Is a Humidifier Safe For a Cat? Vet-Reviewed Risks & Benefits Explained
By Ashley Bates
Updated on
Humidifiers can be incredibly beneficial in households with arid air. Winter time is primarily a season where you get drier skin and drier air passageways, and could all-around benefit from some added moisture in the atmosphere.
But when it comes to releasing anything into the air, we naturally want to ensure that it’s safe for our pets. So if you’ve been wondering if a humidifier will impact your cat negatively, you can rest easy.
Humidifiers are not only safe to have around your cats, but they can be just as beneficial to your cats as well as the human members of your home.
What Are Humidifiers?
Humidifiers are devices that work to add moisture into the air, which helps during very dry seasons. These electrical units have different internal mechanisms that transfer water to steam.
Because they contain moisture, proper cleaning is absolutely crucial to ensure the health and safety of those in your home. If you have a humidifier around your pets, it is perfectly safe, permitting that it is well cared for.
However, a dirty humidifier can breed bacteria and mold, which can, in turn, have the reverse effect. So always make sure to read the care instructions on your specific model so the humidifier can work as a beneficial addition to your home in drier seasons.
Top 4 Benefits for Humidifiers When You Have Cats
Not only are humidifiers generally safe to have around your cats, but they have their fair share of benefits as well. In many of the same ways that humidifiers benefit humans, the same extends to our feline companions.
1. Keeps Optimal Moisture Levels
Air in homes can get very stagnant and dry. We require certain levels of moisture in our environments for total wellness, and so do our cats.
When the air is dry, humidifiers help us (and our cats) by promoting moisture in the skin. It is easy for skin, noses, and even hair to dry out in very dry environments.
So, especially in cold seasons where homes use a lot of dry heat to keep warm, having a humidifier can add moisture back into the air to maintain balance.
2. Reduces Environmental Allergens
Because humidifiers increase humidity in the air, the increase in moisture can help with allergies. Dry air can irritate the nasal passageways, causing irritation.
Once the added humidity fills the air, sinus cavities keep the appropriate moisture level. It might not reduce allergies completely, but it can definitely work to improve extreme irritation.
3. Helps Respiratory Health
If your cat has recently been diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, humidifiers can really help during the healing process. It will reduce inflammation and toxins in your cat’s respiratory system.
Placing your kitty in a smaller room with a humidifier can work to break up mucus. With the help of a humidifier alongside the prescribed treatments, your cat will be back to their old self in no time.
4. Improves Dry Skin
Everyone gets drier in colder months, even our cats. You might notice their noses are scaly or their paw pads seem rougher than usual. If it seems like your cat is having any issues with their skin, humidifiers can put some hydration back to balance things out.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that everyone can benefit from a humidifier, permitting it’s used correctly and cleaned as needed. A humidifier around your cat is generally a safe thing; sometimes, it can help them recover from specific ailments.
So if you have any reservations about using a humidifier in your home due to having pets, you need not worry.
Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock
