convenient form:

• No growing, watering, or mess
• Long shelf life, ready whenever you want to offer it
• Easy to portion out in small amounts as a supplement or occasional snack

It's not a one-to-one replacement for the chewing experience of fresh blades, but it's a practical way to give your cat the same underlying benefit, especially if you don't have space or time to keep a growing tray going.

How to Introduce It

If your cat hasn't had grass before:

1. Offer a small amount and see if they show interest. Some cats take to it immediately, others need a little encouragement.
2. Keep portions modest at first, since a sudden large amount of fiber can cause mild stomach upset regardless of form.
3. Make it available periodically rather than constantly, letting your cat self-regulate how much they want.

Try It

Pawfect Feast's Freeze-Dried Catgrass Cubes offer a mess-free, ready-to-go way to give your cat the digestive benefits of grass without the upkeep of a growing tray.

FAQ

Is cat grass the same as wheatgrass for humans? It can be the same plant (wheat, oat, barley, or rye), but products marketed as "cat grass" are grown specifically for pet consumption and are safe in that context.

How much cat grass should I give my cat? A small amount offered periodically is plenty. There's no strict daily requirement, and cats generally self-regulate how much they want to nibble.

What if my cat vomits after eating grass? Occasional mild vomiting from grass is usually harmless and related to the fiber content or hairball clearing, not toxicity. If vomiting is frequent, persistent, or your cat seems unwell, check in with your vet.