Finding the perfect litter is a pivotal choice for asthmatic cat owners. After all, the dust created by these products is a common trigger for their asthma. It's no surprise you wonder what litter is the best for cats with this condition. We've done extensive research on this topic and found some vital info to help answer this question.
Veterinarians recommend getting dust-free/low dust cat litters without any added scents or perfumes for asthmatic cats. The following seven cat litters should have no issues serving an asthmatic cat's needs:
- Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Respiratory Relief Cat Litter
- Purina Yesterday's News Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter
- Boxiecat Premium Clumping Cat Litter
- ökocat Premium Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter
- PetSafe Non-Clumping Cat Litter
- Naturally Fresh Pellet Formula Unscented Non-clumping Cat Litter
- Dr. Elsey's Respiratory Relief Gel Cat Litter
But there's a bit more to this discussion than merely listing out suitable options. Cat owners must grasp what cat asthma is and its causes before choosing the perfect cat litter option. We'll discuss both these topics and our seven choices in more detail below to ensure you can make a smart buying decision.
What is Cat Asthma?
Cat asthma, also called feline asthma, is a chronic inflammation within the small passageway of your cat's lungs. This condition will cause the passageways to thicken and collapse when they're inhaling during an attack. It'll make breathing difficult for an asthmatic cat. It can even lead to respiratory distress and become an overly dangerous situation within a few minutes. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing.
Causes of Cat Asthma
Several factors can contribute to cat asthma. But most experts seem to agree that this condition forms because of allergic bronchitis. Your cat breathes in a particular allergen that causes their lungs to become inflamed.
A few of the most common allergens include molds, pollen, dust, certain foods, and cigarette smoke. Each of these causes is something asthmatic cat owners should to avoid at all costs. If your cat has asthma, a vet visitation is necessary to ensure you know what needs avoiding.
It shouldn't be surprising to learn that some of these allergens can generate from cat litter. For instance, dust and perfumes are common causes of asthma that are heavily present within litters. Let's discuss the three main types to provide some more context into what we mean:
Clay Litters
Most clay litters are huge culprits with a high amount of dust. It comes from them using additives to create fast clumping when contacting waste, which creates a higher chance of airborne dust. If you're going to choose a clay-based type, make sure it's one made specifically for respiratory issues.
Silica Gel Litters
On the other hand, silica gel litters are the least dust-producing type. But silica dust can be a toxic irritant capable of building in your cat's system. It would be best to make sure any silica-based option is dust-free.
Natural Litters
Some natural litters aren't ideal for cats with asthma. A few options to avoid would be litters made from wheat, corn, or grass. These choices are much more likely to cause an asthma attack. Natural litter users should instead stick with options containing walnut shells, wood pellets, or recycled paper. They'll produce much less dust and don't have a reputation for being common cat allergens.
7 Best Litters For Cats With Asthma
1. Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Respiratory Relief Cat Litter
Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat Respiratory Relief Cat Litter is a clay-based option made for controlling respiratory issues. This litter is a practical choice because it has low dust amounts and contains hypo-allergenic materials. It also doesn't include perfumes, deodorants, or any plant proteins known to cause attacks.
Its outstanding odor control is another standout trait referred to many times in this product's customer reviews. Customers won't have to worry about it being incapable of preventing those bathroom smells from wafting around their home.
But this product does have a relatively expensive price tag. It's hard to argue against it not being worth buying for asthmatic cats and owners with its top-tier dust control and overall performance.
Click here to see the product on Amazon.
2. Purina Yesterday's News Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter
This next option is a natural cat litter made from recycled paper. Its construction allows this product to be 99.9% dust-free and doesn't have any added perfumes or scents. Due to this, it shouldn't have any trouble keeping your cat free from asthma attacks.
It's known to absorb 3-times more than most traditional clay-based type litters, too. This benefit should make cleaning your cat's litter box a less taxing and frequent task inside your home.
