An estimated one out of every 100 people in the United States has celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder characterized by sometimes severe and dangerous reactions to ingesting even a microscopic amount of gluten — an ingredient in wheat and many other products. Those afflicted work assiduously to avoid gluten, which is in everything from bread to soy sauce and beer. It’s also in many brands of cat litter.
That might not seem like a problem, since people don’t ingest litter. But some say it’s prudent to avoid even inhaling the dust of products that contain gluten, something that could happen if you’re pouring litter into or out of the litter box. Also, microscopic gluten particles can get under your nails while you handle litter. People with celiac disease might want to check with the manufacturer of their cat’s litter to see if it’s one of the gluten-containing brands.
Another ingredient in some brands of cat litter that can potentially cause a bad reaction is crushed-up walnut shell. It might be a problem not only for those allergic to walnuts. Because there is a close genetic relationship between the various tree nuts — including not just walnuts but also varieties like almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, pecans, and pistachios — an allergy to one might mean an allergy to others.
