Hypoallergenic Cat Litter By PetSmart Review

If you are an unapologetic cat lover like us, you’ll agree that choosing the correct cat litter is super important, especially considering that both you and your feline friend suffer from allergies that are triggered by certain types of litter.

This explains why most cat parents will spend months searching for the best hypoallergenic cat litter that suits both their allergy needs and those of their four-legged friends.

Unfortunately, if you haven’t shopped for this type of litter before, you’ll be overwhelmed with the myriad of options available on the market.

That’s why we have put together a list of some of the best hypoallergenic cat litter choices on the market currently.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about hypoallergenic cat litter as well as all the other necessary things you want to see in your new cat litter.

What are hypoallergenic cat litters?

Hypoallergenic cat litters are a unique type of litter specially designed to keep you and your feline friends healthy.

Because your cat uses the litter box multiple times every day, it needs litter that won’t trigger allergies.

And with hypoallergenic cat litters, you have exactly that and more.

The truth is cats that experience flare-ups after using their litter box are very likely to start doing their business outside the box, and we are sure this isn’t something you’d appreciate.

That’s why investing in a good hypoallergenic cat litter wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

While these types of litters are great for your cat, it also helps you keep allergies at bay.

What is the problem with being hypoallergenic, and how does it affect everyday life?

Allergens of all sorts are present in our environment and even in the type of cat litter we use.

While humans will react to allergens like pet dander, pollens, fragrances, dust mites, insect bites, and a wide variety of food, many pet owners have developed serious allergies just from coming in contact with their cat litters.

And guess what, even your cat is not spared as it can also suffer allergies from the litter it is using.

And in case you don’t know, allergic attacks from cat litter can range from mild to life-threatening.

A mild allergic reaction from your cat litter could trigger minor symptoms like runny nose, nasal congestion, itching, watery eyes, sneezing, and headaches resulting from your sinuses filling up.

And when the allergy is severe, your body may slide into a state known as anaphylactic shock or anaphylaxis.

The thing about anaphylaxis is that you may just mistake it for a mild allergic reaction, and that’s because it starts with mild symptoms like itchiness.

Unfortunately, within an hour or less, your symptoms may become more severe as you may start developing the following symptoms:

• Sped-up pulse or heart rate
• Hives
• Low blood pressure
• Wheezing or shortness of breath
• Dizziness, fainting, vomiting, and confusion
• Swollen lips, throat, or tongue

The thing about allergy is that when they set in, they affect your quality of life as you may no longer be able to participate in the things you love doing the most.

Thankfully, with the right treatment, you should feel better in a couple of days or after removing the primary cause of your allergy.

Hypoallergenic cat litter buyer’s guide

Allergic reactions, either in humans or cats, set in when the immune system begins to react to everyday items.

When you begin to suffer bouts of allergic reactions, your immune system will try to eliminate the allergens out of your system.

Unfortunately, this is followed by a series of undesired symptoms, including coughing, sneezing, itching, and watery eyes.

And just so you know, both humans and their felines can develop an allergic reaction to cat litters.

While some people may experience these allergies immediately, others may take some time before they notice an allergic reaction.

Once you notice that your cat is exhibiting symptoms of allergic reactions, it will most likely send you scouting for the best hypoallergenic cat litter.

And to be honest, your cat deserves the best litter, especially considering that it comes in contact with it every time she uses the bathroom.

On your part, you also have to touch your cat litter when you change the litter or come in contact with something your cat has earlier tracked on.

Considering how often you come in contact with your cat’s litter, we are sure you now understand why you and your cat need a litter that doesn’t trigger allergic reactions.

Top 4 features and benefits of hypoallergenic cat litter

Although it may sound like hypoallergenic cat litters are overhyped, especially considering that most pet owners just won’t stop talking about them, but guess what, they actually work exactly as promised.

With hypoallergenic litters, you can kiss goodbye to allergic reactions, not just for you but also for your feline friend.

Here, check out the top features and benefits of hypoallergenic cat litters:

• Made from organic materials: One thing we love about hypoallergenic cat litters is that they are made from natural ingredients. Unfortunately, this isn’t so with many other types of litters on the market that feature bentonite and silica materials. These chemical components come with the risks of allergies and respiratory issues, which we are sure you won’t like. Many cats with mild to serious allergies respond very well to alternative litters made from natural materials like walnut shells, recycled paper, coconut fiber, and even wood. And thankfully, there are lots of options on the market waiting for grabs.
• Very low in dust: One of the best ways to prevent cat litter allergies is to minimize dust. Unfortunately, if you opt for a clay-based litter, you can do little to nothing about dust, as clay-based litters tend to be dusty. Thankfully, giving the low dust in cat litters, you finally have a product that guarantees the overall wellbeing of you and your feline friend.
• There are no nasty fragrances: Synthetic fragrances are among the major causes of allergies in cats, so it’s best to stay away from scented cat litters.
• With hypoallergenic cat litters, you don’t only have litter made from natural materials but also litter that doesn’t contain added fragrances.
• Free from chemicals: Besides synthetic fragrances, some cat litter brands go-ahead to add nasty chemicals like deodorizers, clumping agents, and more. Sadly, all these chemicals do more harm than good. Amazingly, hypoallergenic alternatives are changing the narrative, and that’s because these types of litters are chemical-free and safe for your cat.

