Greetings litter connoisseurs! Did you know there’s now cat litter made from grass? What will they think of next?!
Grass… what could be more environmentally perfect?
It’s green, natural, healthy, fun for us fabulous felines to roll and hunt in.
But how does it work as cat litter?
The information here is for general knowledge… always see your vet with questions about your cat’s individual needs.
Who Is Skye Blake?
Skye Blake, Cat Info Detective, is a curious cat researcher (not a veterinarian) who sniffs out expert, reliable sources about cats, studies their information, then passes it on to you!
Sometimes there’s not enough evidence for easy answers, so Skye gives you all sides, explains the situation as thoroughly and clearly as possible, and links you to experts on each page.
Sources are given at the bottom of each page so you can do more snooping.
What Is Grass?
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, “grass” is…
“grass, any of many low, green, nonwoody plants belonging to the grass family (Poaceae), the sedge family (Cyperaceae), and the rush family (Juncaceae).”1 Grass | Definition, Families, & Facts | Britannica
There are many other plants that look like grass but aren’t true grasses.
Grass Cat Litter – the Positives
Grass litter is made from leaves and seeds of various grasses into pellets that absorb urine just like other litters.
These pellets are lightweight, soft on paws, low-dust, clump well, and control odors.
They’re also easy to scoop and people like that they’re biodegradable.
In fact, some grass cat litters are organic and non-GMO, a plus for environmentally concerned people.
Grass Cat Litter – the Drawbacks
While grass cat litter is appealing to people, especially for its environmental benefits, there are some drawbacks you must consider…
Expense
Grass litter, like other specialty litters, is more expensive than clay.
You’ll need to look at how long the litter lasts as well as the cost per bag.
If you get 60 days of use out of one bag, the cost is more reasonable than 15 or 30 days and might be worth it for you.
Allergies
If you, a member of your household or your cat are allergic to grass, you won’t be able to use this litter… think “permanent hay fever”.
It’s Edible
Some of my fellow felines love to chew on grass.
In fact, many people grow wheat grass in the house for their kitties to eat.
While you might think that makes it safe for cats to use as litter, it actually can be a problem.
We cats are instinctively hardwired to keep food and pee areas completely separate, so providing grass as both food and litter creates a conflict.
At the very least, you’ll confuse your kitty, and he might eat the litter, ending up in emergency surgery with blocked intestines!
This is especially true of kittens, who love to eat everything (non-clumping litter is best for young kittens).
If he doesn’t eat it, he might still see it as food and find somewhere else in your home to do his business… oops!
If you think your cat might be confused, use litter that’s not appealing as food.
Grass Litter Brands & Reviews
Below are listed some grass-based litters by brand, along with a summary of reviews.
I make a small commission on some of the links below… and I get to share profits with qualified cat rescues!
Check descriptions and reviews carefully for any products you wish to buy… quality, sizes, colors, etc., can’t be guaranteed by anyone but the manufacturer.
Almo Nature
Almo Nature cat litter is produced using only vegetable fibers with nothing toxic added. It isn’t technically a grass cat litter but is basically the same.
It absorbs instantly and liquid stays trapped in a thin clump on top, keeping the box and remaining litter clean.
Reviewers say it’s lightweight, flushable, easy to scoop/top up, and stays clean quite awhile.
They say it clumps well and doesn’t stick to box, is soft, easy on paws, and has good odor control.
It tends to be dusty and track everywhere since it’s fine grained. Mats help with this problem.
You can find more helpful information at the Almo Nature website.
BoxieCat® Air™
BoxieCat® Air™ is a clumping cat litter from a proprietary blend of barley, which is a type of grass.
It’s a renewable resource made in the USA, lightweight, controls odors, and is easy to scoop.
Reviewers either love or hate this litter. Those who love it comment on its odor control benefits. Those who hate it say the clumps are rock-hard and stick to the box, making it difficult to clean.
Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Touch of Outdoors
Dr. Elsey’s Touch of Outdoors is made in the USA from a combination of clay and prairie grass.
It’s especially good for cats who have lived outdoors and are adjusting to indoor life, since it uses natural chlorophyll for odor control.
Reviewers liked that it has no dust, no perfume, little tracking, traps odors well and is good for sensitive paws.
