Roughly 46.5 million households in america personal a cat,1 and if you happen to’re a part of this statistic, likelihood is you’ve stumbled throughout an advert for health-monitoring cat litter. The product modifications coloration in response to the presence of particular markers in a cat’s urine that can assist house owners spot early indicators of a well being downside.
However how dependable is well being monitoring cat litter? Proudly owning a pet may be dear anyway, so it’s a good suggestion to make sure earlier than shopping for a product that may not work. This litter can work, however it isn’t foolproof. Thus, it ought to solely be used as a instrument and by no means as a prognosis. Beneath, we’ll take a more in-depth take a look at how this cat litter works and how one can profit from it.
How Does Well being Monitoring Cat Litter Work?
A couple of model produces health-monitoring cat litter, however many work equally. The litter is made up of sunshine, silica gel that offers it an total “crystal” look. This gel is extremely absorbent, so it’s useful as a fundamental cat litter, however it’s additionally designed to alter coloration primarily based on varied components, such because the urine’s pH degree. The considering behind that is that the colour modifications may warn you to points with the urine worthy of searching for veterinary assist.
Is Well being Monitoring Cat Litter Dependable?
Well being monitoring cat litter will let you realize in real-time that your cat’s urine has modified. For example, it could present that pH ranges have modified, even when it doesn’t let you know why. Canine house owners are inclined to be taught extra about the bathroom habits of their pets than cat house owners as a result of the previous are often with their canine once they relieve themselves.
Cats are slightly extra self-sufficient on this space. This typically makes the veterinarian’s query about whether or not you’ve observed something totally different about your cat’s litter field habits currently slightly trickier to reply. Cat litter that modifications coloration might assist you to reply this query higher. Nonetheless, cats, in contrast to canine, don’t are inclined to have many modifications of their urine pH with infections or urinary crystals or stones, so these litters could be extra useful in idea than actually. Subsequently, it’s essential to notice that outcomes aren’t all the time correct.
Is Well being Monitoring Cat Litter for You?
Whereas well being monitoring cat litter shouldn’t be relied on for solutions, it could actually actually be a helpful support. So, how may you profit probably the most from color-changing cat litter? Converse along with your veterinarian to find out if it could be a worthwhile addition, even briefly, to your litter arsenal.
The next situations could be value contemplating utilizing the litter:
Cats with well being issues: In case your cat is susceptible to well being issues, such as UTIs or cystitis, being conscious there’s blood within the urine earlier than it turns into an enormous downside might be helpful.
Older cats: Older feminine cats are sometimes extra prone to develop UTIs.
Diabetes: Cats with diabetes can profit from checking for sugar within the urine. Not all well being monitoring litters verify for sugar or work effectively even when they do, so different choices could also be obtainable equivalent to urine take a look at sticks out of your vet.
Are There Any Downsides to Contemplate?
Discovering the perfect cat litter may be tough, particularly if in case you have a fussy kitty. So, in case your cat likes their present cat litter, you could be unwilling to alter. Silica gel also can irritate some cat’s paws, so the change may not even be inside your management.
You must also do not forget that some health-monitoring cat litter isn’t obtainable in all native shops but, so you’ll have to get it on-line in some circumstances, relying on the place you reside. There may be additionally the price to contemplate since health-monitoring litter carries a heftier price ticket than conventional litter. Some are components which can be solely obtainable via your veterinarian, as effectively.
In case you are uncertain if this cat litter is for you, your vet can supply recommendation primarily based in your cat’s well being care wants.
Ultimate Ideas
Well being-monitoring cat litter can serve a function in some conditions, so long as the outcomes are taken with a grain of salt. Don’t anticipate this cat litter to interchange solutions you’re going to get out of your veterinarian. If you wish to use the litter to help you and your vet in tackling a specific well being downside, it could be an choice, however beware that it could actually have pitfalls, as effectively. In the end, your vet is the perfect useful resource for protecting your cat wholesome.
Featured Picture Credit score: Lightspruch, Shutterstock
