Best Cat Litter For Asthmatic Owners

Best Cat Litter For Asthmatic Owners

Well, here we are, a place we hoped we’d never end up: asking for help with our kitty cough. Being a cat parent with asthma can be tricky, but we’re here to make it a little easier by helping you find the best cat litter for asthmatic owners.

I’m with you: I’d rather struggle through the cough and type through the tears of my allergy-induced asthma than give up my cat–any day. The writers here at Cat Kingpin know the struggle, so we’re going to give you high-quality, dust-free kitty litter options.

Since you’re probably dealing with symptoms while reading this, let’s get to it. By the time you’re finished reading, you’ll have a new litter on the way. Think of all the Kleenex you’ll save!

Sifting through everything out there and finding the best products wasn’t very speedy! First, we decided what would be important to look for in a litter for asthmatic owners, which we decided was: dust-free, what the product is made of, and whether it clumps.

Next, we read through thousands of reviews to find out which products were actually dust-free and asthma-friendly. Through this, we found out what cat owners are really looking for and what common problems people run into.

This took all day and made me want another cat.

I’m pleased to say that our hours spent scavenging the internet and talking with other cat parents was well worth it. 

At the end of the day, we found that Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter is the best fit for cat owners with asthma and for those who want the cleanest air possible in their home.The good news is that the safer the litter is for you, the safer it is for your cat, too!

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Why You Should Trust Our Review

It took us eight hours to research our resources, three hours to write this article, and another hour to quadruple check that we didn’t miss anything to make sure this guide is trustworthy. I don’t count the post-check, so let’s say we spent 11 hours researching litter.As cat parents and cat lovers ourselves, there’s no way we’d recommend using something we wouldn’t or haven’t used. You can rest assured that we’ve jumped no curbs and cut no corners while compiling the list below. Only the best for you and your furry friend!

What Features Did We Look For

When it comes to asthma, there are a few things you can’t control–like the existence of urine, saliva, or dander, which trigger the reactions we know so well. What you can control is what’s in your litter box. Persistent cough, runny nose, and itchy eyes can be helped by switching your litter, so through our research, we dwindled it down to four main things to look for. Here’s what we found:

  1. Dust: Nobody wants or needs more dust in their life, especially not in the home. For asthma sufferers, it’s imperative to keep dust to a minimum. That’s why it was a big factor in our search.
  2. Clumping ability: Clumping limits the amount of litter and litter contents that escape into the air and out onto your floor via kitty’s paws. This helps keep the air as clean as possible for you and your cat.
  3. Price in relation to quality: As you probably know, some litters can cost as much as a small house note. We’re talking hundreds. I would hire someone to clean my litter boxes for all of that money! For the expensive litters, the reviews were only subpar, so we didn’t see the value in including them.
  4. Personal experience: All of the above matters immensely, but we wanted to get the scoop (pun intended) on what people really think about these litters.

Who is This Cat Litter For?

These cat litters were specifically picked as the best of the best for cat owners who suffer from asthma. However, no one can be harmed by cleaner air. I don’t think your cat will complain either!If you seem to suffer from rashes, itchy and watery eyes, shortness of breath, itchiness, or any other asthma-related symptoms, this list was made for you whether you’re diagnosed or not. There’s no medical advice contained in these recommendations.

How ​We Choose ​Our ​Products

As I mentioned, we spent a total of 11 hours researching and compiling this list. We looked at over dozens of different litters from the off-brand to the deluxe. We hunted for litters on Amazon, Chewy, PetSmart, PetCo, Stella & Chewy’s, and more to find the highest quality, top-rated products. We listened to other people’s experiences.. We took into consideration how much dust each litter produced, the clumping ability of each litter, and the price tag in relation to the quality.We also made sure to take plenty of personal experience into consideration.At Cat Kingpin, we take it seriously when we recommend a product to you. I know that you love your cat enough to research litter for 11 hours, but you can relax. We’ve done it all for you, so you can just snuggle up with your little bud and read this list instead.

Our Top Choice – Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter

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​Pros

  • Absorbs odor
  • Extraordinarily soft
  • Doesn’t track out of box

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​Cons

  • Solidifies on wet paws
  • Packaging
  • Non-congruent product received

Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter topped the charts on almost every website we looked at. With almost 21,000 high reviews on Amazon alone, Dr. Elsey’s is a cat owner favorite. It’s almost completely dust-free, natural, and hypo-allergenic. 

It was designed for multiple cats’ use at a time, so the odor-blocking factor is highly praised in this litter. It clumps sturdily and easily, and people said they found it exceedingly easier to clean than other litters. It’s also a relatively inexpensive option!

The people who were dissatisfied with this product said they found that they received different consistency of litter from order-to-order, but this was few and far between. Others said that if your cat’s paws are wet going into the box then the litter will solidify on the cat’s paws, though the users who said this also said that the litter was worth it despite that factor.

 Premium Pick  – Fresh Step Crystals, Premium Cat Litter

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​Pros

  • Odor absorbing crystals
  • 8lbs is equal to 28lbs
  • Crystals leave less dirt & dust

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​Cons

  • Scented
  • Sludge bottom

Fresh Step Crystals is a premium cat litter that is the cream of the crop of its category. The crystals are supposed to absorb odor and moisture without getting hardly anything at all on your cat’s feet. They also claim that 8lbs of their product is equivalent to 28lbs of another company’s litter, which user reviews back them up on.

I listed ‘scented’ as a con because that’s for you to decide. Many asthma sufferers try to steer away from scented products, but there are a vast number of us who just really need the extra help with odor.

There are instances of the very bottom of the litter being described as sludge. Try changing your litter a time or two extra throughout the week to prevent this as much as possible. Plus, I don’t think the cats would mind the extra-clean box.

