Openai/694c268e-59c4-8012-af64-ea9054a9b0b6

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User: my cat had an ongoing allergy to cat litter dust and his weight went up to 16.45lbs over time.

my cat had an ongoing allergy to cat litter dust and his weight went up to 16.45lbs over time. i got zero dust cat litter and his allergies went away and hes not 14.6lbs and seems to be maintaining that weight. Is it possible that long term allergies were making him "bloat," because when he was 16.45lbs he seemed bloated and full of water maybe.

Assistant: Short answer: yes, it’s possible, but with some important nuance.

Short answer: yes, it’s possible, but with some important nuance.

Chronic allergies—especially respiratory or environmental ones like litter dust—can cause systemic inflammation over time. In cats, that can lead to:

• Fluid retention from ongoing inflammation
• Abdominal “pot-belly” appearance due to gut inflammation or mild edema
• Reduced activity, which can contribute to gradual weight gain
• Stress-related hormonal effects (cortisol), which can promote both water retention and fat gain

So it’s plausible that when he was 16.45 lb, part of that weight was inflammatory water weight, not just fat.

The key clues in your case are:

• The allergy trigger (litter dust) was removed
• Allergy symptoms resolved
• Weight dropped ~1.8 lb and then stabilized
• He no longer looks bloated

That pattern strongly suggests:

• Some of the prior weight was reversible
• The change wasn’t just normal dieting or muscle loss
• The body “deflated” once inflammation resolved

If it were purely fat loss, you’d usually see:

• A slower, more gradual decline
• Continued loss unless food intake was adjusted

To be clear, allergies alone typically don’t cause massive true edema (like heart or liver disease would). This sounds more like:

• Mild chronic inflammation
• Water retention + GI fullness
• Possibly constipation or slowed gut motility from inflammation

For many adult male cats (especially larger-framed ones), 14–15 lb can be totally normal if:

• You can feel ribs with light pressure
• He has a visible waist from above
• His belly isn’t swinging excessively

If he’s maintaining 14.6 lb without effort and looks/acts better, that’s a very good sign.

If any of these show up, a vet visit is warranted:

• Rapid weight changes going forward
• Distended abdomen that feels firm
• Lethargy or breathing changes
• Loss of appetite or vomiting

But based on what you described, this sounds like a positive resolution of a chronic inflammatory issue, not something concerning.

If you want, you can tell me:

• His age
• Indoor/outdoor
• Food type (dry vs wet)
• Whether he ever had coughing, wheezing, or eye discharge

That would help narrow whether the allergy was mostly respiratory or systemic.

User: He’s 8.5 years old and indoor only but we have a big catio, my cats get sciences diet kibble and Purina reveal and scie…

He’s 8.5 years old and indoor only but we have a big catio, my cats get sciences diet kibble and Purina reveal and science diet wet food two times per day.

He HAS had wheezing, very minor cough and his eyes were a little runny.

Since changing cat litter the wheezing has disappeared.

All of my cats have a slight head cold right now that they got from one of the street cats that plays with them through the catio.

Assistant: Thank you — that extra detail actually makes the picture much clearer, and overall it’s reassuring.

Thank you — that extra detail actually makes the picture much clearer, and overall it’s reassuring.

What this strongly points to

Based on:

• Wheezing + minor cough
• Runny eyes
• Clear resolution after switching to zero-dust litter
• Indoor-only (with catio exposure)
• Age 8.5 years

The most likely scenario is that your cat had chronic airway irritation / allergic bronchitis triggered by litter dust.

This sits on the same spectrum as:

• feline allergic airway disease
• early or mild feline asthma (not all asthma cats have severe attacks)

How this connects to the “bloated” weight

Chronic airway inflammation can absolutely cause:

1. Low-grade systemic inflammation
2. Mild fluid retention
3. Reduced activity & altered breathing patterns
4. Stress hormone elevation

Together, those can create:

• a rounder abdomen
• a “full of water” look
• higher scale weight that isn’t pure fat

Once the allergen was removed:

• airway inflammation decreased
• breathing normalized
• inflammatory fluid was reabsorbed
• weight dropped and then plateaued

That plateau is important — it strongly suggests you’re now seeing his true baseline weight.

Why the wheezing disappearing is a big deal

That’s actually the biggest green flag here.

If this were:

• heart disease → wheezing wouldn’t resolve with litter change
• kidney/liver disease → weight wouldn’t normalize this cleanly
• simple obesity → respiratory sounds wouldn’t vanish

The cause-and-effect relationship you observed is very convincing.

About the current “cat cold”

What you’re describing sounds like a mild upper respiratory infection (URI):

• runny eyes
• multiple cats affected
• exposure via catio / street cat

That’s very common and separate from the litter allergy.

Important difference:

• URIs → sneezing, eye/nose discharge
• Allergic airway disease → wheezing, cough

The fact that:

• wheezing is gone
• only cold-like signs remain

…means the allergy trigger is likely still controlled 👍

Food & age context

At 8.5 years, maintaining ~14.6 lb on:

• Science Diet kibble
• Science Diet + Purina Reveal wet food twice daily

…suggests his metabolism is doing fine.

