Symptoms of Being Allergic to Cat Litter

Many people living with cats believe they are allergic to their pet when it may actually be the cat's litter causing the allergy symptoms. Most cat litters are made with clay, which produces a fine dust. Fragrances in cat litter may also trigger allergy reactions. One way to see if cat litter is producing allergy symptoms is to switch to an unscented litter that is not made from clay.

  1. Sneezing

    • Sneezing is a physiologic response to irritation of the lining of the nose. It is often caused by substances that trigger allergic reactions, such as dust from some types of cat litter. If you find you are sneezing when you are cleaning the cat litter pan or changing litter, you may be allergic to the litter. Along with the sneezing, you may also have an itchy and runny nose.

    Congestion

    • Nasal congestion is another frustrating symptom of allergy to cat litter. Congestion may come on suddenly after exposure to cat litter, or simply linger as you continue to be exposed to it in your home. Congestion occurs when the mucous membranes of your sinuses become inflamed in response to irritation from an allergen. The resulting swelling prevents the sinuses from being able to drain freely.

    Eye Irritation

    • Itchy, watery or swollen eyes are another symptom of cat litter allergies. Cat litter dust can cause the cells in the eyes that respond to allergic reactions to release histamine and other chemicals in response to the allergen. This causes the blood vessels in the eyes to swell, making the eyes tear, burn and turn red.

    Hives

    • Hives are raised, itchy red welts that form on the skin in reaction to contact with an allergen, such as the dust from cat litter. Scented cat litter, in particular, can bring on hives. The hives occur most frequently on the chin and hands and forearms after direct exposure to the litter. They may appear when you are changing the litter and dust is stirred up. Hives may come on suddenly and disappear quickly, once you are no longer in contact with the litter.