Have you noticed how dusty your cat litter gets?
It’s true…
Some cat litters are more dusty than others.
Thankfully, there are some quick measures you can take to avoid getting cat litter dust everywhere.
Read these 7 tips to learn how to reduce cat litter dust around the litter box and beyond.
Side note: If you are looking for an excellent dust free cat litter, I recommend this one. It gets a ton of positive feedback about the lack of dust it creates.
Table of Contents
How to Make Cat Litter Less Dusty
If you want to know how to remove dust from cat litter, these tips will help solve the problem:
- Choose a dust-free cat litter (recommended brand)
- Consider using a covered litter box (like this one)
- Use a slow pouring technique
- Get an air purifyer (this will do the trick)
- Use less cat litter
- Clean and refill the litter box outside
- Try litter box liners
Read on to know exactly how each of these can help you eliminate cat litter dust for good.
1. Choose a low dust cat litter
The best way to reduce dust from cat litter is to choose a low-dust cat litter such as ökocat Less Mess Mini-Pellets.
This low-dust cat litter is made from clean wood fiber and is screened and de-dusted for a cleaner pour.
It’s mini-pellet size prevents less dust when pouring and won’t stick to your cat, creating less tracking around your home.
This works exceptionally well for long-haired cats, but will have the same affects for all cat breeds.
ökocat is a high quality, premium brand, which is why it makes our list of the best clumping cat litters.
If you want to stop cat litter dust from getting everywhere, this will be the easiest solution.
2. Consider a covered litter box
Is cat litter getting everywhere when your cat uses the litter? Then you might consider getting a covered litter box.
Using a covered litter box is great way to keep cat litter dust down, and it can also help with odor control.
Some people are concerned that their cat won’t like a covered litter box. However, studies show that most cats are pleased to use either covered or uncovered.
One of the best covered litter boxes is the Catit Jumbo Hooded Cat Litter Pan. It has a flap for the front door which can be folded out of the way for easy cleaning.
A covered litter box like this one, combined with ökocat low-dust cat litter, will drastically reduce litter dust in your home.
3. Pouring technique to reduce cat litter dust
When it’s time to replace your cat’s litter, try a slow and controlled pouring technique.
To make this easier, cut a smaller hole when opening the bag.
This will control cat litter dust from spreading around the room and getting in the air.
Or use a cat litter with a small opening that helps maintain a steady pouring speed.
You could even try scooping the litter into the box gradually if you have the patience.
4. Use an air purifyer
If you’re still seeing dust in your home or want to remove cat litter dust in the air, then try using an air purifyer.
Air purifyers are great for catching all types of particles, including pollen, smoke, dust, pet dander, and other polutants and may cause allergies.
A great air purifier for cat litter dust is the BLUEAIR 311 Auto Air Purifier. This will remove dust, pet dander, pollen, mould, and smoke.
It even eliminates odor to help get rid of cat litter smell. That’s killing two birds with one stone.
Regardless of your living space, using an air purifier will make an improvement to the air you breath.
5. Use less cat litter
Is your cat covered in dust? This could be down to having too much litter in the box.
Try using less litter the next time you clean the litter box out.
This can help because your cat won’t have so much litter to move around.
Just make sure your cat is happy with how much litter you use and make sure you top it up regularly.
6. Clean and refill the litter box outside
Another way to prevent cat litter dust spreading around your home is to refill the litter box outside.
Even if ther’s a lot of dust, it will stay outside and the wind will eventually blow it away.
Dust inside the house will linger around for longer and it tends to land on furniture and the floor.
7. Try using cat litter liners
Some people like to use cat litter liners and many report they can help with litter box dust when cleaning.
That’s because the cat litter stays inside the bag when you replace it. There’s no scooping or pouring involved when emptying the litter box.
All you need to do is grab the sides of the bag, tie them into a knot, and dispose of the whole thing in the trash.
Simple.
Last Resorts
Should I wear a mask when cleaning cat litter?
If you’re concerned with the amount of dust your cat litter makes, then wearing a mask will certainly help.
It’s completely understandable for some people. Things like dust can cause some irritation, especially if you are sensitive to it or have allergies.
These Honeywell masks are pretty cheap and they are designed to protect you fom dust. It’s a pack of 50 which should last you a fair amount of time.
Consider an alternative
This one I have never tried so I cannot comment on the effectiveness of these cat litter alternatives.
From looking at the list in my article though, I can imagine some of them might be a good option.
For instance, recycled newspaper might be good at redusing dust. But, then I’m not sure how messy that could get.
You’ve really got to weigh up the pros and cons when using an alternative cat litter.