Cat owners will love its low-tracking, Eco-friendly, and odor control qualities, as well. Purina did an excellent job creating a well-rounded option that doesn't seem to have a notable weakness.
Click here to see the product on Amazon.
3. Boxiecat Premium Clumping Cat Litter
The Boxiecat Premium Clumping Cat Litter contains a dust-control formula, which has gone over exceptionally well with cat owners. It's proven to be an effective preventive against dust, ammonia odor and doesn't contain any scented elements.
It'd be wise not to overlook its hypo-allergenic qualities. It'll make sure nothing about this litter irritates or activates your cat's asthma. Your cat will no have issues using their litter box in a comfortable, peaceful manner when utilizing this product.
Cat owners tend to find this product's more user-friendly, as well. This attribute comes from the litter instantly clumping after coming into contact with waste. It makes the scooping process much more comfortable than with traditional clay cat litters.
Click here to see the product on Amazon.
4. ökocat Premium Natural Wood Clumping Cat Litter
If you're looking for a natural cat litter, this option from ökocat is a hard one to beat. It's a plant-based, clumping cat litter containing wood fiber to help prevent ammonia and odor. This formula will ensure those unpleasant bathroom smells remain inside the litter box rather than adventuring elsewhere.
You won't have to worry about much dust creation, either. The product's wood fiber has been de-dusted before being put into the formula to make it 99% dust-free. Multiple buyers were rather shocked by how clean it poured when compared to similar natural cat litters.
This option has another unique benefit, which is being compostable. It should have no problem degrading cleanly and quickly to make a useful addition to your composting pile.
Click here to see the product on Amazon.
5. PetSafe ScoopFree Non-Clumping Cat Litter
PetSafe's ScoopFree Non-Clumping Cat Litter is a silica gel option without any perfumes or dyes. It makes this product a safe choice for both asthmatic cats and owners. But customers shouldn't think its lack of scent affects its ability to cover smells well.
This option absorbs urine and dries solid wastes better than most clumping clay litters. As a result, it provides much better odor control without providing an excess of dust. It happens to contain one of the lowest dust amounts among available cat litters.
However, make sure to get the sensitive option rather than lavender or original. These other types contain certain traits that could be an issue for asthmatic felines.
Click here to see the product on Amazon.
6. Naturally Fresh Pellet Formula Unscented Non-clumping Cat Litter
Asthmatic cat owners looking for a product that can limit litter tracking need to consider this option. Its pellet-based natural formula has shown to outpace its counterparts by a wide margin. Your favorite pet will never track gross bacteria or litter all over your home again.
You will also love this usage of walnut shells rather than the traditional pine or wheat. It helps neutralize odor more effectively and less prone to irritating your cat's sensitive sinuses. Due to this, their bathroom trips should include a lot less sneezing than with other natural litters.
Other notable features include dust-free formula, usability with other small animals (rabbits, hamsters, etc.), and multiple size options. Honestly, it shouldn't have any issues meeting the needs of most asthmatic cats.
Click here to see the product on Amazon.
7. Dr. Elsey's Respiratory Relief Gel Cat Litter
Our final product has become a favorite among asthmatic cat owners for its many useful features. An excellent example would be its hypo-allergenic formula's ability to trap urine and odor on contact. It does this action without using a clumping method, which can be problematic for cats with asthma.
The product's high absorption rate makes it a fit for multi-cat households. Offering separate litter to different cats is an absolute hassle no owner enjoys. But thankfully, this option's non-toxic, low-dust construction would suit the needs of multiple cats without difficulty.
Its long-lasting results don't hurt its case as this litter can last two weeks without needing a change. What more could a cat owner ask for from a silica-gel cat litter?
Click here to see the product on Amazon.
Final Thoughts
Cat owners who must choose litter wisely to prevent the threat of an asthma attack will find relief knowing there are several viable options. Not only are these litters low dust, but many are also environmentally friendly, unscented, and low tracking.
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