Some people had trouble with it becoming a hard mess in the box, making it difficult to remove.
Frisco Natural
Frisco litter is made from natural grass ingredients and comes in scented and unscented multi-cat formulas.
It’s lightweight, low dust, quick clumping and doesn’t stick to sides or bottom of the box.
Frisco comes in a resealable bag, has excellent odor control and absorbency, and is good for multi-cat households.
Reviewers say it’s good for cats with allergies and lasts a long time if topped off in between changes.
It’s expensive, isn’t flushable, and tracks (litter mat helps).
Only Natural Grass Seed Cat Litter
Only Natural Grass Seed Cat Litter is made from grass seeds grown on farms in the USA and is a renewable resource.
It is formulated by a holistic veterinarian and made to human-quality standards. This litter is Non-GMO Project Verified.
Only Natural clumps quickly, which helps prevent odors and makes it easy to scoop – for single or multi-cat households.
It has no synthetic fragrances or chemicals. The description claims it’s 99% dust free with no tracking.
Pioneer Pet SmartCat
Pioneer Pet Smartcat – 100% fine grained, soft grass seed pellets.
It’s lightweight, turns into hard clumps quickly, and doesn’t break down when scooping.
It controls odor and has no dust, chemicals, or fragrances. Since you only scoop the clumps, it lasts a long time.
Pioneer Pet Smartcat is non-GMO project verified and farmed in the USA.
Reviewers say some cats will eat it since it’s grass.
Some had trouble with it tracking due to fine particles sticking to paws, especially on long haired cats.
Smartcat isn’t flushable and is expensive (but lasts awhile). Some people don’t like the grass smell.
So Phresh Clumping Scented Grass Seed Cat Litter
This is Petco’s brand “So Phresh” made of grass seed sourced in the U.S.
This litter is for multiple cats, dust-free, lightly scented, creates strong clumps that control odors, and is half the weight of clay.
The majority of reviewers really like this litter.
Video Reviews
Here are some helpful YouTube video reviews…
“Top 13 Best Cat Litters (We Tested Them All)”, All About Cats, April 1, 2020
“Comparing Wheat & Grass Cat Litter”, Mobile Paw Spa, August 7, 2019
More Litter Options
If you need more info about what’s “best” for your cat, discover more at “What Are the Best Types of Cat Litter?” and “What’s the Best Cat Litter Box?“
Or follow these trails if you’re curious about other litters…
Related Pages of Interest
If you’re dealing with inappropriate peeing or pooping outside the litter box, take a look at “Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box?” and “Why Is My Cat Pooping Outside the Box?“
Of course, if you have a cat peeing outside the box, you’re probably frustrated about cleaning it up.
Discover what you need to know at “Cleaning Cat Urine” and “Enzyme Cleaners for Cat Urine“.
Sources
Sources used on this website are either primary or secondary.
Primary sources are always preferable and have the most reliable information because they’re original and directly referenced.
Scientific abstracts and data are good examples of primary sources.
Secondary sources are weaker because they usually consist of opinions or articles that give no sources of their own.
However, sometimes they refer to primary sources.
When I use secondary sources, most are those with some authority, such as veterinarian or cat behaviorist books and articles.
List of Sources
“The Benefits of Natural Litter”, by Jackson Galaxy
“Cat Litter”, How Products Are Made
“The Cat Litter of My Dreams”, Anne Jablonski, Dec. 11, 2014
“Eco-Friendly Compostable Kitty Litter”, greenlivingideas.com
“How Cat Litter is Made”, greenlivingideas.com
“Poaceae”, Wikipedia
“Pros and Cons of Grass Cat Litter – Plus Top Brands”, Eco Cat Litter
“What Is In Cat Litter? Understanding Clay, Silica and Biodegradable Cat Litters“, by Lorie Huston, DVM, petmd.com
YouTube Videos
“Top 13 Best Cat Litters (We Tested Them All)”, All About Cats, April 1, 2020
“Comparing Wheat & Grass Cat Litter”, Mobile Paw Spa, August 7, 2019
Product Information and User Review Sources
Almo Nature, Amazon.com, Chewy.com, Dr. Elsey’s Touch of Outdoors, The Good Earth, Only Natural Grass Cat Litter, Our Pets, Petco.com, Pioneer Pet
Updated March 12, 2023