Owning a cat can be difficult if you suffer from allergies or asthma. If you have chosen a hypoallergenic cat breed, it is time to consider asthma-friendly cat litter. In some cases, your cat can acquire allergies or suffer from asthma, which can make litter box training a daunting task.

We have reviews of some of the best hypoallergenic and dust-free cat litter to help you find the best brand for you and your cat. There are plenty of brands to choose from, whether you prefer clumping or crystal cat litter, we have some really good options for you!

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

The 6 Best Litter for Cats and Owners With Asthma

1. Cats Pride Hypoallergenic Multi-Cat Litter – Best Overall

The best overall product is the Cats Pride hypoallergenic cat litter with no scent. It is ideal for cats and owners who suffer from allergies and asthma. This litter instantly traps and eliminates odors for up to 10 days. Once moisture has touched the litter, it creates a tight, hard clump to make the waste easy to scoop up and dispose of.

It is 99% dust-free and 50% lighter than other litters. It still has a small amount of dust, but it is much less than other forms of clumping cat litter. Cats Prider has fine granules, and it is not chunky, which makes it easier to handle and maintain in your cat’s litter box.

It can also help cats that scratch and have skin dermatitis after using the litter box. A great feature of this cat litter is that when you pour the litter into the box, there is no dust cloud, which can trigger allergies and asthma.

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2. Fresh Step Advanced Clumping Cat Litter – Best Value

Fresh Step is our pick for the best litter for the money. You get a large amount of clumping cat litter for an affordable price. The Fresh Step advanced clumping cat litter has the brand’s original scent, which is not too overpowering for cats with sensitive noses.

This clumping cat litter contains less dust than competitive products in the same category. Activated charcoal helps keep the litter fresh and odor-free for up to 10 days. This keeps the environment clean without worrying about strong ammonia smells. Fresh Step Advanced is 99% dust-free, and it is a low-tracking cat litter that will not stick to your cat’s fur or paws easily.

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3. Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Clumping Cat Litter – Premium Choice

This clumping cat litter is 99.9% dust-free, hypoallergenic, and only contains natural ingredients. This makes the litter safe and convenient for families and cats who suffer from allergies and dust associated with dusty and scented cat litter. The Premium Clumping Cat Litter does not have dust particles that settle on surfaces, which reduces any respiratory issues, unlike other competitive products in this category.

It is a hard, clumping medium-grain cat litter that helps prevent moisture build-up. Dr. Elsey’s is ideal for sifting and mechanical litter boxes since it is easy to scoop and dispose of your cat’s waste. Once your cat has urinated in the litter, it forms a solid clump in the area so that you can easily detect where your cat has been using the litter box.

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4. PetSafe ScoopFree Premium Crystal Cat Litter

The PetSafe crystal cat litter works with nearly every traditional litter box. It includes two pre-portioned bags of litter with an original scent. It has unbeatable odor control, and the main ingredient is silica gel beads, which are great at dehydrating waste and absorbing excess moisture. It absorbs solid waste and urine effectively and provides up to five times better odor control than clumping cat litter. This allows the litter to last longer and retain freshness.

PetSafe is ideal for cats with sensitive respiratory systems as it is 99% dust-free with low tracking. Crystal cat litter has minimal dust and does not stick to your cat’s fur or paws. The hypoallergenic abilities make cleaning and maintaining the litter box easy without worrying about triggering allergies. The bags’ portions are quite small for the price, but since crystal cat litter lasts longer than other materials, it can still last a while.

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5. Naturally Fresh Cat Litter – Walnut

Naturally Fresh cat litter is highly absorbent, and you do not have to use much to see the same results compared to other brands. Unlike cat litters that leave silica dust around the environment, Naturally Fresh is dust-free, so your cat can breathe properly without inhaling chemicals or harmful dust. It also does not stick to your cats’ paws or settle on their fur, which helps reduce allergies for your cat and you.

