The Truth Behind Scented Litter: Why It May Be Putting Your Cat at Risk
In the nature of being a cat parent, one has to accept the biggest con of owning a tiny furry friend — the litter box inside of your home. From the idea of your cat doing their business in your clean house, to the smell and the inevitable fact that you’ll be stepping on stray litter every time you walk around, pet parents everywhere are constantly trying to find solutions to these common litter box woes. This results in many cat parents gravitating to the widely-sold scented litter options — with promises of “fresh scents” and “odor masking,” these marketing tactics naturally lure in all cat owners who experience the same predicament that comes with the litter box. While these claims seem irresistible, we’re here to share why caving to these scented litter traps could be putting your pet at risk.
What makes scented litter different from any other kind of litter? Scented litter typically has artificial additives that help with odor control or emit fresh scents. This can include floral or citrus fragrances, as well as carbon, baking powders and other synthetic materials that can mask and absorb litter box odors. While some unscented litters can also contain odor-absorbing materials, scented litter is distinguished by its other added fragrances.
So why are these additives putting your cat at risk? Scented litters affect your cat’s ability to detect predators. We know what you’re thinking — there aren’t any threats in my household, so why does it matter? When your cat can’t follow their natural instincts, regardless of whether there’s a threat or not, it can cause unwanted stress in your feline. Additionally, when your cat doesn’t have the ability to smell their own urine, this also disables their instinct to mark their territory. A common result of this stress is Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC). FIC is the leading cause of house soiling in most felines, as the condition causes the stress of their environment to inflame their bladder. This can result in straining to urinate, frequent and painful urination, blood in the urine and urinating outside of the litter box.
Not only can scented litters affect your cat’s litter box use, but it can also lead to a variety of respiratory-related health issues in your furry friend. While they might be small, cats have a mighty sense of smell. Any odor additives can overwhelm your cat’s senses and cause them stress when it comes to using the litter box. When these additives are being inhaled by your pet, it can also affect their lung health. Artificial additives can irritate your cat’s respiratory system, especially if your cat struggles with asthma or other allergies. These artificial chemicals can have long-term health issues on your pet and even cause their skin to develop rashes or itchiness.
While the perks of scented litter may initially attract pet owners, it can result in significant issues for cats. With their heightened sense of smell and strong natural instincts, scented litters can cause them discomfort, stress and potentially even lead to health complications. Fortunately, there’s many alternatives to scented litters that pet owners can utilize along with a regular cleaning routine to maintain the same odor-free environment that scented litter provides. To prioritize your cat’s health, consider making the switch to an unscented, natural litter such as Dr. Elsey’s Ultra litter. A healthy environment for your feline can still be odor-free and clean without additional fragrances.
Here at Dr. Elsey’s, we stand by producing cat products that are safe and healthy for the furry friends who cannot speak up for themselves. For this reason, we have made the decision to discontinue our sale of Dr. Elsey’s Scented litter in order to align with our mission of committing to protecting all cats. We understand the frustration of cat owners who have grown fond of our scented litter variety, and we encourage them to switch to Dr. Elsey’s Ultra litter, which contains the same ingredients without the moisture-activated scents. Ultra is a natural clay cat litter free of perfumes, deodorants and fragrances, while still offering superior odor control in a product conducive to a cat’s health and wellbeing.
We thank all of our customers for their continued support and hope that together, we can make the world a better place for cats everywhere.
