Is scented cat litter safe for my allergic cat with skin issues?

It may be difficult to find an appropriate type but peat based or crystalline litter is least likely to aggravate respiratory issues. I recommend you keep litter trays in a well ventilated area you do not frequent often. Be aware many asthmatic people can also be sensitive to cats dander and hair

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Melcho! If Melcho is that allergic and nothing else has changed it is possible. Though if most cats are allergic to the litter it is the dust causing asthma problems not necessarily skin. Be sure to check him well for fleas or a skin infection. I wouldn't let the skin get to far gone before having your Vet checked him out. Could you find the litter online if it is unavailable in the store? Could you call other pet stores to see if they carry it or ask the store to restock it? I wish Melcho the best!

I've never heard of this litter causing a burning smell before, but if it is strong enough to bother you or is affecting your cat, switching back to the other litter may be a good idea. You can also see if an air purifier in the room helps as well. If you notice any signs of respiratory distress in your cat such as sneezing, trouble breathing, panting, coughing, etc, then moving Sweetie to another well ventilated room and changing the litter is best.

The only air "fresheners" we worry about with cats are essential oils. I've included more information about that below. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/blog/essential-oils-cats/ Any other air fresheners are fine unless your cat has asthma or is sensitive to certain scents. Don't forget that cats' sense of smell is much better than ours, so an air freshener that is too strong can actually deter a cat from wanting to go in the room with it. The most important thing in keeping the room smelling good is scooping the litter box at least once daily and cleaning the entire thing (changing the litter completely) at least once weekly. I also noticed that you have Creamcicle listed at unneutered. Getting him neutered will also decrease the odor of his urine which might be helpful. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using PetCoach.

I would suspect the citrus oil could be irritating to a cats upper respiratory tract. With sensitive animals around using a vinegar and water solution is always a safe bet. Another suggestion would be to keep Melcho in a different area of the house while cleaning and allow him back in once everything has dried and the fumes have mostly dissipated. A bit depends on what type of allergic reaction he was having, if it's respiratory you want to avoid compounds with strong perfumes or fumes. Cats seem particularly sensitive to the Pine-Sol and Lysol type products. If it was more of a contact reaction to touching the cleaners then typically waiting till the area is completely dry may be safe. But in general vinegar and water solutions are very safe to use around cats and you should not need to remove him from the area you're working in. I hope this helps, thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach

Scents aren't necessarily dangerous, but cat's have a much more sensitive sense of smell than we do. If your kitties decide that the scent of the litter box liners isn't nice, they will decide to go potty somewhere else! Also, some cats are very sensitive to certain scents and can have upper or lower respiratory issues with this. It can also cause flare ups in cats that have been diagnosed with feline asthma. So, I would not recommend using scented bags, but if you do, just watch them all very closely for any changes.

Some cats can definitely have issues with dusty litter, it can cause flare ups of asthma and may make your cat decide to go potty somewhere else. Though once it settles, it may not cause issues unless your cat is a very aggressive digger. I would recommend staying with the same brand of litter you used before, or you can look into non-clay litter options, like Feline Pine or Yesterday's News. If you do decide on a different type of litter, I would put it in a second litter box so that Chloe has the option to choose which type of litter she prefers.