Bleu Stessia is the founder of My Cat Grass – the UK’s only fully compliant producer of fresh cat grass.
Back in 2018, he had the idea to create his own grass after Monte, his British Shorthair, experienced problems with his digestion.
Bleu researched what could support him and discovered cat grass, and started growing it on his windowsill for Monte digestion, and found it made a huge difference.
Then friends and family asked him to supply cat grass for their pets, and he started exploring what it might be like to turn it into a business.
Now, eight years later, Bleu has supported cats over the world in living healthier, happier lives.
He’s campaigned for cat grass to be recognised as a pet food, worked with vets, DEFRA, the Food Standards Agency and so much more and he’s on a mission to improve feline nutrition.
In this episode, Bleu talks about how stepped away from a career in IT to start My Cat Grass and the many hurdles he’s overcome.
He talks about the years of research, the legislation challenges, and the utter determination it took to build a brand grounded in science, ethics, and a love of cats.
Plus, his mission to raise standards across the industry, the rise of indoor cat ownership, and why putting cats’ wellbeing ahead of profit has always been his guiding principle.
Listen in on the player link below and you’ll find all the links to connect with Bleu at the end of this post, along with a summary of our conversation.
Topics and timings in this episode:
0.20 – What to expect from this episode.
2.04 – Bleu’s background and how he came up with the idea to make My Cat Gras.
4.27 – Monte, the British Short Haired cat who inspired My Cat Grass.
8.10 – What it was like to go from supplying friends and family to creating a business.
13.31 – Navigating legislation and the steps Bleu went through to make sure the claims he made were scientific and that the the product was exactly as he wanted it to be.
15.41 – The benefits of cat grass.
22.49 – How the changes in cat lifestyle, for example more cats living indoors since lockdown, has impacted on My Cat Grass and cat health in general.
27.35 – Bleu’s hopes to work with other pet professionals now the work around having My Cat Grass defined as a pet food is complete.
31.02 – Why it was so important to ensure the product was safe, organic and defined accurately.
35.19 – The Cat Show Live, events and getting the word out there about My Cat Grass.
36.51 – What it’s been like meeting cat owners.
39.17 – Bleu’s experience talking about My Cat Grass at the PIF Business of Pets event.
41.16 – The next challenge, working with pet stores to stock My Cat Grass.
43.16 – What it’s been like meeting pet store owners and the response he’s had.
51. 51 – What’s next for Bleu and My Cat Grass.
57.11 – Why Bleu was so determined to make sure he did it right, despite the costs and battles, and why he chose to take the path that benefited cats in the long run.
58.53 – Where to find out more about Bleu and his work.
Quotes from this interview:
“I worked in IT and HR, and I’d always been a dog person. Then Monte came along – this little British Shorthair who completely changed everything.”
“When he became ill, I started growing cat grass on my windowsill. It was just to help him – I never thought it would become a business.”
“I didn’t want to just launch and hope for the best. If I was going to sell something for other people’s pets, I needed to know it was 100% safe.”
“Getting cat grass recognised as a pet food wasn’t easy – it took seven years of research, meetings and paperwork – but it was the right thing to do.”
“We grow it ourselves, we test it, and we can prove it contains nutrients like thiamine and beta carotene that actually benefit cats.”
“When I founded the business, I didn’t have investors. I built it bit by bit – one month I’d buy packaging, the next I’d improve the website.”
“It’s not about being the biggest brand; it’s about doing what’s best for cats. I’d rather take longer and get it right than rush and compromise.”
“If my business stopped tomorrow, I’d still be proud. Because I know I did everything the right way and for the right reasons.”
Links mentioned in this episode:
Find out more about Bleu and My Cat Grass on his website: https://mycatgrass.co.uk/
Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mycatgrass/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mycatgrass/
Connect with Bleu on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bleu-stessia-6b394967/
Further reading/listening
Takeaways from the Pet Industry Federation Business of Pets conference 2026
How Victor Carpio is improving cat health with The Dental Wand.
Clayton Payne on what he’s learned from 30 years in the pet industry
In the spotlight with Katie Gwilt from The Kat Lady
How to grow at cat business you love with Katie Gwilt
Should you buy my pet business content planner
Episode summary
Prefer reading to listening? Here’s a Q&A-style version of my conversation with Bleu Stessia, founder of My Cat Grass, taken directly from the podcast transcript.
It’s edited down for clarity – but every word is Bleu’s.
Can you tell me about your background and how you came to create My Cat Grass
“I worked in IT and HR, and through that I got a placement in California. I lived out there for a year, and although my job wasn’t anything to do with pets, my friends had cats.
“It was a very different culture of cat ownership over there, and that’s where I first came across cat grass and the benefits it had for cats.
“When I came back to the UK, I got a cat for the first time. I’d always been a dog person, but my partner wanted a cat – we ended up with two. One of them, Monte, became unwell, and that’s where everything began.”
Was there a cat of your own who inspired you to look into this?
“Yes – Monte. He’s a British Shorthair, blue and white, with a very soft downy coat. Because of that, he ingests a lot of hair when he grooms, and it caused intestinal blockages.
