If you or your cat have struggled with allergies associated with the litter box, it may be an indication that buying a more natural and hypoallergenic cat litter is necessary.
Hypoallergenic cat litter has become increasingly popular primarily for being 99% free of dust that can quickly spread around the home. However, depending on the allergens being battled, there’s a litter that can fit that need.
Best Cat Litter For Cats With Allergies
Best Overall (Recommended)
- OUTSTANDING ODOR CONTROL — Keep your...
- QUICK CLUMPING & EASY SCOOPING — No...
- FLUSHABLE* - SEPTIC SAFE — Skip the...
The World’s Best Cat Litter has been praised as being an all around great option for fighting litter allergies. This litter is corn based and completely flushable. When tested on a septic system, users had no problems, making this one of the easiest litter options to clean up after.
On top of this, since it’s completely natural you can compost this litter as it’s biodegradable and can break down into soil. This gives you several ways to dispose of your cat’s litter depending on your needs.
This litter is also 99.9% dust free! This means not only that your cat will not be kicking up dust with every bathroom break, but also that they will not be tracking debris from the litter box all over the home.
As a long lasting and quick clumping litter, the odor will not stand a chance in your house. The odor control of this litter is fantastic without having to use harsh fragrances as a mask.
Among the most enticing features of this litter is how long one bag lasts. By being able to keep the litter for twice as long before cleanings, you will not be going through litter so frequently. This also justifies spending the higher price point.
Best On A Budget
- PREMIUM QUALITY: A combination of...
- LOW DUST: Ideal for cats and owners who...
- HARD CLUMPING: Hard clumping medium...
Not only is this litter well priced, but it will also last you much longer than your typical clay litter. As long as you clean the litter box daily, you can completely deep clean the box only once a month! This will majorly extend the life of each bag of litter you buy, saving you money on hypoallergenic litter.
The biggest downfall to this specific kitty litter is that it’s not flushable since it’s still made up of a form of clay. Therefore, you cannot compost it either. This litter must be disposed of in the trash.
Although it’s clay, it’s 99.9% dust free and completely fragrance free. With its rapid clumping technology, this litter will trap in odors and make for easy scooping. Since the clumps stay hard until cleaned, this is a great option for those with mechanical litter boxes.
Best For Dust Allergies
- ✔【CLUMPING CAT LITTER】: Bolux cat...
- ✔【FLUSHABLE CAT LITTER】: The...
- ✔【ODOR CONTROL LITTER】: We adopt...
If you or your cat have severe dust allergies, this is the litter for you as it’s 100% dust free. Manufacturers can guarantee no dust with this litter since it’s made up of large pellets that are completely vacuum sealed when packaged to reduce any breakage or dust accumulation.
Since it’s completely dust free it also will reduce all tracking through the house. This litter will not get stuck to your cat or end up all over your house. This makes for the ideal allergy friendly litter.
Cleaning this litter is also extremely easy as the tofu based formula clumps and is easy to scoop out. Since it’s made of tofu it’s the most environmentally friendly also, being easily composted, biodegraded, or flushed down the toilet.
For those that want superior odor control that doesn’t use any artificial fragrances but does utilize activated charcoal to absorb all odors to make for a fresh smelling litter box.
Best For Multi-Cat Home
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The Arm & Hammer litter is ideal for multi-cat households cats since the baking soda infused formula traps up to 10 times more odor than other litters! This litter is also easy to clean and will slide right out of the litter box, making for easy monthly cleanings. By eliminating your need to scrub the litter box, it becomes much easier to clean up after multiple cats and will cut back on the amount of time you spend cleaning.
The clump and seal technology in this litter will also form hard easy to scoop clumps, overall making this type of litter easy for day to day cleanings as well. Since this litter is specifically designed to manage the odor of multiple cats, you will find that regardless of the lack of artificial fragrances, your litter box stays fresher longer.
In fact, Arm & Hammer has a 7-day odor free home guarantee on this litter, so if you try it out and find that it’s not living up to the hype, you can return it with no problem.
Best For Odor Control
- FIGHTS ODORS LONGER: Fresh Step Advanced...
- UNSCENTED CAT LITTER: Recommended by...
- CLUMPING CAT LITTER: Created with your...
For the ultimate hypoallergenic odor control litter, Fresh step is the best option as it has a 10-day odor free home guarantee! By using activated charcoal, it’s able to trap in the odor more successfully than any other brand. Free from all added fragrances or dyes, this litter won’t bother allergies while it battles the odor left by your cat.
