If you’ve already tried out cat litter that isn’t dust-free, you probably have discovered how messy things can get. Cats will dig around to cover up what they leave in their litter boxes, resulting in cat litter being thrown out of the litter box and pieces of litter getting stuck on your kitty’s paws.
Not to mention that the small pieces that are stuck to your cat’s feet get tracked all-around your house, leaving you will litter on your couch, in your bed, and other places that you don’t want it. Using cat litter that isn’t dust-free can leave a huge mess around your house, leaving you having to spend hours trying to clean up what your cat has left behind.
We totally get it- using cat litter that isn’t dust-free can be a total hassle. That’s why we’re here to tell you all about why you should switch over to dust-free cat litter (in case the extra mess isn’t enough of a reason to switch over), plus the best dust free cat litters you should try out.
Purr-fect, let’s get started!
Table of Contents
Why should I use dust free cat litter?
There are countless different types of cat litters out there, which is why trying to choose the perfect dust-free litter for you and your kitty can be pretty difficult. Not only does dust-free can litter help to cut back on the amount of cat litter dust and debris being tracked around your home, but dust-free litter is also actually a lot better for your cat’s health!
There are actually several benefits to choosing dust free cat litter, but the two biggest reasons that people decide to purchase dust free cat litter is because it’s healthier for your kitty and the reduction of dust around your home.
There is really no one-size-fits-all answer to choosing the best dust free cat litter for your kitty. Some cats may find certain scents to be repulsive and will refuse to use the cat’s litter box, but there really is no way of telling what scents your cat will and will not use.
The best way to go about discovering the best clumping litter to use for your kitty is to buy a small bag and test it out. That way if you discover that your cat won’t use the litter box because of the fragrance used in the litter (pine, fresh cotton, etc.), you won’t have wasted a bunch of money!
What are the Benefits of Using Dust-free Cat Litter?
Cat litter that isn’t dust-free can actually be very dangerous to your feline friend. Due to the high 2 content in the litters, some cats and especially kittens, have an increased risk of developing breathing problems such as allergies or asthma.
If your cat already has breathing problems, using a cat litter that isn’t dust-free can actually worsen the respiratory problems that your cat already has. Particles in dust can cause wheezing, coughing, or even just a general difficulty with breathing.
But, your kitty isn’t the only one suffering. If you or anyone else in your home has asthma or other breathing problems, a dusty cat litter can actually aggravate any respiratory conditions.
Good news- you don’t have to get rid of your cat! Simply switching over to a dust-free cat litter can greatly reduce or even eliminate this problem.
Cons to Using Dust-free Cat Litter
As we’ve already talked about the pros of using dust free cat litter, what are some of the cons of switching cat litters?
The two biggest cons to using dust free cat litter are:
- There are some dust free cat litters that aren’t effective with odor control
- Dust-free cat litter can be more expensive than regular can litter
If you aren’t really too concerned about odor control, there are actually some dust-free additives that you can mix into your dust free cat litter to help with odor reduction.
How do you Choose the Best Clumping Cat Litter?
There are several factors that should be thought about when trying to figure out what the best clumping cat litter would be for you and your kitty. When looking to choose the best clumping cat litter, you should consider:
Cost
For most of us, the largest influence when trying to decide what dust free cat litter to buy is the cost of litter is going to be the biggest deciding factor. The pricing of dust-free cat litter can vary greatly depending upon the brand of the litter, how much litter is in a container, and the quality of the products used in the liter.
The choices that we picked in our top five best dust-free options keep the value of your dollar in mind!
Odor Control
Odor control is different than scent control, as the term ‘odor control’ in a cat litter is referring to a litter’s ability to stop the scent of ammonia from leaving the cat’s litter box. There are some unscented litter options that can completely lock in the smell of the litter box, leaving your home free of unpleasant smells.
Scent
Clumping cat litter comes in both scented and unscented litter versions. You should only choose a scented cat litter if your kitty has no allegories, as a scented litter could potentially cause irritation or an allergic reaction to your kitty.
Using scented cat litter can really help to mask the scent of your cat’s droppings, so if you’re looking to have extra scent protect, look into buying a dust-free cat litter with an added scent.
Dust
Choosing a dust-free cat litter will prevent you from having to do a lot of unnecessary cleaning up, so make sure that the clumping cat litter you’re choosing is dust-free. Not all clumping cat litters are dust-free, so just keep that in mind when you’re shopping around!
Clumping Action
Not all clumping cat litters are made the same, as some clumping litter options will clump up in small piles, while there are other litters out there that clump up in large chunks. At the same time, there are other litters out there that will take a little bit to clump together, while there are other formulas out there that will clump up almost instantaneously.
The majority of cat owners prefer to have a cat litter that clumps together in small chunks, as these smaller bits lock in unpleasant smells the best and the small chunks aren’t as wasteful. However, the struggle with cleaning up smaller chunks is that some of the bits and pieces will fall through the little scoop.
When shopping around, keep in mind your personal preferences when cleaning out the cat box and take that into consideration when shopping around for a new cat litter.
Is Clumping Cat Litter Safe for Kittens?
The biggest priority for most cat owners is the safety and well-being of their feline. With that said, not many kitten owners are sure whether or not clumping cat litter could potentially harm their kitty.
So, is clumping cat litter safe for kitties?
Short answer: Clumping cat litter is safe for kittens older than four months, but if your kitty is younger, we would recommend using a different type of litter.
Long answer: In adult cats, while accidentally consuming small amounts of clumping cat litter may cause your cat an upset stomach, it won’t cause any negative effects to their health.