If he were truly overweight from fat alone, he’d likely still be drifting upward unless calories were restricted.

What I’d do going forward (practical advice)

You’re already doing the most important thing. I’d suggest:

1. Stick permanently with low-dust litter (Even “99% dust-free” can still be enough to trigger symptoms.)
2. Watch for any return of wheeze - especially after digging in the box - or after litter changes
3. Keep the catio, but minimize nose-to-nose contact - URIs can linger 1–2 weeks - Runny eyes are OK if appetite and energy are normal
4. Optional (not urgent): mention this history at next vet visit - “Resolved wheezing after litter change” - That’s useful diagnostic info if he ever needs anesthesia or dental work

Bottom line

Yes — in your cat’s case, it is very plausible that long-term litter dust allergies caused:

• chronic airway inflammation
• mild systemic fluid retention
• a bloated appearance
• artificially elevated body weight

The resolution you saw is exactly what we’d hope for.

You did a great job noticing the pattern and fixing the root cause. If you want, I can also help you:

• assess his current body condition score at home
• identify the lowest-risk litters for asthma-prone cats
• spot early warning signs if airway inflammation ever returns

User: Can you identify the lowest risk litters for me?

Can you identify the lowest risk litters for me? I am currently using Arm and Hammer platinum cloud control.

Assistant: Here are some low-dust, allergy-friendly cat litter options that are good picks if you want to help keep respiratory ir…

Here are some low-dust, allergy-friendly cat litter options that are good picks if you want to help keep respiratory irritation (and airborne dust) to a minimum — especially useful for cats with asthma/allergies like yours: The Vet Desk

!Purina Tidy Cats Clumping Cat Litter Purina Tidy Cats Clumping Cat Litter$11.49•PetSmart + others!Tidy Cats Lightweight Free & Clean Unscented Tidy Cats Lightweight Free & Clean Unscented$26.98•Chewy.com + others!Dr\. Elsey’s Precious Cat Respiratory Relief Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Respiratory Relief$16.99•Hollywood Feed + others!Dr\. Elsey’s Respiratory Relief Silica Gel Dr. Elsey’s Respiratory Relief Silica Gel$22.99•Petco.com + others!Catalyst Pet Multi‑Cat Formula Cat Litter Catalyst Pet Multi‑Cat Formula Cat Litter$28.65•Catalyst + others!Rawry Flushable Tofu Cat Litter Rawry Flushable Tofu Cat Litter$21.75•Etsy!Pea‑Based Clumping Cat Litter Pea‑Based Clumping Cat Litter$34.00•Cat Butler!CatSpot 100% Coconut Cat Litter CatSpot 100% Coconut Cat Litter$17.99•CatSpot Litter + others

🟡 Best Low-Dust Everyday Clays

• Purina Tidy Cats Clumping Cat Litter – 99.9% dust-free, unscented clumping litter that’s gentle on lungs and easy to scoop. Great general choice for sensitive cats. My Pets Guide
• Tidy Cats Lightweight Free & Clean Unscented – Similar to above but lighter and easier to pour, with strong clumping and no fragrance — good for multi-cat homes.

🟡 Hypoallergenic / Respiratory-Focused Options

• Dr. Elsey’s Precious Cat Respiratory Relief – Specifically formulated for cats with respiratory sensitivities and marketed as low dust/hypoallergenic. The Vet Desk
• Dr. Elsey’s Respiratory Relief Silica Gel – A silica alternative from the same line; silica granules can trap a lot of moisture with minimal dust (note: texture and dust profile differ from clay). Rover.com

🟢 Plant-Based / Very Low Dust Alternatives

These can be especially good if your cat is very sensitive to dust and you want to go beyond clay:

• Catalyst Pet Multi‑Cat Formula Cat Litter – Zero airborne dust (wood fiber), lightweight and soft on paws — a nice all-around alternative to clay. Cats.com
• Rawry Flushable Tofu Cat Litter – Plant-based tofu litter with very low dust and eco-friendly flushable design. North Shore Crafts
• Pea‑Based Clumping Cat Litter – Uncommon but great for odor control with minimal dust and plant-derived ingredients. Cats.com
• CatSpot 100% Coconut Cat Litter – Coconut-based hypoallergenic litter that’s naturally low dust and gentle, good for cats with sensitive airways. Cats.com

🧠 Tips for cats with respiratory sensitivities

• Unscented & fragrance-free is ideal — perfumes can irritate sensitive airways. The Vet Desk
• Go slow when switching litters: mix new litter with your current one initially so your cat adjusts.
• Keep boxes clean: frequent scooping reduces ammonia buildup that can further irritate lungs.
• Good ventilation or an air purifier around litter areas can help reduce dust inhalation even more.

If you want, I can help you sort which of these would work best with your particular litter box setup or preferences (clumping vs non-clumping, flushable vs trash disposal, etc.).