
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
As an indoor cat parent, enriching my cats’ environment is important to me! I want them to have a wide range of experiences without the risks of unsupervised outdoor access.
That’s why I jumped on the chance to try these cat grass kits and provide a bit of greenery for my cats. I chose kits with a variety of grass types and substrates to see which were easiest to grow and which ones cats preferred.
Below are my honest reviews on six cat grass kits, as well as a cat fountain with a grass-growing station for those who really want to spoil their cats!
At a Glance: Best Cat Grass to Buy
Lykoclean Hydroponic Cat Grass Kit
- Easy setup with no messy substrate
- Fast-growing, long-lived cat grass
- Comes with five seed packets
ZestiGreens Self-Watering Cat Grass Kit
- Cat grass is fast-growing, low-maintenance, and lives for a decent amount of time
- Hemp mat is cleaner to work with than soil or coconut coir
- Wide bamboo tray helps to prevent spills
AVERGO Cat Grass Kit for Indoor Cats
- A great starter kit for beginner gardeners, especially those looking to get into houseplants
- Wide wooden planter is sturdy and difficult for cats to knock over
- Includes four seed and substrate packets
Miracle Care Cat Grass Plus
- Pre-planted grow kit – just add water!
- Vermiculite and Plantagel mix holds onto moisture and needs very infrequent watering
- With repeat waterings, this grass lived longer than any other on our list
Pet Greens Live Grass Cat Treat
- Live, ready-to-eat plant for those who don’t want to grow their own cat grass
- Plants arrived in excellent condition, with easy care instructions and a troubleshooting guide
- Includes a Stay-Fresh bag for refrigeration, to keep the grass fresher for longer
K&H Pet Products EZ Mount Window Cat Grass Grow Station
- Small grow cups can be mounted out of the way, so they aren’t taking up space on your table or windowsill
- Cats seemed to prefer eating from an elevated planter
- Includes supplies for two refills, with more sold separately
Lalahome Automatic Cat Water Fountain with Cat Grass Growing Station
- Stores up to 10 liters of water at a time
- Water from tanks is filtered and oxygenated before running through the fountain
- Cat grass is automatically watered as the fountain flushes each day
Is It Easy to Grow Cat Grass?
You don’t need a green thumb to grow cat grass! It’s as easy as planting the seeds in the soil and watering them in.
Some cat grass kits are hydroponic, meaning they grow without soil by using water to support the roots. You just sprinkle the seeds into a tray, fill the container with water, and wait for them to grow!
Keeping the growing medium appropriately moist can help cat grass stay healthy longer. Trimming the grass when it grows too tall may also encourage continued growth. If growing hydroponically, refresh the water daily to keep it clean and prevent algae buildup.
Cat Grass Enrichment Ideas
Once your grass grows long enough to trim, you might even find that you have too much of it.
Because I wanted to grow all of the grass kits at once for testing purposes, I ended up with a lot of it. This led to me getting pretty creative with the clippings!
Here are some ways I put it to use:
- A few blades of grass served with meals
- Treats and catnip buried in the grass as an enrichment activity
- Grass added to a dig box (mine’s just a shipping box filled with toys, treats, and catnip!)
If your cat doesn’t seem interested in the grass, catnip can help entice them into munching on it. I used a cat-safe catnip spray on the plants themselves to get my cats interested in taking photos for this review, and it led to some pretty funny bloopers! It also encouraged them to circle back to the grass later that day.
I’d only recommend my method if your grass is grown in a larger, sturdier planter, though–not for the smaller, hydroponic grow kit pictured here! For those, it’d be better to clip the grass and offer it with catnip, treats, or food in a bowl.
Why Trust Cats.com
Our team puts hours of research into choosing products for round-ups like these, from reading customer reviews to testing products with our own cats.
I’m not only a lifelong cat owner, but also a gardening enthusiast with dozens of houseplants in my care. That said, I know not every cat parent has a green thumb! For this article, my goal was to choose cat grass kits that require no plant knowledge and very little upkeep.
During testing, I noted things like how easy the kits were to use, how long the grass lived, and how sturdy I thought the planters would be against cats who are a bit overzealous while eating. I followed the directions on each kit, rather than my own instincts. The only exception is that I didn’t soak the seeds prior to planting.
I didn’t notice much difference between most of the cat grasses in terms of germination rates or cat preference, but there were some standouts in other areas–both good and bad!
I did try one kit that just wouldn’t grow for me, despite looking promising at the start. I left The Cat Ladies cat grass kit off of this list due to very low germination rates, mold growth, and the kit not providing enough substrate to fill the planter. Those first two issues may have been due to bad luck or overwatering on my end, but even after giving the kit a second chance, the second seed packet grew just as poorly as the first.
Top 6 Cat Grass Kit
Our top pick on today’s list is the Lykoclean Hydroponic Cat Grass Kit because the cat grass was easy to grow and the kit doesn’t contain messy soil. However, every cat parent has their own needs and preferences.
I tested various types of planters, substrates, and types of grass seed to give you the best recommendations possible. At the end, I’ll even talk about a water fountain that grows grass on the side!
How To Choose the Best Cat Grass?
Luckily, cat grass is incredibly simple to grow. In my experience, you can’t go wrong with a cheap grow kit or even buying a bag of seeds! The only reason to spend extra is if you’d like the tools or planter that comes with a grow kit.
Here are a few things to consider before buying:
Seeds vs Grow Kits
Your first decision to make while growing cat grass is whether you’d like to purchase seeds or a grow kit.
Seeds are great if you have your own planter and planting material that you’d like to use. Grow kits come with everything you need, including the seeds, planter, and substrate.
While selecting products for this article, I chose grow kits as they tend to be easiest, especially for those without experience tending to plants. But if you’re like me and have a bunch of empty pots sitting around, most of the brands above sell seeds separately as well!
Type of Grass
The most common grasses sold for cats are wheat and oat, but barley and rye grass are also popular options.
While testing grass kits for this article, I did my best to include a variety of grass types. However, I don’t think it made a difference in how much my cats ate the grass. I think the style of planter and location of the grass mattered much more.
Soil Type
The thing that will alter your own planting experience most is the planting material you choose. Most kits come with either soil or coconut coir disks, which expand and crumble when water is added.
Alternative options are limitless, especially if you’re not using a kit. You can grow the seeds in pet-safe, untreated potting soil, on a hemp mat, or hydroponically using water. Avoid growing media containing pesticides or added fertilisers that could be harmful if ingested.
I found growing cat grass hydroponically to be the easiest option, though you’ll need a container or support tray that keeps the seeds in place while allowing the roots to reach the water.
Planter Size
Lastly, consider the size of your planter. This impacts where you can place it as well as how easy it is for your cat to drag or knock over, which can make a big mess!
I personally like planters narrow enough to fit on my windowsills, since my house doesn’t get a lot of light. If you’ll be growing your cat grass on a table or counter, it might be better to choose a wider planter to avoid spills.
I thought the photos would be cute in this section, but feel free to pick and choose which ones are used or not use them at all if it works better for the article!







