Roughly 46.5 million households in the US personal a cat, and for those who’re a part of this statistic, likelihood is you’ve stumbled throughout an advert for health-monitoring cat litter. The product modifications shade 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 drawback.
However how dependable is well being monitoring cat litter? Proudly owning a pet will be dear anyway, so it’s a good suggestion to make certain earlier than shopping for a product which may not work. Well being monitoring litter can work, however it isn’t foolproof. Thus, it ought to solely be used as a software and by no means as a prognosis. Under, 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 general “crystal” look. This gel is extremely absorbent, so it’s useful as a fundamental cat litter, however it’s additionally designed to vary shade primarily based on varied elements, such because the urine’s pH stage. The considering behind that is that the colour modifications may warn you to points with the urine worthy of in search of veterinary assist.
Is Well being Monitoring Cat Litter Dependable?
Well being monitoring cat litter will let you already know 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 inform you why. Canine house owners are inclined to study 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 somewhat extra self-sufficient on this space. This generally makes the veterinarian’s query about whether or not you’ve seen something completely different about your cat’s litter field habits currently somewhat trickier to reply. Cat litter that modifications shade could provide help to to reply this query higher. Nevertheless, 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 if truth be told. Due to this fact, it’s necessary 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 will probably definitely be a helpful assist. So, how might you profit essentially the most from color-changing cat litter? Converse together with your veterinarian to find out if it could be a worthwhile addition, even quickly, to your litter arsenal. The next situations could be some instances to think about using the litter:
- Cats with well being issues: In case your cat is vulnerable to well being issues, comparable to UTIs or cystitis, being conscious there may be blood within the urine earlier than it turns into a giant drawback, could possibly be helpful.
- Older cats: Older feminine cats are typically extra more likely to develop UTIs.
- Diabetes: Cats with diabetes can profit from checking for sugar within the urine. Not all well being monitoring litters examine for sugar or work effectively even when they do, so different choices could also be obtainable comparable to urine check sticks out of your vet.
Are There Any Downsides to Think about?
Discovering the right cat litter will be tough, particularly in case you have a fussy kitty. So, in case your cat likes their present cat litter, you could be unwilling to vary. Silica gel can even irritate some cat’s paws, so the change won’t 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 instances, relying on the place you reside. There may be additionally the fee to think about since health-monitoring litter carries a heftier price ticket than conventional litter. Some are components which can be solely obtainable by means of your veterinarian, as effectively.
If you’re not sure if this cat litter is for you, your vet can provide recommendation primarily based in your cat’s well being care wants.
Closing Ideas
Well being-monitoring cat litter can serve a goal in some conditions, so long as the outcomes are taken with a grain of salt. Don’t count on 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 selected well being drawback, it could be an possibility, however beware that it will probably have pitfalls, as effectively. In the end, your vet is the perfect useful resource for conserving your cat wholesome.
Featured Picture Credit score: Duet PandG, Shutterstock