 Budget Friendly  – Nature’s Miracle Premium Clumping Corn Cob Litter

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​Pros

  • Natural ingredients
  • Protects wood floors
  • Users say it’s most dust-free
  • Great odor control

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​Cons

  • Potential chemical odor

Nature’s Miracle Premium Clumping Corn Cob Litter is a cheaper option on the list, but some swear it’s the best. The people who use this litter appear to have the most loyalty to the brand that we’ve seen during our search. As the name implies, the litter is made of corn cobs, which is helpful in reducing some of the chemicals responsible for your asthmatic symptoms. This litter had the best overall reviews.  

There were a very tiny handful of people who reported a strange chemical smell, so I’ll leave you to decide what that means to you. For us, we felt the benefit far outweighed the few minor complaints.

Other Choice: Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Quick-Clumping Cat Litter

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​Pros

  • Size and scent options
  • Biodegradable
  • Silica doesn’t stick to paws

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​Cons

  • Can’t leave near outdoors
  • Strange Odor

Naturally Fresh Walnut-Based Quick-Clumping Cat Litter is another wonderful option for those of you who enjoy natural-based litters and products. Instead of being corn-based like the above, Naturally Fresh is made from fibrous parts of the walnut shell. It’s a great natural, budget-friendly option.

Literally only one or two people said this, but it’s important to note not to leave this product outside or near outside. These few people said insects were attracted to this litter. Besides, some people found it to smell like a chemical.

Other Choice: Boxie Pro Cat Litter

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​Pros

  • Microscopically cleans your litter
  • Unscented
  • Dust-free

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​Cons

  • Pricier
  • Some cats stopped covering “presents”
  • Tracks

Boxie Pro Cat Litter is a good choice if you really want to go all out on your litter without paying specialty prices. This litter has won awards for its deep-cleaning feature. It cleans your litter on a microscopic level by way of a natural probiotics blend. It’s also dust-free. Between these two features, people with asthma and allergies love this product–not to mention it’s scent-free.

Some purchasers said the clumping ability was so good that the clumps sat right on top of the litter, giving their cats less motivation to cover their business. A small number of people said they noticed some tracking outside of the litter box. Again, this was not an overwhelming complaint, and there’s a certain amount of tracking that is simply unavoidable.

Care and Maintenance

When you find which litter is right for you, there are a few additional ways to make sure you’re getting the maximum benefits out of your litter.Firstly, it’s important to clean your litter box twice a day to maintain cleanliness regardless of what litter you use. For cat owners with asthma, having a covered litter box helps keep the dust and pollutants contained within. Try to get your cat a litter box mat to wipe their paws on after going to the bathroom, and wipe their paws regularly when possible yourself.Lastly, having an air purifier in your home will at least double the effectiveness of any one of the litters! Doing these few things on a regular basis will keep your home as asthma-friendly as a pet owner’s home could be! You’re not the only one who goes through this struggle with their fur babies. Countless people with asthma have pets all of their lives and are able to do so by using clean products and taking a few extra steps. You really can, too!

​Answers to Common Questions

Can these be used in an automatic litter box?

The short answer is yes. It’s best to always check your model of automatic litter box first, but yes. In our experience, the ability to use litter in an automatic box is directly related to how well the litter clumps.

Aren’t silica and clay dangerous?

For as many articles that say yes, there are as many or more that say no. Potential toxic crossover is unavoidable when you have a box of poop in your house, but when it comes to litter, we have two naturally made options on the list in case you want to be extra safe! Consult your doctor if you have further questions in this area.

Can you flush used litter?

This is a huge question everywhere in the world of litter. No one will stop you from flushing litter, but it’s not recommended, especially when you’re using the clumping kind. More importantly than busted pipes, the “flushable” brands of kitty litter are being said to cause death in sea animals.

Can I use Multi-Cat litter when I only have one cat?

Of course, the multi-cat litter is simply formulated to handle more business and still protect against odor. If your cat shows a reaction, it’ll be because of the litter itself, not because of a special multi-cat feature.

Can I mix litter?

Yes, many people mix litters. It’s not unsafe. However, if you mix a clumping litter with a non-clumping litter, for example, you’d just be working against yourself, so be wise if you intend to mix. Also, certain combinations of litter can be texturally irritating to some kitty paws. Be on the lookout.

Does this eliminate the causes of asthma in the home?

Sorry, but no. There’s no way we could make that happen for you, unfortunately. However, this is one of your top ways for eliminating as much of the asthma-causing crud in your air as possible. Coupled with an air purifier (or two),having fresh, clean asthma-friendly kitty litter will go farther than you think! Plus, happy cats and all that.

What if I’m still having a hard time with my symptoms?

If your symptoms are still bothersome or getting worse, then it’s time to pull your doctor and vet into the conversation. You might need further help than litter alone can provide.Please don’t ignore your body’s signals. While I know you love your cat, untreated asthma can lead to many dangerous health issues, including limiting the amount of oxygen that gets to your brain. So, don’t ignore your symptoms until they become a problem.

​Final Thoughts

There are dozens and dozens of litter choices out there, so we’re happy to give you recommendations on what we know works. As mentioned above, asthma does not condemn you to a life of petless-ness.

We realize how big of a role litter plays in maintaining this freedom, so we made sure to spend the time compiling this comprehensive list for you.

As we said, Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter is the top choice for us here at Cat Kingpin, and each of the other four litters has their own unique benefit. We’re sure you’ll find one that’s right for your needs.

Sources:Allergic Asthma from Cats: What Can You Do? – https://www.healthline.com/health/asthma/cats-and-asthma

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