Is Mondo Grass Toxic to Cats? A Guide to Monkey Grass or Lilyturf
- Abi
- September 19, 2022
- 1:47 pm
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Is mondo grass poisonous to cats? Mondo grass is often called monkey grass or lilyturf and is safe to grow in a pet-friendly yard!
In a nutshell, no, mondo grass is not known to be poisonous to cats or other domestic pets. That being said, ingesting this plant might cause your beloved pet to experience mild to moderate symptoms.
This article will answer the question, ‘is mondo grass poisonous to cats?’ We’ll look at other types of ornamental grass that are safe for cats and also beneficial to their health.
What is Mondo Grass?

Mondo grass is a type of grass that might also be commonly known and be referred to as monkey grass or lilyturf. Other frequently used (English) names to describe this particular piece of greenery are border grass and liriope.
This grass is a type of flowering plant that is a part of the Asparagaceae plant family and is thought to be native and originated from East Asia. This grass is attractive to have in most households due to its deep evergreen foliage. To go along with this vibrant base, it flowers and blooms in light purple shades. During the autumn, these flowers produce single-seeded berries on a pike.
Mondo grass is often used as landscape grass to help enhance a garden’s appearance. This grass is optimal for use in your home as it has quite a high tolerance for droughts and is low maintenance, so it doesn’t need much care or effort to remain beautiful and vibrant. Moreover, it is resistant to pests. This means that it is not likely to become infested with irritating creatures.
Is Mondo Grass poisonous to cats?
Mondo or monkey grass is not poisonous to cats. This means that it is highly unlikely that this piece of greenery will cause your pets any severe or fatal symptoms or damage. Keeping that in mind, this plant is still capable of causing cats some mild to moderate symptoms.
These symptoms include things such as stomach aches, which may sometimes cause diarrhea, and nausea, which is somewhat likely to induce vomiting. If you see your domestic pet experiencing any or all of these symptoms, it is recommended that you take them to a vet as soon as you possibly can, just in order to ensure that they are alright and the plant won’t cause them any further issues.
Other non-toxic ornamental grasses
If you are considering purchasing some other ornamental grasses that are pet friendly and will do absolutely no harm to your cat, then there are plenty of options to choose from. In addition, some grasses can improve your cat’s life as they can enhance their bodily functions and have other positive effects. These more beneficial grasses are also less likely to cause any symptoms or irritations in your beloved companion.
Spelt wheatgrass
These grasses include types such as spelt wheat grass. This grass is lush and is dark green in color; it is high in fiber and is the best at aiding your cat in expelling hairballs.
Oat grass
A great alternative to spelt wheat grass is oat grass. This grass is tall and lean and is light green in color, it is best for sensitive whiskers and can help cats that have more delicate stomachs.
Pampas grass
Pampas grass shouldn’t be nibbled on or ingested by cats but isn’t toxic if your pet does have a chew. Therefore pampas can be added to a pet-friendly yard.
Is Mondo Grass poisonous to cats? Final thoughts
In conclusion, mondo grass is not poisonous to cats, but it is still capable of causing some slight symptoms if your cat eats it. Because of this, it might be better to consider other, safer ornamental grasses or to ensure that your cat doesn’t ingest high quantities of this type of grass.
Written by Victoriya Litovchenko