Best Litter For Cats With Asthma
After the best litter for cats with asthma or chronic bronchitis?
Cats experience asthma and bronchitis similar to humans. This problem may be caused by dust-forming cat litters.
A low dust natural cat litter can help your cat breathe easier and experience less coughing.
In this article, I’ll help you with the best litter for cats with asthma.
My name is Derrick, and I write for Simply Cat Care
My goal with this website is to help cat owners learn more about taking care of their cats
I am not a veterinarian and I recommend seeking the advice of a vet for any further questions relating to your cat’s health
Let’s look at what will be in this article
Let’s get into the article.
Product Review: Best Litter For Cats With Asthma
Best Litter For Cats With Asthma Overall
Natural Paw Tofu Cat Litter 4 Pack
Why Do I Recommend This Cat Litter?
Natural Paw Tofu Cat Litter is a low dust biodegradable litter to help with cat asthma.
This product has 99% dust control, which is great for those with respiratory problems.
The other main benefit of this tofu cat litter is the unscented formula. Many cats prefer unscented, as they are averse to odd smells. The litter also clumps for easy disposal.
The main downside of this product is the lack of different package options. There aren’t any unscented single packs. Some customers also report a barnyard smell to the product.
Specifications
- Weight: 18 pounds
- Material: Tofu
- Scent: Unscented
- Ingredients: Dry soybean (tofu), edible starch, water
Best Litter For Cats With Asthma Budget
Small Pet Select Premium Pine Pelleted Cat Litter 25lb
Why Do I Recommend This Cat Litter?
Small Pet Select – Premium Pine Pelleted Cat Litter is a good budget low dust choice to help with cat asthma.
The main advantage of this product is the use of pine pellets. The larger pellets resist tracking and help to reduce dust.
The downside of this product is it needs a litter sifting tray to remove urine waste. Some cats also don’t like larger pellets on the paws.
Check out litter sifting trays over here.
Specifications
- Weight: 25 pounds
- Material: Pine
- Scent: Unscented (natural pine smell)
- Brand: Small Pet Select
Best Litter For Cats With Asthma Premium
Petfive Sustainably Yours Natural Sustainable Multi-Cat Litter
Why Do I Recommend This Cat Litter?
Petfive Sustainably Yours is low dust and biodegradable to help with cat asthma.
The main benefit of this product is the small size that is gentle on the paws and the use of natural materials to reduce irritation with breathing.
Downsides include increased tracking and mixed odor control reviews. The smaller size compared to pellet litter is more prone to tracking.
Specifications
- Weight: 13 pounds
- Material: Corn and cassava
- Scent: Unscented
- Brand: PetFive
Buying Guide: Best Litter For Cats With Asthma
Not sure what to look for to help your cat with asthma?
Using a low dust cat litter helps to improve your cat’s breathing.
This is the first priority when choosing the best litter for cats with asthma.
Consider other factors including:
- Cost
- Texture
- Odor
- Tracking
In this buying guide, I’ll go through things to consider when looking for cat litter.
Click below to go back to my top picks or scroll down to read more.
What Types Of Cat Litter Are Best For Asthma?
Clay
Clay is the most popular cat litter choice and is more affordable than other types of litter.
The problem with clay is it tends to track more than other materials and isn’t dust-free.
Dust produced from clay litter may irritate your cat’s breathing.
Bottom Line: Clay is the most popular cat litter type but is irritating to your cats breathing
Recycled Paper
Recycled paper is an eco-friendly option with good absorption and less dust production.
This is a good choice for cats with asthma.
Recycled paper has great odor control as well.
The main downside of recycled paper litter is it is not clumping. That means you must empty the tray after each toilet visit.
This type of litter may produce more tracking on the paws.
Bottom Line: Recycled paper litter produces less dust and is beneficial for cats with asthma
Crystal Litter
Crystal silica pellets are small-sized litter that’s gentle on the paws.
It provides good absorption, however, dust production varies widely from brand to brand. This may not be the best choice for cats with asthma or bronchitis.
Most crystal cat litter choices are non-clumping.
Also:
Crystal cat litter tends to track more due to its small size that lodges in your cat’s paws.
