Best Humidifier for Cats

Humidifiers are a popular purchase during the winter months, as they can help to add moisture to the air and alleviate dryness. If you’re considering purchasing a humidifier for your cat, you should know a few things, like the best humidifiers for cats.

Not all humidifiers are safe for cats – some contain ingredients that may be harmful if ingested. Not all cats need a humidifier; some breeds tolerate dry environments better than others. Finally, when choosing a humidifier for your cat, it’s essential to consider the size of the unit and whether or not it has filters. 

What Is a Humidifier?

Humidifiers add moisture to the air by releasing water vapor or steam into an area. Depending on your needs, you can use them in small or large rooms or entire buildings.

Humidifiers can benefit pets, but overusing or misusing them can potentially worsen respiratory problems. For this reason, it’s best to learn as much as possible about them.

What Is the Ideal Humidity Level?

Humidity refers to the amount of moisture in the air. Its levels depend on the season, the weather, and your location. Typically, levels rise in the summer and sink during the colder months.

The ideal humidity level is between 30% to 50%. When the humidity in your home goes lower than 30%, you and your pets may experience dry skin and throats. However, if it exceeds 50%, you may feel your allergies act up.

Benefits of Using a Humidifier for Your Feline Friend

Pet owners know that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions for their babies’ health. However, the water droplets from a room humidifier can offer various benefits for cats.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), a humidifier may be ideal for winter. During the colder months, these devices keep moisture levels optimal for cats.

Below are some of their possible advantages.

Ease Feline Asthma

Approximately one to five percent of the feline population suffers from asthma attacks. Triggers may include cigarette smoke, mold, white dust, grass, and pollen.

Here are some signs to watch out for:

• Blue lips and gums
• Rapid breathing
• Difficulty breathing
• Wheezing
• Continuous coughing or gagging
• Compromised mucous membranes
• Hunched body with extended neck

Ignoring initial signs of feline asthma may cause it to worsen to a more severe stage. For this reason, consulting a vet might prove beneficial for your kitty.

Address Cold Symptoms

Just like people, cats can catch colds too. You might also notice similar symptoms when they have upper respiratory infections, like mild fever, sneezing, or a runny nose.

While they may not be contagious for humans, they transmit more quickly between cats. Potential signs of more severe cases include a reduced appetite for prolonged periods.

Dry air is one of the more common causes of colds, so balanced humidity levels may be a viable solution in addressing your cat’s cold symptoms.

Soothe Dry Skin

Dry skin is never fun, even for felines. For this reason, cat owners should be wary of exposing their pets to parasites, allergens, and the wrong shampoo. Any of these factors can cause damage to your cat’s skin.

Bald spots, scabs, and scaly patches are possible signs of dry or itchy skin in cats. They can appear anywhere on the body but often materialize around the nose, tail, and ears.

A humidifier may offer relief if you feel your kitty suffers from this condition. However, note that it’s not a cure-all solution.

Potential Risks of Using Humidifiers

Before proceeding with the rest of the article, discussing the potential risks of using humidifiers is crucial. Below are some of the most notable ones.

Dirty Humidifiers

The water you put into your humidifier’s water tank turns into vapor. If the liquid inside gets dirty, the air you breathe will, too.

A filthy tank can be conducive to germ growth, so that that regular cleaning might be a good idea. Following the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions is best to keep your device in tip-top shape.

Exceedingly High Humidity Levels

While some humidity in the air might benefit your cat, excessively high levels can

worsen your pet’s symptoms and health issues. Anything above 60% is way too high for you and your kitty.

You can use a hygrometer or humidity meter to measure the level in your area. Some units have built-in devices, while others require a separate gauging tool.

Using Tap Water

If your device cannot process regular water, it might ruin your machine. Most manufacturers recommend using only pure water in humidifiers, like distilled water. They would not recommend unfiltered tap water because it contains minerals and particles that can cause a build-up in your machine.

Basic Care Tips

Having a humidifier in your home may be advantageous for your feline friend. Following these steps can help you reap the benefits of using such devices:

• Check humidity levels regularly.
• Clean your humidifier once a week.
• Change the water as recommended by the manufacturer.
• Change filters when necessary.
• Use only purified or distilled water on your appliance.
• Keep warm-mist variants away from your cat.