Now that you know the main features and benefits of hypoallergenic litters, it’s time to take you through the exciting components used to make these litters.

Important hypoallergenic cat litter components

There are a couple of things you want to consider when comparing this type of cat litter, and using our detailed outline, you should be able to narrow down your choices much faster.

• 100% dust-free – For a litter to be considered hypoallergenic, it has to be at least 99% dust-free.
• Material – You’ll have to make up your mind on a litter material to use. Doing this will narrow your choices right out of the gate. Although this usually comes down to your cat’s preferences, we suggest you opt for a litter that doesn’t contain sodium bentonite as this is the material that produces dust in most cat litters.
• Pellet size – Cat litter is essentially made from grains or pellets. While smaller grained litters are popular among pet owners who use mechanical litter boxes, they have a high probability of staring up dust. To be on the safer side, we suggest opting for pellet litters as there are fewer chances that this type of litter will stick to your cat’s long hair.
• Scented  – Many litter brands include scents in their formula to give their products a better chance of masking odors. Unfortunately, artificial scents and perfumes are a big allergy trigger. As a general rule, most hypoallergenic cat litters don’t have a scent, making it a great option for you and your cat.
• Odor control guarantee – We are sure you don’t like the smell that oozes out of your cat litter box, so odor control in the litter box is important. While opting for a hypoallergenic cat litter, make sure you go for one that can control odor and keep your home smelling fresh all day long.

Do cats like hypoallergenic cat litters?

If you have a cat with a very sensitive immune system, you’ll agree that any exposure to allergens can trigger mild to severe allergic reactions you’re not just ready to deal with.

That’s why you need to be very careful with the type of litter you’re using.

With hypoallergenic cat litter, you and your cat can kiss goodbye to days where you had to deal with annoying allergic symptoms that make your life miserable.

And because they are not scented, dust-free, and contain no nasty chemicals or fragrances, hypoallergenic cat litters are great for your feline friend.

Pros

There are many exciting benefits that come with using hypoallergenic cat litters.

Here, check out some of them:

• Hypoallergenic cat litters are perfect for either single or multiple-cat households.
• While they aren’t scented, these types of litters are carefully made to leave your home smelling fresh all day long.
• Hypoallergenic litters are able to form hard clumps around waste while sealing odors for several days.
• Do not contain nasty chemicals or harsh fragrances that can trigger allergic reactions in you and your cat.
• The fact that they are made from natural materials makes them great for your feline.

Cons

• Because they aren’t scented, hypoallergenic cat litters may not be able to mask your cat’s litter odors as other scented cat litters on the market.
• Compared to grain-based cat litters, hypoallergenic cat litters don’t clump very well. As a result, you may have a hard time cleaning and maintaining your cat’s litter box.
• Like other types of litters on the market, hypoallergenic cat litters also track on your cat’s feet.

Top 5 hypoallergenic cat litters on the market currently

With the market for hypoallergenic cat litters growing by the day, it’s super challenging to find the best hypoallergenic cat litters.

But not to worry, as we have put together a list of the top 5 hypoallergenic cat litters on the market currently.

Feel free to peruse our list and decide which of these litters work best for you and your cat.

• Arm & Hammer Slide Cat Litter – Clumping Multi-Cat
• Dr. Elsey’s Premium Clumping Cat Litter
• Fresh Step Lightweight Simply Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
• Purina Tidy Cats Instant Action Clumping Cat Litter
• World’s Best Cat Litter

Frequently asked questions

What cat litter is best for cats with allergies?

If you have a cat with mild to severe allergies, we are sure you must be on the market for a litter that doesn’t trigger allergic reactions.

In that case, we would recommend grass seed cat litter.

We like this type of litter because it is 99% dust-free with no tracking.

And because it is dust-free, it is perfect for cats and pet owners with respiratory problems.

Compared to wheat and corn-based cat litters, this one is allergy-friendly and safe for kittens, cats recovering from surgery, and infection-prone cats.

What cat litter is bad for cats?

While cats prefer clumping litter, they don’t mind non-clumping litter either.

That said, when shopping for a good litter for your cat, you want to avoid wheat, clay, corn, wood, and crystal clumping litter as they pose serious danger to your cat.

Can you be allergic to cat litter?

Like cats, humans can be allergic to cat litter and will display all the classic symptoms that come with cat litter allergies.

Because of the high-dust litter or annoying non-natural additives present in many litter brands, the chances of experiencing symptoms of allergies are pretty high.

And these symptoms are more noticeable when filling or cleaning your cat’s litter box.

Conclusion

If you and your cat are tired of dealing with allergic reactions that come with using specific types of litters, it’s time to give hypoallergenic cat litters a try.

Besides protecting you from allergies, these types of litters are great for you and your cat’s overall wellbeing.