Check out my article on the best crystal litter for more cool information about this litter.
Bottom Line: Crystal cat litter is soft on the paws but may produce more dust
Wheat/Tofu Litter
Wheat pellets are a good non-tracking choice.
They clump and control odor well. There’s also less dust produced with this type of litter.
The main downside of this type of litter is the ‘barnyard’ smell which you may want to avoid in your house. Some cats may also confuse the pellets for food.
Bottom Line: Wheat litter is a low dust choice that has good odor control
Pine Pellets
Pine pellets are another option on the table for cat litter options.
They are larger pellets that tend to stick less and don’t have the dustiness of clay.
The main downside of pine pellets is you need a sifter tray.
Over time the pellets disintegrate into fine sawdust which needs collection and disposal.
This isn’t that expensive but is an added inconvenience.
Bottom Line: Pine pellets produce less dust, but need a sifter tray for use
What Features Should I Look For In Cat Litter For Asthma?
Low Dust
Choose a low dust cat litter to minimize the risk of asthma symptoms.
According to research in Thailand, crystal cat litter is the dustiest type of cat litter.
However, this type of litter is ironically not as dangerous as the dust emitted from clay litter, which may contain silica dust.
Both types of litter may not be the best choices for reducing irritation.
Bottom Line: Crystal cat litter may be dusty depending on the brand, but isn’t as allergenic as clay cat litter dust
Scent
Cats prefer unscented litter and this type of litter is less irritating to the respiratory system.
A cat has a powerful sense of smell that is 14 times stronger than a human.
Crystal cat litter holds more than double its weight in water, which soaks up a lot of urine.
When left out for a long period the ammonia breakdown of the urine creates an unpleasant smell.
The best way to control bad odor is daily litter changing and using scent-free litter.
Bottom Line: Get an unscented cat litter
Texture
When given the choice, cats prefer a smaller type of litter such as clay or silica over larger litter such as pine and wood pellets.
However, this varies from cat to cat.
The bottom line is most cats may find silica cat litter pleasant to step on and do their business.
Unfortunately, these types of cat litter choices may be the most irritating to breathing.
If your cat is a die-hard clay or silica lover then your next best bet is a low dust-producing product to help with asthma and bronchitis.
Small litter may track more than large pellets due to being stuck in paws.
Check out my best non-tracking cat litter to learn more.
Bottom Line: Crystal cat litter and clay litter are preferred textures but not be the best choices for asthma
Clumping
Clumping doesn’t affect asthma symptoms but adds convenience to cat litter.
This is one area you may need to sacrifice depending on the type of litter you choose.
To prioritize your cat’s respiratory health you always want to focus on a less irritating product.
Bottom Line: Most crystal cat litter is not clumping, however, some brands provide a clumping crystal litter
Cost
Cat litter ranges in cost depending on the brand and added benefits.
A simple bare-bones litter without the bells and whistles is usually cheaper, but not always.
Compare costs based on the price per weight, and consider how much litter you need.
It’s important to change your cat’s litter every day and completely replace litter every week.
This keeps the litter tray bacteria-free, which lowers the risk of infection and litter tray avoidance. Bacterial infection may produce bronchitis or asthma symptoms in cats.
Crystal cat litter is among the more expensive types of litter.
Clay litter is usually the cheapest choice, with organic material litters (e.g. pine, wood) mid-range choices.
Bottom Line: Compare cost based on the amount of litter and how much you’ll use
What Is The Best Litter For A Cat With Asthma?
There isn’t enough evidence to support a definitive ‘best choice’.
Feline asthma isn’t well researched at this stage. Clay is the most irritating to breathing.
A low dust litter that your cat enjoys using is your best option to reduce the risk of irritating breathing.
Great choices include:
- Recycled paper
- Pine pellets
- Wheat litter
If your cat is a ‘die-hard’ clay lover, pick a brand that focuses on low dust production as a main priority.
There are no federal regulations around cat litters and dust production.
Bottom Line: Recycled paper, pine, and wheat are top choices for cats with asthma
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Cat Asthma?
Cat asthma (often referred to as feline asthma) is a chronic inflammatory disease.
