Unscented litter for scent-sensitive cats

A vet flagging scented litter as a stress trigger is actually really useful information — it narrows things down considerably. LaPerm cats can be quite sensitive, and the artificial fragrances in most mainstream litters are genuinely off-putting to a lot of cats even when they don't show obvious reactions. Your vet is right to steer you toward unscented. Litter choice matters more than most people realise — cats are far more likely to use the box consistently when the texture and scent match their instincts, and most cats actively prefer unscented, fine-grained clumping litter over anything perfumed, regardless of what the packaging claims. Is it just the one LaPerm, and are they currently avoiding the box entirely or just showing general anxiety around it? Also worth knowing — are you looking for something dust-free, low-tracking, or both?

That hesitation and quick exit pattern is a classic sign of scent aversion — she's uncomfortable enough that using the box feels like an unpleasant experience, even if she hasn't fully stopped going in. The over-grooming alongside it does suggest a stressed cat rather than a purely physical issue, so switching litter is a sensible first step. The sneezing confirms dust is also a real concern here. What have you been using up to now, scented clumping or something else? And is she currently using a covered or open tray?

You're absolutely right about the covered tray — it concentrates scent inside, so whatever fragrance is in the litter gets amplified every time she steps in. That's a really common setup that works against sensitive cats without owners realising it. Switching to an open tray alongside an unscented litter will likely make a noticeable difference on its own. For the litter itself, I'd recommend Breeder Celect Unscented — it's a recycled paper pellet litter, completely fragrance-free, very low dust, and it controls odour through absorption rather than masking it with perfume. It's a bit different in texture to clumping clay, but most cats accept it well, particularly those who are scent-sensitive. It's widely available on Amazon UK. Give her two to three weeks to adjust — the change alone often reduces the hesitation behaviour fairly quickly once the chemical irritant is removed.

Given that she's already averse to the current litter, a full switch is actually fine here — you don't need to blend them. With scent-sensitive cats, mixing the old scented litter into the new unscented one can undermine the whole point of the change. Set up a clean open tray with the Breeder Celect, put it in the same spot, and remove the covered tray. She may sniff cautiously for a day or two but most cats settle in quickly. If you want to keep the covered tray as a backup option initially, that's fine — just don't put scented litter in it.

Good plan. The combination of open tray and unscented litter removes the two most likely stressors at once, which gives you a clearer picture of whether the litter was the main issue. Keep an eye on the over-grooming over the next few weeks — if it starts settling down alongside the box behaviour improving, that's a strong confirmation. If the over-grooming continues after a few weeks despite the litter change, it's worth going back to your vet as there may be other factors involved. Hope she settles in quickly.