Roughly 46.5 million households in the US personal a cat,1 and if you happen to’re a part of this statistic, chances are high you’ve stumbled throughout an advert for health-monitoring cat litter. The product modifications colour in response to the presence of particular markers in a cat’s urine that may assist homeowners 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, but it surely isn’t foolproof. Thus, it ought to solely be used as a software and by no means as a analysis. Under, we’ll take a better take a look at how this cat litter works and how one can profit from it.
How Does Well being Monitoring Cat Litter Work?
Multiple model produces health-monitoring cat litter, however many work equally. The litter is made up of sunshine, silica gel that provides it an total “crystal” look. This gel is extremely absorbent, so it’s useful as a fundamental cat litter, but it surely’s additionally designed to vary colour based mostly on numerous components, such because the urine’s pH stage. The pondering behind that is that the colour modifications may warn you to points with the urine worthy of looking 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 might present that pH ranges have modified, even when it doesn’t inform you why. Canine homeowners are inclined to be taught extra about the bathroom habits of their pets than cat homeowners as a result of the previous are often with their canine after they relieve themselves.
Cats are a bit extra self-sufficient on this space. This generally makes the veterinarian’s query about whether or not you’ve seen something totally different about your cat’s litter field habits recently a bit trickier to reply. Cat litter that modifications colour could show you how 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 may be extra useful in principle than really. 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 will possibly actually be a helpful help. So, how might you profit essentially the most from color-changing cat litter? Converse together with your veterinarian to find out if it may be a worthwhile addition, even quickly, to your litter arsenal.
The next situations may be price contemplating utilizing the litter:
Cats with well being issues: In case your cat is susceptible to well being issues, resembling UTIs or cystitis, being conscious there may be blood within the urine earlier than it turns into a giant downside may very well be helpful.
Older cats: Older feminine cats are sometimes 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 nicely even when they do, so different choices could also be out there resembling urine take a look at sticks out of your vet.
Are There Any Downsides to Contemplate?
Discovering the excellent cat litter may be tough, particularly when you have a fussy kitty. So, in case your cat likes their present cat litter, you may be unwilling to vary. Silica gel can even irritate some cat’s paws, so the change may not even be inside your management.
You also needs to do not forget that some health-monitoring cat litter isn’t out there 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 associated fee to think about since health-monitoring litter carries a heftier price ticket than conventional litter. Some are components which can be solely out there by means of your veterinarian, as nicely.
In case you are not sure if this cat litter is for you, your vet can supply recommendation based mostly in your cat’s well being care wants.
Remaining 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 exchange solutions you’ll 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 might be an choice, however beware that it will possibly have pitfalls, as nicely. In the end, your vet is the very best useful resource for holding your cat wholesome.
Featured Picture Credit score: Lightspruch, Shutterstock
