Maintaining Optimal Air Quality is Vital for Your Cat’s Health

Maintaining Optimal Air Quality is Vital for Your Cat’s Health

Entities like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) frequently warn us of the danger of poor indoor quality, but did you know that this issue is just as pressing for your cat? A myriad of studies has shown that indoor air pollution can worsen airway diseases in cats. Even short-term exposure to pollutants can produce an inflammatory response, an imbalance of free radicals in the body, and changes to airways in pets. Despite this knowledge, homes often fail to pass indoor air purity tests, with the EPA stating that the levels of indoor air pollutants are often two to five times higher than those found outdoors. What’s more, these levels can exceed 100 times that of outdoor levels of the same pollutants… yet pets spend almost 90 percent of their lifetimes indoors! If improving your indoor air quality is a priority, read on to discover easy strategies that can make a big difference to humans and felines in your home.

What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?

There are numerous culprits that wrest from indoor air quality. These include toxic cleaning products, pressed wood furniture, and soft furnishings containing flame retardants. Mold, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds can also induce issues like allergies, respiratory conditions, cancers, cardiovascular disease, and more. Failing to clean equipment such as HVAC systems can also affect feline and human health. Indeed, one of the most important steps to take to improve air quality at home is to clean cooling units before they smell strange or cease to work efficiently. Issues such as mold and mildew, dirty air filters, and leaks can all result in toxins being circulated within your home. Fuel-burning combustion appliances and tobacco products can contribute to a less-than-stellar air quality grading. To battle toxic emissions, consider using a HEPA air purifier and maintaining your humidity levels at between 30 and 50 percent. Ensure your kitchen and bathrooms are fitted with a powerful exhaust fan, to remove moisture, contaminants, and bad smells.

Supporting Eco-Friendly Companies

In addition to keeping equipment in a clean and well-maintained state, it can help to ventilate homes daily, shun habits such as smoking indoors, and embrace the use of organic materials and flame-retardant-free furniture pieces. Home dwellers should also make the switch to greener means of cleaning. There are a myriad of DIY recipes for everything from surface cleaning to oven grease removal, and they cause a fraction of the cost of many commercial alternatives. Busy homeowners with the budget for it may wish to purchase their cleaning products from companies such as Dr. Bronner’s, Blueland, Groovy Goods, Biokleen, TrueEarth, and Bon Ami. These companies stock everything from eco-friendly mirror sprays to hypoallergenic laundry sheets. 

Embracing Indoor Plants

Biophilic design (which seeks to blur the line between indoor and outdoor living) is all the rage when it comes to interior design. One of the main pillars of this movement is the use of indoor plants to create a living, green indoor space. This design style also embraces the use of natural materials, including solid reclaimed wood rather than pressed wood designs. Plants, placed at various heights in a home, not only look great; they also remove toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, and a host of other toxins that destroy indoor air quality. Just a few of the many plants that grow in abundance indoors include the spider plant, bamboo palm, and Boston fern. Before bringing plants into your home, check out the ASPCA’s list of toxic plants for cats. 

Maintaining Regular Cleaning Practices

The importance of regular cleaning for your cat’s health cannot be stressed enough. Vacuum, sweep, and dust your home several times a week, wash your pet’s bedding regularly, and if possible, avoid having carpets. Pets are in contact with floors and carpets much more so than other parts of your home and dust, mold, and bacteria can easily get in the way of their health. 

Poor indoor air quality can be as detrimental to your cat as it is to you. Make an effort to keep your home clean, ventilate regularly, and use HEPA filters to improve indoor air quality. Consider replacing toxic furniture and cleaning products with eco-friendly ones, and embrace the power and beauty of biophilic design for a healthier and happier home.