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Cat Litter & Lung Problems

Indoor cat owners provide cat litter for their cats to use when going to the bathroom. Clumping clay litter is a popular type of litter because it is cheap; however, Environmental Magazine says that this type of litter may cause silicosis, a lung disease that contributes to cancer and tuberculosis if people inhale the dust.

  1. Definition

    • Silicosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. The dust inflames the lungs. Scar tissue then grows on the lungs and makes breathing more difficult. Silicosis is also known as "miner's disease" because many coal miners contracted this disease. Environmental Magazine says that clumping cat litter causes a similar condition, although scientific studies backing this point up are lacking.

    Clumping Litter and Silicosis

    • When cats dig in the litter box, they kick dust from their litter into the air. When using clumping litter, the dust may consist of silica. Humans who inhale silica dust can then contract silicosis, just as they would if they breathed in silica dust in mines or on construction sites.

    Silicosis and Other Types of Litter

    • Environmental Magazine says that non-clumping litter poses no threat to humans. It recommends dust-free litters, which are environmentally safe, as well as safer for cat owners who have to inhale the air around their cat's litter box.

    Silicosis and Cats

    • Cats do not appear to contract silicosis from using clumping litter, according to veterinarian Mike Richards. However, cats can become ill from ingesting litter if they lick their paws after using the litter box. In addition, Dr. Richards says that clumping litter can aggravate asthma or other chronic breathing problems, so it is best to use dust-free litter if your cat has one of these conditions.

    Prevention of Silicosis

    • If you cannot use dust-free litter, avoid clay-based litters, as these litters contain silica dust. Keep the litter box in a well-ventilated area to minimize the risk of inhaling litter dust. If you are concerned about silicosis, you should also consider wearing a face mask when cleaning the litter box.

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