This litter is also 99.9% dust free and will not be tracked around the house very much, further reducing the smell and allergens that can lurk in the home.
With clumping technology, you will also find that this litter is incredibly easy to clean. However, this litter is made with clay and therefore you will not be able to dispose of it naturally, it will need to be thrown in the trash. This is a downfall to the litter for those who prefer flushing or composting.
Best of Fragrance-Free
- One (1) 40 lb. Bag - Purina Tidy Cats...
- Guaranteed 10-day odor control when used...
- Unscented clumping cat litter formula...
With fragrances being one of the worst allergies for both cats and humans, this litter excels at trapping in cat odor with absolutely no fragrances or artificial additives. Again using activated charcoal, cat odor will be reduced significantly but it will not be masked by any other added scent.
While this litter isn’t completely dust free, it has much less dust than typical litter which will bode well for those with allergies and reduce the amount of litter being tracked through the home.
Another benefit to this litter is that it uses large pellets which will reduce the amount of litter getting stuck to your cat, especially if you have a long curly-haired cat. This is a major factor in reducing allergens in the home.
The downside to this litter is that it’s not biodegradable, compostable, or flushable and therefore will need to be thrown in the trash for disposal. In comparison to the other litter discussed, this one will also have the highest dust content.
What Is Hypoallergenic Cat Litter?
Hypoallergenic cat litter was created for both cats and cat owners that are sensitive to some of the characteristics in typical cat litter. The number one allergen that hypoallergenic litter focuses on removing is the dust that’s often released when cats dig in the litter and when you pour fresh litter into the box.
This dust enters the air and can cause severe reactions. Another source of irritation is often the fragrances in cat litter. Because of this, all hypoallergenic cat litter is completely unscented.
The material being used can also impact allergies, especially on your cat’s skin. Hypoallergenic litter focuses on more natural ingredients that are less likely to cause breakouts and itchiness. The typical clay litter can be a huge irritant for cats which is why hypoallergenic cat litter strays away from this.
What Is Cat Litter Allergy?
Litter allergy doesn’t just affect cats, they also affect cat owners just like cat allergies. Every time your cat digs in their litter box and dust enters into the air it impacts everybody in the home. If you find that since getting your cat you’re sneezing, coughing, or having troubles breathing, it may not be that you’re allergic to the cat but the litter.
The same symptoms can be seen in cats that are allergic to silica dust. In addition, if you see your cat itching a lot they likely need a hypoallergenic cat litter. This will reduce the irritation they have on their skin from the dust or scent attached to the litter they’re using.
While it’s most common to see litter allergies in kittens and elderly cats, a litter allergy can affect a cat at any age. It’s especially common for cats with other allergies to develop an intolerance to their litter. If you feel your cat may be having allergies, your veterinarian can run an allergy panel to determine exactly what’s bothering your cat’s system.
Symptoms Of Litter Allergies In Cats?
Unfortunately, since cats use their litter boxes several times a day, if they’re allergic to their litter the symptoms will be constant and often progressive. If you start seeing constant discomfort and illness in your cat, the first thing that’s recommended is to change the litter and see if that helps. Some of the most common symptoms you can look for include:
- Itchy, red, or swollen eyes
- Sneezing and runny nose
- Scratching
- Redness or irritation of the skin
- Swelling of the face
- Acne
- Coughing
It’s also quite common for your cat to start going to the toilet elsewhere if they start to feel irritated by their litter. If your cat starts going to the bathroom around the house, this is a tell tale sign that they are avoiding something in their litter.
Types Of Hypoallergenic Litter For Cats With Allergies
For cats that experience allergies to their litter, there are a few different allergen sources to look into. While some cats are just sensitive all around, most cats will have a specific element of their litter that causes irritation, rather than the entirety of the litter bothering them.
If you’re trying to narrow down which part of your cat’s litter is causing allergic reactions, there are three common allergen sources to consider.
Dust-Free Litter
Dust is one of the most common allergies as it can cause eye irritation as well as respiratory issues. If you or your cat are experiencing coughing, sneezing, or itchiness it’s likely due to the dust that spreads around the house when your cat digs in the litter.
Switching to dust free litter can reduce the impact of the allergies experienced and make your cat more comfortable.