It involves impairment of the lower airways that include the bronchi and bronchioles. This results in reduced airflow and harder breathing.
There is excessive mucus secreted in the lungs and edema (fluid build-up).
The disease is similar to human asthma.
Bottom Line: Cat asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs that makes it harder to breath
What Are The Causes Of Asthma In Cats?
Possible causes of asthma include:
- Pollen
- House dust mites
- Dander
- Fungal spores
- Dust
- Cat litter
- Cold air
- Exercise
- Heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD)
- Toxocara cati infection
- Inflammation (lack of omega 3 fatty acids in the diet)
If your cat experiences more breathing issues with changing seasons, it may be a sign of an environmental irritant (e.g. pollen).
Reducing dust around the house may improve symptoms and help with flea control.
Check out my article for more about flea management.
Bottom Line: There are a variety of possible causes of asthma. It’s best to keep your environment as clean as possible to improve your cat’s respiratory health
What Are The Symptoms Of Asthma In Cats?
The main symptoms of asthma are:
- Coughing
- Wheezing
- Exercise intolerance
Symptoms range in severity from mild to severe.
At its most severe, asthma reduces the quality of life to the point it’s difficult for your cat to eat, exercise, and rest.
Contact your vet for advice if you notice your cat showing the symptoms of asthma.
Bottom Line: The main symptoms of asthma are coughing, wheezing, and exercise intolerance
How Is Cat Asthma Diagnosed?
Diagnosis of cat asthma is clinician mediated.
A vet will go through a process of physical and medical examination to find out:
- Causes
- Severity
- Treatment
Bottom Line: Book an appointment with your vet to find out how to help your cat
What Is The Treatment For Feline Asthma?
Cat asthma may need the following treatments:
- Corticosteroids
- Bronchodilators
- Cyproheptadine
Corticosteroids are effective in most cases but may result in side effects. Those side effects include insulin resistance and pancreatitis.
Cyproheptadine reduces serotonin, which is a hormone that constricts the airways.
The treatments for cat asthma vary in the cause and severity.
Environmental and dietary changes also help manage cat asthma (e.g. changing cat litter, keeping the cat indoors).
Bottom Line: Vets use a few types of medication to help with cat asthma
How Do I Keep The Litter Box Clean?
Clear waste daily.
Cat’s find it unpleasant to use the soiled litter and have to step on clumps to get to their toilet.
There is no way around doing this unless you have an automatic cat litter system (which is a higher-cost purchase).
Clean the litter tray every week to reduce the risk of infection. Use a gentle scent-free cleaning agent for best results.
Bottom Line: Change litter daily for your cat’s wellbeing
Which Cat Litter Is The Least Dusty?
A larger organic litter may produce less dust.
Options include:
- Pine
- Wheat
- Tofu
- Corn
- Recycled paper
Bottom Line: Large organic pellet cat litter may produce less dust than clay or crystal litter
What Else Can You Do For A Cat With Asthma?
Aside from using a less dusty cat litter, the following help with cat asthma.
Keeping Your Cat Indoors
Pollen may result in bronchitis and/or asthma.
Cats going outdoors may encounter sources of pathogens from pests or other cats.
Bacterial infections may be a source of irritation to the lungs.
Check out my article on why keeping your cat indoors improves longevity.
Hepa Filters
Air purifiers and HEPA filters may help reduce 25-50% of dust particles in the air.
This helps to reduce the risk of cat asthma and/or manage symptoms.
Increasing ventilation may also help to improve the air quality of your home.
Conclusion: Best Litter For Cats With Asthma
In this article, I talked about the best litter for cats with asthma.
Cat asthma (often referred to as feline asthma) is a chronic inflammatory disease. It results in reduced airflow and harder breathing.
If your cat has the symptoms of asthma, visit your vet for a physical and medical examination. Your vet may prescribe medication to help with the problem depending on severity.
Using a low dust cat litter may help control your cat’s asthma along with reducing dust around the house. Natural litter like recycled paper and pine are good options for cat owners.
Our Top Pick: Best Litter For Cats With Asthma
Natural Paw Tofu Cat Litter 4 Pack