However, kittens who use the litter box may accidentally step on piles that have been covered up. The damp litter will stick to their paws, and when it comes time to self-bathing at a later date, your kitten may lick up a substantial amount of the chemicals that are used to help encourage clumping the cat litter.
In kittens that are younger than four months, they may even attempt to eat the cat litter, as cats are naturally curious creatures. As a strong recommendation, it’s best that you avoid using clumping cat litter with kittens that are younger than four months old.
5 Best Dust Free Cat Litter Options
Arm and Hammer Clump and Seal
The Arm and Hammer Clump and Seal is an incredibly affordable clumping cat litter, with an advertised 100% dust-free formula. Plus, Arm and Hammer describe this formula to have a 7-day odor-free home guarantee.
Arm and Hammer use their best-selling baking soda to eradicate unpleasant odors on contact. As far as clumping action, the Arm and Hammer Clump and Seal cat litter clumps up into tiny rocks and doesn’t create any dust when you’re scooping out waste. This dust-free cat litter does have a lighter scent, which is great if you aren’t someone who is fond of scented cat litters.
If you’re looking for a dust-free cat litter that’s great if you have several cats, check out Arm and Hammer’s Clump and Seal Multi-Cat Litter!
Clumping Boxiecat Clay Litter
The Boxiecat Clumping Clay litter states that this cat litter formula has a 99.9% dust-free formula and is 100% natural litter, making this dust free cat litter a great option if you like to keep things as natural as you possibly can.
A lot of users have commented how the Boxiecat Clumping Clay litter formula clumps up in really hard clumps, making it effortless to clean out their litter box.
This litter does clump up in larger chunks and is unscented, but still does an outstanding job of covering up the smell of any troublesome scents.
You can purchase this cat litter in a 16 pound or 28-pound bag, and if you’re on a strict budget, we would highly recommend checking out this cat litter!
Purina Tidy Cats LightWeight Clumping Cat Litter
If you leave your little ones to take care of the litter box or if you’re just not up to lifting 45-pound cat litter containers, the Purina Tidy Cats LightWeight Clumping Cat Litter is super light and easy to tote around!
This cat litter is comprised of clay, which makes it around 50% lighter than other cat litters. Not to mention that you can purchase this cat litter in four different sizes, making it a great option if you are shopping around for a dust free cat litter if you are someone who has several cats.
Purina also offers different formulas for their Tidy Cats LightWeight Clumping Cat Litter, including a 4-in-1 strength, and instant action litter and a Glade-scented litter.
World’s Best Cat Litter Extra Strength Lavender
Having a brand name ‘World’s Best Cat Litter’ is certainly daring, but we certainly understand this bold move after trying the World’s Best Cat Litter Extra Strength Lavender.
There are some cat owners who love having scented cat litter around, and the Extra Strength Lavender certainly leaves a lovely lavender potpourri scent around the cat box.
If your cat doesn’t have any breathing problems and isn’t allergic to anything, the World’s Best Cat Litter Extra Strength Lavender is a great dust free cat litter with a stronger scent.
However, the biggest downfall to this litter is that it clumps up in smaller pieces, making it easier for your cat to track around the house.
Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented Cat Litter
Maybe you’re not all around the clumping action, and that’s totally okay! The Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented Cat Litter is a non-clumping cat litter that’s completely natural, as it’s made out of 100% recycled paper. I
f you’re looking for a cat litter that’s easy to dump out, easy to clean, and is completely natural, this unscented cat litter is a great option to go with.
Safe for your kitty, safe for the environment, and a wonderful choice to go with if your kitty has skin allergies, the Purina Yesterday’s News Unscented Cat Litter is actually three times more absorbent than clay cat litter.
Plus, because of its lack of clumping, you don’t have to worry about cleaning out the bottom of your cat litter tray every time you dump your box out.
This cat litter is also great for senior cats, kittens, cats with respiratory problems, or cats who are sick, as the biodegradable paper palettes don’t contain any irritants that clay litter and other types of litters contain!
Conclusion
Clumping cat litter is becoming an increasingly popular choice for cat owners, as this type of cat litter is much cleaner and easier to manage.
Clumping cat litter that has a low litter dust content will clump up as your kitty uses it, making the cat litter box super easy to clean and reduces the amount of waste leftover in the litter box once you’re done cleaning it.
There are dozens of beneficial reasons you should switch over to using dust-free litter, and hopefully, this article has helped you find your new favorite dust free cat litter!
FAQs About Cat Litters
Even though cat litters are something every owner buys, for cats, dust litters can become a respiratory irritant, so it’s always best to go safe with variants that don’t contain as much dust as regular ones. There are lots of brands on the market special respiratory relief litters, so you can always search for the best option for your cat.
If the litter is high in dust, there is really not much you can do to make it less dusty and safe for you to clean it, as every time you will scoop or the cat digs in, a cloud of dust will appear. Always make sure you go for variants that don’t make a cloud of dust, and that you and your cat will be safe to use, and you safe to clean it.
Yes, it is. Cat litters contain lots of bacteria and the ammonia can cause serious breathing issues and other health problems, so never put a cat litter close to a room that you are spending lots of time in, as it can be serious for your health.
Not all air purifiers can help with dusty cat litters. For example, in order to keep the air clean, your purifier will have to be specifically made to remove dust particles that are as small as 0.1 microns, whereas cat litter dust particles range upward to 0.2 microns.
Further Reads
- The Best Kitty Litter for Your Cat
- 5 Best Litter Boxes for Senior Cats You’ll Love Too
- How to Stop Your Cat from Urinating Everywhere