Unscented Litter
Fragrances can cause severe allergies in both humans and cats; however, cats have an incredible sense of smell and because of that, fragrances can be very disruptive for them. Some artificial smells are so overbearing and irritating for cats that they will stop using their litter box altogether.
By opting for a hypoallergenic litter, you will also remove any additives for scent which will greatly reduce any scent related allergies in the home.
Material Dependent Litter
Some cats are simply intolerant of certain materials that are commonly used for litter. It’s not uncommon for cats to have allergies to the clay that is often used for litter, but simply switching to a natural litter isn’t always going to alleviate the problem.
If your cat experiences material dependent allergies, they must get an allergy test done to determine exactly what materials are causing outbreaks so you can be most informed in your litter purchase. While most natural materials will be gentler on the paws than synthetic materials, if your cat has an allergy to corn or tofu, you will not want to buy those kinds of litter.
Some cat breeds are very susceptible to forming allergies, to avoid discomfort, get them tested young for allergies and determine your litter based on those results.
Should You Buy Hypoallergenic Cat Litter?
Cat litter is an important purchase for keeping your cat healthy, happy, and toilet trained! If you think your cat may be struggling with allergies, there are many reasons to opt for hypoallergenic cat litter. However, be aware that every option has its downfalls and with hypoallergenic litter, you may also find that there are aspects of the litter that are not as ideal as your previous litter.
Pros:
Among the top reasons to buy hypoallergenic litter is simply for cleanliness. Although it can be tough to guarantee no dust at all, these litter brands will have significantly less dust than competing non-hypoallergenic litter, making for less of a mess in the home.
With less dust comes less tracking of litter around the house and less litter that is getting stuck to your cat when they use the bathroom. This also means your cat won’t be ingesting as much as it would if it was using normal cat litter.
Apart from the dust element, hypoallergenic litters don’t use artificial colors or fragrances. Even if you or your cat are not allergic to these things, it’s never healthy to expose your pet to high quantities of chemicals. Since they spend much of their time in their litter box, if they are constantly breathing in and ingesting artificial chemical fragrances or dyes, they may develop intolerances or health issues as a result.
Hypoallergenic litter is also easier to clean up after as many of them are made from natural ingredients that can either be flushed down the toilet or composted. This reduces waste and is significantly more environmentally friendly.
Cons:
Of course, there are also downfalls to specialty litter, including the fact that it’s normally a bit more expensive. Any time you are buying an item especially for a health issue, brands are going to increase the price since consumers will usually opt to purchase it regardless to better the life of their pet.
Some consumers have also reported that hypoallergenic litter, especially those made from natural ingredients, is harder to clean every day since the clumps often don’t stick together quite as well as they do in typical clay litter.
Buying Guide For The Best Cat Litter For Cats With Allergies
Before jumping into a hypoallergenic cat litter, be sure you’ve considered every aspect of your cat’s needs.
Since all hypoallergenic litter is slightly different and caters to different allergy types, you may have to try a few before landing on one that both you and your cat like.
However, by thinking about your specific needs ahead of time, you can reduce the amount of failed litter attempts.
Type Of Allergy
First, consider what type of allergy your cat has. What is the irritant causing allergic reactions? Be sure to extensively test other similar allergens. If your cat is allergic to corn based litter, before buying wheat or tofu based, bring them to the vet and get them tested for allergies.
By being aware of your cat’s intolerances, you will be able to get the litter right the first time around and avoid wasting money on other litter that your cat is allergic to.
Material
Since many allergies are material dependent, take small amounts of different litter types and experiment with your cat to see not only what their body reacts well to, but what they are more willing to use the bathroom on!
When it comes to hypoallergenic litter you can get materials varying from classic clay to tofu or wood based. Every cat has personal preferences, be sure to keep this in mind before purchasing.
With different materials also comes different smells and different potential for tracking around the house. By doing more research on which material you will personally prefer also, you will find it easier to clean up after your cat.
Depending on the material you opt for, you will also have different disposal options. If you’re keen on cutting back your waste, it’s important to get natural litter that can be flushed or composted.
Clumping Or Non-Clumping
This is more of a human preference; however, it’s a huge consideration as you will need to clean the box once or twice daily. If you are used to clumping litter you may find non-clumping litter to be a challenge at first.
However, non-clumping litter isn’t more difficult to clean, it’s just different. For non-clumping, you may need a different non-slated shovel so that you can get the entirety of the shavings created by the pellets mixing with liquid. If you have a mechanical litter box, you will want to stick with clumping to ensure your box can properly pick up all of the urine.
