Okay, so I’ve got a cat, a fluffy Persian named Snowball, and I’ve been doing some redecorating. I was thinking about getting some cedar shavings for his litter box, ’cause I heard it smells nice and keeps odors down. But then, a friend of mine was like, “Whoa, hold up! Isn’t cedar bad for cats?” That sent me down a rabbit hole, so here’s what I did.
My Little Investigation
First, I hit up Google. I just typed in “is cedar bad for cats” and, man, did I get a lot of results. Some websites were saying it’s totally fine, others were screaming about liver damage and respiratory problems. It was confusing!
I decided I needed more than just random websites, though. So I started looking at vet websites. These seemed a little more trustworthy. I found a few articles that talked about phenols – apparently, that’s the stuff in cedar that makes it smell good, but it can also be irritating to cats (and other small animals).
The main points I picked up were:
- Some cats are more sensitive than others.
- It can cause breathing issues, like asthma.
- It’s linked to liver problems in small animals (the articles were mainly about small pets such as hamsters or guinea pigs)
- Kiln-dried cedar is supposed to be safer, ’cause the drying process removes some of the bad stuff.
Making a Choice
After reading all that, I felt a bit uneasy. Even though some sources said kiln-dried cedar was okay, I didn’t want to risk it. Snowball’s my buddy, and I’d rather be safe than sorry. The risk is relatively low for cats but it depends on the type.
So, I decided to skip the cedar shavings altogether. I went back to the pet store and picked up some of that clay litter he’s used to. It might not smell as fancy, but at least I know it’s not going to hurt him.
I also talked to my vet about it during Snowball’s checkup. She confirmed that while cedar isn’t always a problem, it’s better to avoid it, especially since there are so many other litter options available. She said some cats have allergies that make them more at risk, you just never know!
Long story short, I learned that it’s always a good idea to do your research when it comes to your pets. A little bit of digging can save you a lot of worry (and potential vet bills) down the road! And sometimes, the best thing is play it safe, and get your cat’s usual stuff, I should not have tried to be fancy!