“When he was about two, he went through a spell of losing weight and being unwell. We had all the tests done, spent a lot at the vets, and everything came back clear.
“Eventually I decided to try cat grass, but I wasn’t happy with what was available, so I grew my own.
“I sourced safe seeds, grew them at home, and he started to get better. His digestion improved, he stopped losing weight, and I kept growing it for him.
“Friends and family started asking for it too, and that’s when I realised there must be other people looking for a safe, reliable source of cat grass.”
What was the challenge for cat grass at the beginning and how did you go about creating the product?
“Once I saw the difference in Monte, I knew there was potential – but turning that into a business was another thing. It took nearly two years of research before I launched.
“I didn’t want to just throw a product out there and fix it later. I wanted to know it was right from day one.
“That meant working with Trading Standards, the Food Standards Agency, the VMD, and understanding what I could legally claim.
“I also had to source organic, safe seed. Wheatgrass, for example, can contain mycotoxins if not tested properly, and I didn’t want to risk that.
“So I worked directly with farmers and suppliers, ensuring everything was certified and grown to pet food standards.
“I started the business in January 2017, and we didn’t sell our first product until October 2018. It took that long to get everything right.”
Can you tell me about the benefits of grass for cats?
“Our cat grass naturally contains thiamine and beta carotene, which are essential for cats’ health. Thiamine is needed to help them absorb nutrients from their food. In commercial cat foods, it’s added in powder form but breaks down over time.
“Our cat grass contains thiamine that grows naturally in the plant and stays stable. So when cats eat the grass, they’re getting that nutrient in its natural form.
“It also contains beta carotene, which in humans turns into vitamin A. Cats can’t make that conversion, but they do use beta carotene to remove free radicals from the body – so it supports liver and kidney health and helps with general wellbeing.
“And then it helps move hair through the intestinal tract and prevents hairballs. We hear from lots of customers who say it’s made a real difference.”
Are you able to share some of the stories of your customers and how it’s made a difference for them?
“We’ve got customers whose vets have actually recommended our product because it supports their cats’ digestion and kidney function.
“One vet is even running their own trial at the moment to see how the beta carotene in our grass affects test results for cats with kidney issues.
“Others tell us their cats are happier, more active, and have fewer digestive problems.
“We also get a lot of people who’ve switched from outdoor to indoor living for their cats, and the grass gives them that natural stimulation they’d otherwise miss.”
You have campaigned to have cat grass redefined as a pet food – can you tell us some more about this?
“When we first tried to register as an animal feed material business, Trading Standards didn’t really know what to do with us. Cat grass wasn’t listed anywhere.
“We had to educate them, showing that cereal grasses and hay are already recognised feed materials.
“Eventually, after years of back-and-forth, cat grass was officially added to UK legislation as an animal feed material.
“That means it’s now legally recognised as a pet food ingredient, and any company selling cat grass must meet the same safety and hygiene standards as other pet food producers. It’s a huge step forward.”
What was it like and what made you so determined?
“It was a long process – about seven years in total – but it mattered to me. When I first looked at what was on the market, most products were low quality.
“Some used vermiculite, which is a mining byproduct and actually classed as an industrial nuisance dust. That shouldn’t be anywhere near a pet product.
“I wanted to create something safe, compliant, and beneficial for cats. Having cat grass recognised as a pet food means cat owners can trust what they’re buying.
“It raises standards across the whole industry, and that’s something I’m really proud of.”
Are there any challenges you still face?
“One of the biggest challenges is getting into large pet retailers. We’d love customers to be able to pick up our products in-store, but it’s not easy to reach the right decision-makers.
“Sometimes they’ll say, ‘We already have cat grass,’ without realising that the products they’re stocking don’t meet the same standards.
“So a lot of my time now is spent talking to independent pet shops, educating them about what makes our products different. We’re seeing good progress, and I love those face-to-face conversations.”
How has life for our cats changed in the time you’ve had your business?
“There’s been a big shift towards keeping cats indoors. When I started the business, our focus was always on indoor cats – that’s why the company is called Indoor Cat Ltd.
“In the US and Australia, there are laws about keeping cats indoors for welfare or wildlife protection reasons, and we’re slowly seeing that mindset here too. People are more aware of road traffic accidents, antifreeze poisoning, and other dangers.
“But if you’re keeping your cat indoors, it’s your responsibility to make sure it has the stimulation it needs. That’s where products like cat grass come in – they bring a little bit of the outdoors inside.”
What do you see for the future for cats and their humans?
“I think we’ll see more awareness around feline wellness – from diet to environment and enrichment. People are looking for natural, ethical, and sustainable products, and that’s a really positive change.
“We’re also seeing more collaboration within the cat community – behaviourists, pet sitters, and small brands working together to improve cats’ lives.
“For us, the next step is getting our products into independent stores, continuing to educate owners, and developing new ideas that genuinely make life better for cats. That’s always been the goal.”
Connect with Bleu on his website: https://mycatgrass.co.uk/trade/
