Cat litter has become a hot topic of debate in recent years due to the noticeable increase in the number of cats experiencing allergies and allergy-like symptoms, which can range from mild to full blown debilitating conditions like asthma. While allergies are commonly recognized in the veterinary community, the thing that is often overlooked is the simple cause which, once you know it, is super easy to fix.
One of the biggest causes of allergies in cats is the type of litter they are using. Yes, I know this sounds quite bizarre, but hear me out. When you are changing your cat litter, and you pour the new bag in, how often do you get enveloped in a cloud of litter dust? Every. Single. Time! If it’s irritating your throat and making you cough or causing you to rub your eyes, what do you think it’s doing to your cat as they scratch it up to cover their poop?
Cat litter is often full of harmful chemicals that are added to fight odors. Sometimes they are made with organic material, which sounds great in theory, because organic is better right? Well, not always. Litters made of things wood, tofu, soy, paper, grass, corn, or walnut can all cause skin flare ups or other allergy symptoms because they can grow dangerous aflatoxins. This is a poisonous substance that is produced by the mold that can grow on organic materials.
Now of course, not every cat will experience these skin troubles or respiratory issues but in my expert opinion, since these often cause your cat to experience extreme discomfort, it’s better to err on the side of caution and simply use a hypo-allergenic litter.
If you or your pet are showing signs of allergies, here are my top picks for a litter upgrade.
There are few truly hypo-allergenic cat litters out there, but these are some of the best options on the market today. They are by far the best value for money, especially when weighed up against mounting vet bills and expensive medications to treat allergy symptoms.
If you have switched out your cat litter and your cat is still experiencing uncomfortable symptoms, please feel free to schedule a consultation with me and I can help you get to the bottom of the problem.
