Introduction
We researched and reviewed six of the best litter for cats with asthma on the market and answered some of the frequently asked questions. Read on to find out:
If you want to jump right to the litters we reviewed, here is a list you can choose from:
- Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Platinum Clumping Cat Litter (also available on Chewy.com!)
- Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Respiratory Relief Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter(also available on Chewy.com!)
- Fresh Step Advanced Simply Unscented Clumping Cat Litter (also available on Chewy.com!)
- Boxiecat Premium Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter (also available on Chewy.com!)
- ÖKOCAT Natural Wood Clumping Litter (also available on Chewy.com!)
- Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter (also available on Chewy.com!)
Litter Material
There are mainly three types of litter materials: Silica Gel, Clay, and Natural materials
Silica gel is a relatively new type of litter, which is also good at absorbing moisture and minimizing odors. It is also the truly dust-free type of litter. The main downside is that since it is made of larger granules, not all cats like to use it. It is also quite expensive and not very easy to find.
Clay is the most commonly used material as it is used for clumping litter. It is so popular since clay is highly absorbent and it is good at reducing odors. Clay can be dusty, but many products manage to contain dust very well, so this is something to consider.
Natural materials such as sand, wood pellets, coconut and corn. These materials are becoming more popular among environmentally-minded cat parents. They are clearly 100% safe for your cats, flushable, biodegradable and have a smaller impact on the environment. However, they may not fare as well when trying to contain odors.
Tips on Choosing the Right Litter Type for Your Cat
There are many factors to consider when choosing a litter type for your cat. This article will cover some of the pros and cons of each type.
There are two main types of cat litter: clumping and non-clumping.
Clumping litters are typically made from clay, and they form a solid clump when urine is added to the litter box. This could help your kitty push clumps to the side making it easier to find a spot to urinate. Another benefit is they create less odor than non clumping litters do.
Non-clumping litters usually use corn, wheat, or pine as their main ingredient. These litters do not form clumps when wet, but instead turn into small particles that are separated, not clumped into one like clumped litter. This could mean changing out the litter as often as weekly.
Overall it all comes down to personal preference.
Clumping litters create less odor than non-clumping litters because the urine becomes “trapped” in the clump. Unlike, non-clumping the small particles are spread throughout the litter box.
Keep in mind both clumping and non clumping litters produce dust but there are litters that produce very minimal dusting.
Which are the Top 6 Rated Cat Litter Brands to Buy?
Want to find out some of the best picks? Read on to find out more.
Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Platinum Clumping Cat Litter
The Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Platinum Clumping Cat Litter is made with natural ingredients, which are safe for cats and their environment.
This litter is designed to provide the most effective clumping action without the use of any phosphates or silica dust. The litter also provides triple-action odor control that has been proven to work and lasts for weeks on end.
Have multiple cats? I feel that this product would be the best option for your multi-cat family.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ 100% dust free | ❌ Not eco friendly – clay |
| ✔️ Clumping – less effort to clean | ❌ Pricey compared to other litters |
| ✔️ Allergen free – light scent | |
| ✔️ Recommended for all cat ages |
Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Respiratory Relief Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Respiratory Relief Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter is a cat litter that can help cats with respiratory issues.
With the right litter, cats with asthma can live a healthy and happy life. Cats with asthma need a litter that is low dust and low tracking.
The litter clumps well and the particles are larger than some other brands, which makes it easier to scoop out the waste.
The result: A cat litter that’s 99% dust-free and virtually track-free!
| Pro | Con |
| ✔️ 99.9% dust free | ❌ Not eco friendly – made from clay |
| ✔️ Hypoallergenic – no perfumes, deodorants, plant protein | ❌ Trouble controlling ammonia smell |
| ✔️ Decent odor control |
Fresh Step Advanced Simply Unscented Clumping Cat Litter
The Fresh Step Advanced Simply Unscented Clumping Cat Litter is a cat litter product from the Fresh Step brand.
It has similar ingredients as the original formula but without any fragrance added to it, making it suitable for cats with asthma.