This litter is 100% natural and environmentally friendly, which makes it more sustainable and gentler for your cat. Some noticeable benefits to using walnut-based cat litter are that your cat will not be exposed to toxins, silica dust, and GMOs. Naturally Fresh litter is soft on your cat’s paws, easy to scoop, and low tracking.

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6. ARM & Hammer Platinum Cloud Control Cat Litter

This is a more expensive cat litter, but the benefits and quality are worth the price. It has powerful moisture control with baking soda as an additive for odor control. Arm & Hammer Platinum has advanced dual odor control as soon as the clay comes into contact with moisture from urine and feces.

It’s 100% dust-free with low tracking, and it is easy to pour and scoop, which makes litter box maintenance easier. With this litter, you do not have to worry about your cat inhaling clouds of dust, fragrance, or chemicals. It minimizes any contact with dander and dust particles that could otherwise trigger allergies or asthma.

Another benefit to using Arm & Hammer is that it uses dander shield technology to reduce airborne particles during scooping and disposal. Although the manufacturer claims the litter is completely dust-free, small amounts of dust are still produced during the manufacturing process.

Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Litter for Cats and Owners With Asthma

What Types of Asthma-Friendly Cat Litters Are There?

There are many options to choose from. Hypoallergenic and dust-controlled cat litters are generally some of the best for sensitive cats or owners suffering from asthma and allergies.

Clumping cat litter

This type of cat litter contains sodium bentonite clay as the active ingredient. When the clay comes into contact with moisture, the litter forms a solid clump around the urine or feces to retain moisture. It is not as good with odor control as crystal cat litter. Clumping cat litter does not contain silica dust, which can irritate the respiratory tract if inhaled frequently.

Crystal cat litter

Silica gel beads are the main active ingredients in crystal litter. The beads dry out waste and absorb the moisture of urine. Crystal cat litter lasts longer than other forms of litter, which means you do not have to replace it as often.

This makes it budget-friendly and easier to maintain if you do not have much time to clean the litter box. When dealing with asthma or allergies, the silica dust produced from the litter may pose a problem. However, hypoallergenic brands have lower levels of silica dust.

Walnut-based cat litter

Walnut cat litter is natural, organic, toxin-free, and hypoallergenic. It is recommended if you want to avoid exposing yourself or your cat to nasty chemicals and other unnatural ingredients that can be harmful. As a hypoallergenic cat litter, natural walnut litter ticks all the right boxes and makes a good litter for sensitive cats.

What makes a good cat litter for owners with asthma?

Cat litters that are unscented, dust-free, hypoallergenic, and natural are ideal for cats and owners who suffer from asthma and allergies. The type of litter you choose will depend on the volume of litter you need, the asthmatic benefits it offers, and the overall quality and texture.

Each type of cat litter has pros and cons that may affect your choice, so look for a product that meets your cat’s needs.

Why choose unscented cat litter?

Fragrances can be triggering for cats and owners who suffer from asthma. The chemicals that produce the smell are typically overpowering and harmful to you and your cat. The prominent fragrances in scented cat litter are lavender, flower, fruit, ocean, and other synthetic plant scents.

An unscented or original cat litter scent is better than a scented cat litter, especially if you want to avoid asthmatic reactions. When handling your cat’s litter, it is recommended to wear disposable gloves and a mask to reduce any dust particles from triggering an asthmatic or allergic response.

The environment should have adequate cross-ventilation so no wandering dust clouds can settle into the surrounding area. Hypoallergenic cat litter may reduce some of the symptoms associated with respiratory problems in cats and humans, but it does not guarantee that the litter will not affect your breathing, as all cat litters contain dust and other chemicals.

Final Thoughts

Our top two picks from the cat litter we have reviewed in this guide are the Cats Pride Unscented Hypoallergenic Multi-Cat Litter because it is hypoallergenic and unscented. The odor control benefits are excellent, and it is dust-free. Our second choice is the Fresh Step Advanced Clumping Cat Litter. This cat litter is natural, hypoallergenic, and gentle for you and your cat’s respiratory system.

• See also: How Much Does Cat Asthma Treatment Cost?

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Featured Image Credit: Pormezz, Shutterstock