Bleu Stessia is the founder of My Cat Grass - the UK’s only fully compliant producer of fresh cat grass.Back in 2018, Bleu had the idea to create his own grass after Monty, his British Shorthair, suffered from intestinal problems caused by his thick coat. Determined to find something to help him, Bleu decided to try cat grass, and started growing it on his windowsill to support Monty’s 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 and their families all 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 care.Plus, his drive 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.You’ll find all the links to connect with Bleu at the end of these show notes.Topics and timings in this episode0.20 - 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 - Monty, 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.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
Ireland