The litter also has a low tracking formula, which means that it won’t stick to your cat’s paws as they walk around the house.
| Pro | Con |
| ✔️ Clumping formula making it easy to scoop | ❌ Pricey compared to other litters |
| ✔️ Free from fragrances and dyes | ❌ Not eco friendly – clay not biodegradable |
| ✔️ 99.9% dust free | |
| ✔️ Odor control |
Boxiecat Premium Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Boxiecat Premium Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter is a premium cat litter that has all the benefits of clumping clay litter. It is unscented, so it doesn’t have any strong smell.
It is made of 100% natural clay and has a unique clumping formula that makes it different from other litters. There is also has no fragrance.
This type of cat litter is perfect for people and pets with allergies and sensitive noses.
This product also has a high absorption rate, which makes it perfect for cats that pee often and in small amounts.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Hypoallergenic | ❌ Not eco- friendly |
| ✔️ Easy to scoop | ❌ Not 100% dust free |
| ✔️ Fragrance free |
ÖKOCAT Natural Wood Clumping Litter
ÖKOCAT is an all-natural, biodegradable cat litter made from natural wood fiber.
The natural ingredients make for a soft texture that won’t scratch your floors or your kitty’s paws, while the clumping action makes cleanup quick and easy with no unpleasant odors or messes to deal with afterwards.
It is environmentally friendly because it lasts much longer than traditional clay litters, which means less waste for landfills. It also doesn’t have any added chemicals or perfumes to mask odors like other litters do.
| Pros | Cons |
| ✔️ Eco friendly – Biodegradable | ❌ Not 100% dust free |
| ✔️ Clumps making it easy to scoop | ❌ Natural litter needs to be changed more frequently |
| ✔️ Free of toxic dyes, GMO and artificial fragrance |
Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter
The litter is made from pine shavings that are shaped like little pellets.
The pellets are larger than the average clay or silica gel granules, which makes them less likely to be tracked out of the box and into your home.
This litter does not contain any chemicals or artificial scents that could irritate anyone with sensitive noses.
These pellets also have a natural odor control system built in, which means you won’t have to worry about an ammonia smell coming from your kitty’s litter box!
| Pro | Cons |
| ✔️ Eco friendly – 100% natural pine | ❌ Needs to be cleaned frequently |
| ✔️ Free of artificial dyes and fragrances | ❌ When wet may be messy to clean up |
| ✔️ Low dust | |
| ✔️ Safe for cats and kittens all ages |
What Causes Cats to develop Asthma?
Feline asthma more commonly known as cat asthma is a respiratory disease that affects the cats lungs. It is caused by inflammation in the airways.
The common causes of asthma in cats are environmental pollutants, irritants such as cigarette smoke or other airborne chemicals. It’s important to understand the history of your cat as well because genetics could also play a major role in understanding where your cat could have developed asthma.
Dr. Sarah Wooten explains (watch video below) causes, symptoms, and ways to help treat asthma in cats.
Tips for living with a cat with asthma
To help reduce your cats asthma. Start with the environment. Below is tips minimizing your felines asthma so your cat can live a healthy life.
1) No chemical sprays or aerosols
2) No smoking in distance of cat
3) Avoid making dust in household
4) Restrain from scented products (fragrance fresheners or air refreshers)
5) Manage your cats diet
6) Chose a scent free, low dust litter
Conclusion
Cats with asthma need a specialized type of litter that has less dust and will not irritate their lungs.
In conclusion, there are many factors that come into play when choosing the right litter. These include the type of litter you want to use. For example, a clay based clumping litter Arm & Hammer Cloud Control Platinum Clumping Cat Litter is a great choice but on the little expensive end. It is 100% dust free and clumps making cleaning up easy.
Feline Pine Original Non-Clumping Wood Cat Litter on the other hand is the winner if you don’t mind the non-clumping. The plus is that this is an inexpensive brand and environmentally friendly. Overall, there are many options to choose from. Therefore with the right litter, cats with asthma can live a healthy and happy life.