Background and Purpose: Bentonite clay-based cat litter has been widely used for domestic purposes since the mid-20th century due to its absorbent properties and ability to control odors. The presence of crystalline silica in bentonite clay cat litter has prompted discussions regarding non-occupational exposure and the potential associated health risks, particularly non-cancer respiratory diseases such as sarcoidosis. While most silica exposure studies have focused on occupational settings, recent case reports have linked non-occupational exposure to crystalline silica with respiratory diseases. For example, documented cases of sarcoidosis and sarcoid-like lung disease in individuals with prolonged exposure to bentonite cat litter have been reported, with symptoms improving after discontinuing its use. This study aims to assess potential airborne silica levels during typical consumer use of bentonite clay cat litter in domestic settings, to compare these levels to ambient background levels, and to evaluate the potential health risks. Methods: A literature search and review were conducted in PubMed to identify relevant studies on crystalline silica exposure from cat litter and potential health effects. The following searches were performed: “litter AND silica,” which yielded 113 results; “cat litter AND silica,” which yielded 9 results; “cat litter AND sarcoid,” which yielded 2 results; “cat litter AND crystalline silica,” which yielded 3 results; and “non-occupational AND crystalline silica” which yielded 7 results. This literature review informed the assumptions used in the exposure assessment and provided context for interpreting silica exposure data. In this exposure assessment, it was assumed that an individual cleans or scoops clumps of litter on a daily basis and completely replaces the litter once per month. Dust exposure data, reported in micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³), was drawn from the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and materials provided to OEHHA by the Sorptive Minerals Institute (SMI). Safety data sheets (SDS) for various brands of bentonite clay cat litter were reviewed to estimate a plausible silica content, which was subsequently used in conjunction with dust exposure data to estimate potential consumer silica exposure. Cumulative exposure estimates consider a 12-year lifespan of a domestic cat. Usage assumptions for the exposure scenarios were drawn from SMI and industry websites. It was assumed that pet ownership and litter use were constant throughout the pet’s lifetime, that dust generated during litter pouring was proportional to the amount of litter used, and that quartz was the only form of crystalline silica present in cat litters. Additionally, all respirable-sized quartz particles, whether isolated or agglomerated with other materials such as clay, were considered relevant to exposure potential. Results: The exposure assessment was conducted using data from SMI, which indicated average consumer use of 176.4 pounds of clumping cat litter per year. SMI measured dust concentrations over a 140-second time-weighted average (TWA), with total dust concentrations ranging from 27.3 to 196 µg/m³ during monthly litter pouring (10 pounds of litter), 62 to 1,313 μg/m³ during weekly litter replenishing (0.5 pounds of litter), and 48 to 519 μg/m³ during daily litter clump scooping. Crystalline silica content in clumping litter, which was found to range from 0.05% to 20% according to available SDSs, was factored into the exposure estimates. The estimated potential airborne silica exposure associated with typical consumer use of bentonite clay cat litter ranged from 0.0021 to 1.06 µg/m³-years. Mean 24-hour average ambient crystalline silica concentrations ross U.S. urban areas have been reported to range from 0.9 to 8.0 μg/m³ for particles greater than 2.5 µm in diameter, and from 0.0 to 1.9 μg/m³ for particles less than 2.5 μm in diameter. The data reported by Davis et al. (1984) indicated that, in metropolitan areas across the U.S., the 24-hour concentrations of ambient crystalline silica particles less than 15 μm in diameter averaged at around 3 μg/m³ and generally did not exceed 8 μg/m³. Over 12 years, average ambient silica exposure for particles less than 15 μm in diameter would be equivalent to 36 μg/m³-years. Thus, the potential silica exposure associated with typical cat litter use over a pet’s lifetime is well below the average ambient levels measured across the U.S. Conclusions: Normal consumer use of bentonite clay cat litter is not expected to pose significant risks for non-cancer respiratory conditions. The estimated potential exposures to airborne crystalline silica during cat litter scooping and replenishing tasks are considerably lower than recorded ambient levels measured across the U.S., which have not been linked to adverse health outcomes. However, this assessment may underestimate exposure in scenarios such as multi-pet households, continuous nearby presence during non-litter activities, recirculation of airborne dust during cleaning, or pets with increased litter use. It may also overestimate exposure potential by assuming all quartz content becomes airborne and that activity time consistently reaches 60 seconds per use. Moreover, cat litter formulations have likely changed since the 1999 OEHHA and SMI exposure study, warranting updated dust measurements associated with cat litter scooping and replenishing activities. Case reports of sarcoidosis and sarcoid-like lung disease linked to prolonged exposure to bentonite cat litters highlight the need for further research into non-occupational silica exposure to better understand potential long-term health impacts and to inform public health recommendations and regulations for non-occupational silica exposure.