Why Is Cat Litter So Dusty?
If you’ve got this far into the article, you might be asking, why is there so much dust in my cat litter?
The answer mostly comes down to how it’s transported. More specifically, is how it’s handled during the transportation stage.
It has been made in the factory, passed the various quality tests, and gets placed into bags or boxes.
At this stage there is not really a great deal of dust existing. There is however always a small amount as that is simply the nature of the cat litter ingredients.
As soon as it comes to transport though, the bags have to be handled and taken to the various destinations where it’ll be sold to the general public.
The main problem is that it’s often roughly handled as they’re moved onto pallets or other types of storage containers.
It’s this movement that makes the litter inside the bags start to rub against itself and cause dust.
How Do You Get Rid of Cat Litter Dust in the Air?
The best way to get rid of cat dust in the air is to use an air purifier.
Some air purifiers, like the BLUEAIR 311 will automatically detect things like dust and cat dander in the air and start to elimiate it.
How to Clean Cat Litter Dust from Furniture, Walls, and the Floor
To clean cat litter dust from furniture, use a wet cloth or paper towl and then dry it after. You can also use a dust repellent spray like this one, which is made from natural ingredients.
To clean cat litter dust from walls and the floor, you can use a dustpan and brush. This will be the quickest option, or you can use a vaccuum cleaner on a floor with carpet.
Just make sure you use a vacuum for cat hair for best results.
FAQs
Is there a truly dust-free cat litter?
Maybe not 100%, but almost.
For instance, Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter is 99.9% dust-free and does a great job of preventing litter tracking.
Then there’s ökocat Less Mess Mini-Pellets, which is another great cat litter with virtually no dust.
Is dust from cat litter harmful?
Inhaling cat litter dust is a valid concern and should be avoided where possible.
The evidence of cat litter and it’s dust to cause respiratory problems is difficult to determine.
However, there are some potential risks with dirty cat litter, especially towards pregnant woman.
Monitor your cats behavior closely and he or she begins weezing or sneezing, take them to the vets for a check up.
In general though, cat litter is quite safe and shouldn’t pose any issues when maintained well.
Can cat litter cause dust mites?
Cat litter itself is unlikely to directly cause dust mites.
Dust mites are microscopic arthropods that feed on dead skin cells and other organic matter, and they can be found in many indoor environments where these materials are present.
However, certain types of cat litter may create conditions that promote the growth of dust mites or other allergens.
For example, clay-based litters may create dust that can irritate the respiratory system and exacerbate allergies, including those related to dust mites.
Additionally, litters that contain organic materials like corn, wheat, or pine may create a warm and humid environment that can encourage the growth of mold, which can also worsen allergies.
While there is no conclusive evidence that cat litter is a major source of dust mites, it’s important to use caution when handling and disposing of litter, especially if you or anyone in your household has allergies or respiratory issues.
How often should you change cat litter?
The frequency of changing cat litter depends on a few factors, but a rough guide is between 1-3 weeks if the litter is maintained well.
Learn more by reading our post on how often should you clean a cat litter box?
Conclusion On Dust in Cat Litter
My first piece of advice is to check the type of little you’re using, the best type for minimal dust are clumping litters.
An excelent choice for a practically zero dust litter is ökocat Original Low-Dust Cat Litter, or you can find some others here.
I hope these tip help you accumplish your mission to eliminate cat litter dust.
It looks like someone could come up with something you could add or spray on the cat litter to cut down the dust. Surely some kind of water or oil mixture could be used. My living room is covered with dust. Help
When you scoop and when your cat throws litter around, it breaks the litter down quite a lot. What starts out dust free will quickly become dusty if you don’t throw ALL the litter away every 2-3 weeks. The more you scoop, the worse it gets!
Hello! I am really glad I found this article! I am going to be more careful and I’m going to do my best to find a dust free option for my poor kitty cats!! I had no clue it can be dangerous! Store tomorrow for sure! Thank you!
While pouring with the bag close to the box will reduce the amount of dust created by the pouring process, there is another option. If the litter already contains a lot of dust, it could be better to pour the litter slowly, from several feet above the pan, outdoors, and with at least a mild breeze. The breeze would blow much of the dust away as the larger litter particles fall to the pan. This would generate a small amount of dust as the litter hits the pan or the pile in the pan, but if the bag has a lot of dust in it, you would definitely come out ahead.
My daughter in law just bought a litter box with no door. I seen her cat covering the poo and a lot of dust was flying up. Being we just moved into a new apartment today and my daughter in law has put the litter box right by the dining table. How much of that litter box and what’s in it actually flying up in the air? Also the smell is so unbearable now.