A new cat changes a home overnight. One day the sofa is just a sofa; the next it is a lookout, a hiding spot and, by the end of the week, a throne. If you have just adopted from a shelter or rescue here in the UAE, congratulations. The first weeks are about letting your cat settle in at their own pace, and we would love to help with one small, green part of it: their first month of grass, on us.
Read on for the questions new adopters ask us most, and our answers.
Q: We just adopted. Where do we even start?
A: With patience, mostly. A new cat is learning a whole new map: where the food is, where the quiet corners are, who the people are and which of them give the best chin scratches. Some cats explore on day one. Others spend a week under the bed. Both are normal. Make sure they have a safe, quiet place to retreat to, keep the routine predictable, and let them come to you. Your vet is the right person for anything about their health, so book that first check-up and bring your questions.
Q: Where does grass fit into all of this?
A: Gently, and on your cat's terms. Many cats enjoy nibbling grass, and an indoor home rarely has any that is safe for them. A box of fresh, organic grass gives your new cat something green of their own. Put it in a calm spot they already like, near where they rest or sit, and leave it be. There is no need to guide them to it. Cats are curious on their own schedule, and a new cat in a new home has a great deal to be curious about.
Q: Tell me about the free month.
A: We call it our adoption month, and it is simple. If you adopted your cat in the last 60 days from a UAE-registered shelter or rescue organization, their first month of the Complete Wellness Bundle is on us. That is all three of our organic grasses, one box every 10 days: barley, oat and wheat in turn. Fill in the form on our adoption page with your cat's name, the adoption date and the shelter or rescue, and add a photo or scan of the adoption certificate, receipt or approval form. We check it within 2 working days and email you a link to start your free month. Add your delivery address at checkout, and there is nothing to pay today. Delivery is free, as it is on every plan.
Q: Is there a catch?
A: Not really. One free month per home. After that, the Complete Wellness Bundle continues at its usual monthly price if you choose to stay, and you can skip, pause or cancel anytime.
Q: Can kittens join in?
A: Yes, once they are eating solid food.
Q: Our new cat has a health condition, or we think she might have allergies. Is grass still a good idea?
A: Check with your vet first, before anything new.
Q: We already have a cat who loves her grass, and now there is a newcomer. Our first cat treats the box as hers. Will the new one ever get a look in, and should we think about a second box?
A: Possibly, on both counts. Some new cats seem to take their cue from a cat who already nibbles. That is something our founder has seen in homes we deliver to, not something research has tested. Watch each cat on their own, because one keen nibbler can keep another from getting a turn. If that happens, a second box in a different room can help.
Q: Any tips for the very first box?
A: Keep it low-key. Set the box down, step back and let your cat find it. Some cats sniff and walk away, then come back later as if it was their idea. If your cat eats a lot at once and brings it back up often, offer the box for 10 to 15 minutes at a time instead.
Q: And if they ignore it completely?
A: Give it time. A new cat has a lot to take in, and a box of grass is one more new thing.
"Cats are curious on their own schedule."
Q: What does the first month actually look like?
A: Three boxes, three grasses. Barley first, harvested young, with broad leaves for cats who nibble at their own pace. Then oat, crisp grass for cats who are particular about what they eat. Then wheat, soft, fine grass and a daily ritual for cats prone to stress. All three help with hairballs. Each box is harvested the morning it is delivered and reaches you the same day between 12 PM and 10 PM, fresh and chilled. By the end of the month, you will have a fair idea of which grass your cat likes best.
"Something green of their own, from their very first month."
Q: Our new cat is curious about everything, including our houseplants. We have had a few close calls already. Is a box of grass going to keep her away from them, or do we need to rethink the plants?
A: Rethink the plants, too. Many common houseplants are not safe for cats, so check each one against a trusted toxic-plant list and keep anything unsafe out of reach, whether or not your cat has grass. A box gives your cat a green of their own that is grown to be nibbled, and some owners notice a happy side effect. As one verified buyer of our oat grass put it: "My rescue cat munched happily and stopped nibbling on my fancy houseplants finally!" Every cat is different, so keep the unsafe plants away regardless.
Q: Does the box need much care?
A: Very little.
Q: How little?
A: Two days after the box arrives, add a little water at the base of the box, never on the grass. Keep the box out of direct sun. In the UAE summer, the fridge works well. A box stays good for about 7 days from harvest. When the grass yellows or wilts later in the week, it has reached the end of its time and can go in the compost.
Q: That sounds easier than the litter box.
Q: What happens when the free month ends?
A: You choose. If you continue, the Complete Wellness Bundle carries on at its usual monthly price, and so does the rotation: barley, oat, wheat, again. If one grass has clearly won your cat over, you can switch to your cat's favorite grass instead. You can skip, pause, change grass or cancel from your account anytime, with no commitments and no fees. There is no pressure either way. The month is a welcome gift, and what comes next is up to you and your cat.
Q: What if a box arrives with a problem? We are new to all of this and would rather not guess.
A: Then you don't have to.
Q: Meaning?
A: That is what the Happy Cats Guarantee is for. If your box arrives with a problem, tell us within 24 hours of delivery through the form at sprouties.ae/pages/happycats, with your order number and a photo of the box, and we send you a new one.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Only that you have done a lovely thing. Giving a cat a home from a shelter or rescue is one of the best decisions a person can make, and the first weeks are when that home starts to feel like theirs. Be patient, keep things calm, and let your cat set the pace, with their food, their people and their grass. If you have questions, email contact@sprouties.ae or message us on WhatsApp. Home is where the cat is.
Adopted in the last 60 days? Your cat's first month of Complete Wellness is on us: claim it on our adoption page.