Types of Humidifiers

Now that you know the potential benefits of using a humidifier for your cat, it’s time to learn about the different types. Consider this your buying guide for choosing the best humidifiers for cats and for your home, depending on your needs.

Central Humidifiers

HVAC specialists can build central humidifiers directly into your home’s air-conditioning or heating devices. This humidifier is usually the most expensive because it adds humidity to the house.

One of the best things about these gadgets is that they don’t emit steam — a factor that carries potential burn risks for you and your cat. These appliances may be valuable investments for homes suffering from dry indoor air.

Evaporators

An evaporative humidifier blows moisture through air filters. In most cases, manufacturers use fans to power the units and release humidity into their air.

These humidifiers are typically more affordable than their centralized counterparts, but they can only work in one room at any time. Also, units that expel too much moisture may boost the chances of mold growth.

Impeller Humidifiers

This gadget may be ideal if you’re looking for a pet-friendly, cool-mist humidifier.

Often less expensive than other units, impeller humidifiers operate using high-speed rotating disks. After all, such devices don’t carry burn risks.

However, like evaporators, you can only use them for single rooms. It’s also not a good idea to overuse them because doing so may trigger allergies and asthma in your cat.

Steam Vaporizers

These humidifiers use electricity to operate. They cool hot water before releasing it into the air.

In most cases, they are the most affordable and portable humidifier options, and you can find them in most drugstores.

However, they are warm-mist humidifiers, and it’s a good idea to keep them in an area your kitty cannot reach.

Ultrasonic Humidifiers

As the name suggests, these devices produce a cool mist using ultrasonic vibration. Different ultrasonic humidifier units often vary in price, depending on the size you need.

You can choose between an ultrasonic cool-mist humidifier or a warm-mist one, but the former may be safer for your pet.

Recommended Units

Before checking out humidifiers, keep your cat’s needs in mind. For instance, the former might be a better option when choosing between a cold and a warm-mist humidifier because the latter carries burn risks.

Below are some of the recommended humidifier brands for pets.

AquaOasis Cool Mist Humidifier

AquaOasis Cool Mist Humidifier is an ultra-silent device with a 2L capacity. It can run for hours before requiring a water top-up. Plus, once it dries, the machine automatically shuts down. These features indicate that you can safely leave it home with your pets.

LEVOIT Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier

Many reviews claim the LEVOID Hybrid Ultrasonic Humidifier is the iPhone of humidifiers because of its innovative interface and sleek aesthetics.

It has a remote control and a timer setting, so you don’t have to leave your cat’s side as you nurse your kitty back to health. Additionally, you can switch it back and forth between cool and warm-mist settings.

GENIANI Top-Fill, Cool-Mist Humidifier

If you’re looking for a smart-sensor appliance for your home, the GENIANI Top-Fill, Cool-Mist Humidifier is a good option.

Because of its automatic detection technology, you don’t have to keep turning it on and off to adjust the humidity levels.

Plus, you can choose between low, medium, or high settings to match your specific day-to-day needs.

Elechome Ultrasonic Model Humidifier

The 5.5L capacity of the Elechome Ultrasonic Model Humidifier SH8820 is a dream come true for fur parents! It’s ideal for larger spaces of up to 755 square feet.

Additionally, it boasts a whisper sleep mode that lets you and your cat rest undisturbed.

Geeni Soothe Wi-Fi Humidifier

The list would only be complete with the Geeni Soothe Wi-Fi Humidifier. You can control the device using a mobile app, and it’s compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant.

Plus, you can use an app to set schedules and preferred humidity levels.

Final Thoughts On The Best Humidifiers For Cats

Humidifiers are becoming a more common household appliance as people become more aware of their benefits, especially during winter.

Many people have questions about humidifiers and their effects on cats. We will aim to answer some of those questions as well as the best humidifiers for cats.

There are many different types of humidifiers on the market, but not all are suitable for cats. The best humidifier for a cat is one that is quiet and easy to clean- ultrasonic humidifiers fit both of those criteria.

A cat’s health can benefit from using a humidifier year-round, but it is essential in winter when the air is dry and heated.

Heated air dries out a cat’s skin and respiratory system, which can lead to health problems.

A humidifier helps by adding moisture back into the air, which reduces your cat’s risk of developing these problems.