There is a great deal of comfort, personality, and at times a rather surprising amount of airborne dust when you live with a cat. While cat hair is easy to see on a sofa, smaller particles like dander can stay suspended in the air long after the sofa has been cleaned. Litter dust, dust picked up from outside and carried in on the cat’s fur, and ordinary household dust all contribute to the problem.
Which is why when you are selecting an air purifier for a home that is suitable for cats you should give it more consideration than just going for the one that looks the largest. One of the most useful figures to know is CADR, or Clean Air Delivery Rate, since it shows how quickly a purifier can deliver filtered air and thus enables you to choose a machine that matches the room in which your cat spends the most time.
What Is CADR?
CADR is a measure of the amount of air that a purifier is able to filter. The ratings are usually expressed in cubic feet per minute (CFM). Generally speaking, the higher the figure the more air the unit can clean within a particular time period.
Certain products give separate CADR figures for smoke, dust, and pollen. Although these figures can be of some help when you are comparing the performance of different machines, they should not be regarded as a direct indication of how well a purifier removes cat dander.
What matters to people who have cats is airflow. A filter may be very efficient, but if only a small amount of air goes through it, the room will take longer to gain the benefits. The CADR value combines filtration and airflow into a figure which is easier to use when comparing different models.
Why Room Size Matters
Picture placing a small air purifier in a big living room where your cat spends a lot of time. Even if the machine has a good filter, it might not move enough air to clean the room effectively.
An air purifier with a higher CADR is usually more appropriate for larger rooms since it is able to deal with a greater volume of air, while a smaller model can still be reasonable for use in a bedroom, a home office, or another type of enclosed area.
CADR and Cat Dander
Cat dander is made up of small flakes of skin which can become airborne. Fur, unlike dander, is often difficult to notice until it has already spread throughout the home.
A purifier which has particle filtration is able to catch airborne particles as the air moves through its filter; CADR is therefore especially useful since the repeated circulation of air gives the purifier more chances of capturing material that is suspended in the air.
Should you need the highest CADR on offer?
It doesn’t have to be. Greater size isn’t always better in terms of usefulness.
In the case of a small room a very powerful air purifier may not be necessary, whereas in a busy living area a unit that is too small will have difficulty keeping up. Another practical factor is noise. An air purifier that is technically powerful but too noisy to be comfortable to operate will end up being switched off a great deal.
You should aim to find a balance regarding CADR, the size of the room, noise level, the availability of filters, energy consumption, and where to place the device; the best air purifier for people to be able to live comfortably alongside it is one that you can run continuously.
What About Cat Hair?
CADR doesn’t measure visible cat hair, which usually settles on floors, furniture, bedding, and clothing. A washable or replaceable pre-filter can catch larger debris, but regular brushing and vacuuming are still essential.
Don’t Forget Odors
Cat litter, food, and other everyday sources can create unwanted odors. While particle filters capture airborne debris, activated carbon helps reduce odors and certain gases.
When choosing a purifier, consider the quality and amount of carbon filtration along with CADR. Use CADR for airflow, particle filtration for dander and dust, and carbon filtration for odors.
Placement Can Change Performance
Even a high-CADR air purifier needs proper placement. Keep the inlet and outlet clear of walls, curtains, and furniture to maintain good airflow.
Place it in an open area near where your cat spends time, while avoiding corners or busy walkways. Room layout, fans, and HVAC airflow can also affect how well airborne particles reach the purifier.
Maintenance Still Matters
Filters won’t last indefinitely since, as they pick up particles, the airflow can become restricted. You should refer to the manufacturer’s replacement timetable and regularly check the pre-filter, particularly during the periods of heavy shedding.
If a purifier is neglected its performance will deteriorate and it will become noisier over time, and it is much easier to carry out maintenance if replacement filters are kept ready when the old filter is about to finish its useful life.
Conclusion
For homes that have cats, CADR offers a good starting point, but it should not be the only factor you take into account. You should select a purifier that suits the particular room, opt for appropriate particle filtration, include activated carbon if there is a problem with odours, and choose a model that is easy to look after.
Most important of all is to decide on a unit that you are going to run; a properly sized air purifier which works regularly is more useful than one that is too large and therefore goes unused.
It is not necessary for a house with cats to be constantly battling dander, dust, and the odors from litter. If you understand the CADR rating and take into account how your cat uses the space, you will be able to make a more informed decision and establish a cleaner, more comfortable indoor environment for all.