Regardless of what’s easiest for you, be sure you’re aware of which litter is clumping or non-clumping to fit your pickup needs.
Cost
While many specialty litter types come at a higher price point, you can easily find brands that fit your budget with a bit of research.
Keep in mind that many of the hypoallergenic and natural cat litter can be swapped out less frequently; therefore, even if the bag is more expensive it might last you twice as long as your last litter type, making the price comparable.
No Sodium Bentonite
Sodium Bentonite is a common additive to make litter clump harder so that it’s easier to clean. This agent is used in most generic clay litter and acts like an expandable cement that can swell up to 18 times its dry size. This is the primary reason clay litter cannot be flushed down the toilet.
Sodium bentonite is also a harsh chemical that when inhaled by your cat, can cause respiratory problems. Unfortunately, since it causes symptoms that are seemingly common in sick cats, it’s very rarely identified as the source of the problem. Some symptoms it can cause include:
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Frothy yellow vomit
- Diarrhea
- Respiratory problems
- Kidney problems
So while sodium bentonite can make it slightly easier for cat owners to clean the litter box, it’s not worth the potential risks. Because of this, it’s recommended to always check your litter ingredients to make sure it does not contain this additive.
Unscented
Many allergies are tied back to scent, both in humans and cats. Since so many litter brands add artificial fragrance to their items to mask the cat odor, it’s increasingly common for cats to develop allergies to certain scents.
In reducing allergies, it’s important to buy unscented litter while keeping in mind that this does not mean your house will smell of cat excretion. Many unscented litters use natural products, like activated charcoal, to trap the smell and keep it under control until it’s cleaned.
Biodegradable
For those considering the environment in their litter purchases, getting natural litter that does not need to go straight into the trash or landfill is a great way to reduce waste.
Many litter materials can be flushed down the toilet or can be thrown into compost to create soil. By purchasing brands that can break down naturally, you can keep the cleanliness of the planet in mind while also prioritizing your cat’s health.
Benefits Of Using A Hypoallergenic Cat Litter
Whether your cat has allergies or not, there are so many benefits to using a hypoallergenic cat litter. By starting out using these litters, you can also ensure that your cat does not develop allergies over time from the exposure to the allergens and additives found in common litter.
Reduces Allergies In Cats
First and foremost, using hypoallergenic litter will keep your cat more comfortable. By reducing any swelling, itching, or respiratory problems they may have developed over their lifetime, they will have more energy, sleep better, and feel healthier with the switch to an allergen free brand.
Prevent Respiratory Flare-Ups
Maintaining good respiratory health is vital as your cat ages. The less they are exposed to dust, additives, and other unhealthy elements the better you’ll be able to reduce any flare-ups in their respiratory tract.
Helps Cats With Sensitive Skin
For those who battle with acne, hair loss, itchiness, or swelling of the skin, using hypoallergenic litter will greatly reduce these symptoms. Since they will not be surrounded by constant additives and irritants, their skin health will improve which will reduce any need for medicated baths or oral medication.
Reduces Allergies In Humans
While making your cat comfortable is a huge priority, so is keeping yourself comfortable! If you struggle with allergies, switching to a hypoallergenic brand of litter should be the first thing you do. By reducing the dust and fragrances in your home you will find that your allergies improve greatly.
Improves Litter Box Use
Since many cats have sensitive systems, if they are finding that their litter is irritating their skin, eyes, or respiratory tract they will often just stop using their litter box to go to the bathroom. This isn’t ideal as a cat parent and induces more stress in the cat as they have to search for a non-irritating place to use the bathroom.
Many cat owners will find that once they make the switch to a hypoallergenic brand that their cat will use the litter box much more frequently.
The Best Cat Litter For Cats With Allergies
World’s Best Cat Litter
- OUTSTANDING ODOR CONTROL — Keep your...
- QUICK CLUMPING & EASY SCOOPING — No...
- FLUSHABLE* - SEPTIC SAFE — Skip the...
Whether your cat is currently struggling with allergies, or you’d like to get ahead of any allergy development, finding a hypoallergenic brand that fits your needs will better the health of your cat throughout its lifetime.
Keep in mind that with many factors contributing to reducing allergies, there are several options to choose from for litter type. In narrowing down what’s best for your cat, be sure to consult your veterinarian and do an allergy test before making any purchases.
Last update on 2023-04-01 at 13:34 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API