Sneezing & Cat Litter
Sneezing around cat litter isn't unusual for humans or their feline companions. Pouring kitty litter puts a lot of dust into the air that can irritate noses and lead to sneezing. Scooping the kitty litter can also release dust particles. While those particles alone are enough to cause a bout of sneezing, the itching sensation and discomfort around cat litter could be signs of an allergy.
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Cat Sneezing
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To determine if your cat's sneezing is associated with the kitty litter, watch her after she leaves the cat pan. If she sneezes right after using it, then you've got your culprit. However, you still won't know if you're dealing with an allergy. The easiest way to find out is to change brands and see how the cat responds.
Human Sneezing
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Some people mistake cat litter allergies with being allergic to cats. Clay cat litter seems to cause irritation or allergic reactions. It also attracts dust mites, which cause allergies in some people.
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Product Choices
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Experiment with different cat litters to find one that works for you and your cat. Clay litter is the least expensive, but produces a lot of dust and probably isn't the healthiest choice for kitty. Try brands made with silica gel, which is dust free, resistant to bacteria, long lasting, and flushable.
Potential Allergy Treatments
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The simplest treatment for kitty litter allergies is simply staying away from it. Unfortunately, that's not really an option for you or your cat. Talk with your vet. He should be able to recommend a litter product that you and your cat can handle without sneezing.
Litter Alternatives & Solutions
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Unscented brands of litter can sometimes alleviate sneezing. Your options include crystal forms of litter, hypoallergenic litter, dust-free brands, pine litter or recycled newspaper litter (an environmentally friendly option). In general, keep the litter in a well-ventilated space and avoid putting it near heating or air ducts. Cover your face with a light scarf when you scoop, and also wear dish-washing gloves to keep the litter off your skin. Or, consider getting a self-scooping litter pan.
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References
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- Photo Credit cat"s eyes image by Adrian Hillman from Fotolia.com
