Cat litter dust

[kehorner]

I was randomly contemplating the cat litter the other day. Something in the litter makes it clump when it comes into contact with liquid. It also happens to give off a fair amount of dust. Does anybody know how safe this dust is? I can just picture me (or my cats) breathing it in, and then the dust "clumping" in my lungs.

Anybody have any thoughts?

I really wish there was a clumping litter that wasn't so dusty. I've tried several brands and just haven't had any luck. Scooping the boxes usually gives me an asthma attack and seriously disturbs my allergies, so I avoid doing it, but then I feel bad because the boys usually have a dirty box. Fortunately, they are pretty tolerant and don't seem to mind, but I still feel bad.

I'm not sure if a non-clumping litter would fix the problem, because most of those are just as dusty, and I'd have to completely change it out (and probably wash the boxes) more often, which is just plain annoying trying to do it in my bathtub with the sliding glass doors. I really miss living in Arizona, where I could just take the boxes outside, scrub them down, and they'd be dry within 5 minutes and ready to go back inside. But, I've never used a non-scooping litter, so maybe I'm wrong.

I wonder how much I would have to pay my neighbor for daily scooping service.....?

I'm open to suggestions, if anybody has any solutions for the dust factor.

[Traci]

Feline Pine - made from pine
Yesterday's News - made from recycled newspaper
World's Best Cat Litter - made from corn
Sweat Scoop - made from processed wheat

Some of these might contain alittle dust as a result of settling. Also, they are probably not as good at odor control and may be a bit more difficult to scoop. My experience with anything that are pellets, they are quite messy.

Unfortunately, most of the scoopables and clay litters are dusty, it doesn't mean they are bad litters, the dust occurs mainly from settling. To answer your question, silica-based litters are better at absorption and odor control, but the dust should be kept to a minimum...try using a spray bottle to mist the top of the containe before you pour the litter, and afterward on the litter after it's been placed in the litterbox. Or another trick, if the litter is available in boxes, cut the box opening larger and use a measuring cup to take out the litter.

[Marty]

Do you use one of those nose and mouth masks when dealing with litter? My neighbor has to use one every time she walks outside.

[Cleo]

We used Sweat Scoop for a while here and it smelled like horse urine. I fill the boxes with a measuring cup, a scoop at a time to avoid a dust cloud. I scoop waste slowly as well and when my asthma is acting up, which has been alot lately, I use one of those paper masks or just hold my shirt over my nose and mouth. The spray bottle mist Traci suggests works but short of teaching them to use the toilet, I think that's it.

[Tambrey]

thanks for the sweatscoop info..I was contemplating trying that one!!

I kept a nice plastic container with a handle and attached hinged lid from litter a long time ago...the one I get now also comes in a plastic tub, but not a hinged lid, so I do not like it as much...I use a plastic cup to scoop the litter from one to the other, or into the boxes...it really cuts down on the dust, but it does take a few more scoops to put it there...and I get close to the box to pour it in as well...that helps alot...

[kehorner]

The getting fresh litter in isn't so bad, because I only have to do it every 3-4 weeks. The stuff I get is in a cardboard box with a plastic bag inside. I accidentally discovered that a great way to get that in without a lot of dust is not to pour it in, but to turn the box over and dump the whole thing out into the box, then grab the bottom of the plastic bag and slowly pull it up and off of the pile of litter. Of course, this only works if you're planning on putting the whole box of litter in. But my litterboxes are big, and they easily hold the whole 40 pounds, with a depth of about 5 inches. I suppose that might be too deep for some cats' preferences, but again, my dudes really aren't picky about their boxes themselves (although they are picky about location... weird).

I run into more problems with the boys kicking around in there stirring up dust, and when I am scooping it gets dusty. I really should invest in some of those masks. I am concerned about odor control, because I have a relatively small place with no out-of-the-way places. The three boxes are lined up under a table in my bedroom. Sort of like a public restroom... several stalls to choose from. But no matter how careful I am trying not to stir up dust, the table is always visibly dusty within a day or two. Ick.

I think next time I switch out the litter, I'll get another kind of litter for one of the three boxes. That way if it doesn't work or the boys don't like it, I won't have bought three packages, and I won't feel as bad changing it out. And next time I go to the store, I'll definitely pick up some masks. My asthma has been acting up too, lately, and I definitely need to avoid things that don't like me.

Any thoughts on the actual safety of inhaling the dust from clumping litter being any more dangerous than the dust from non-clumping litter?

[Traci]

The risk is apparent with any dust, and since most litters contain silica-based material, there's an inherent risk there as well. But, as long as you're not constantly breathing it, there isn't much of a risk. Try keeping a mist bottle nearby to help reduce the dust in that area. If your asthmatic, and if it's irritating to you, use a face mask.