If your home is among the 46.5 million homes in the US who keep cats, it’s likely that you have seen advertisements for cat litter with health-monitoring features. The tool helps owners identify early indicators of a health issue by changing color in reaction to certain markers found in a cat’s pee.
Read More: Health Monitoring Cat Litter manufacturer
However, how trustworthy is cat litter for health monitoring? It’s a good idea to be certain before purchasing a product that might not function because owning a pet can be expensive anyhow. While not infallible, health monitoring litter can be effective. As a result, it must never be used as a diagnostic and only as a tool. We’ll examine more closely at this cat litter’s operation and potential advantages down below.
How Does Cat Litter Health Monitoring Operate?
Health-monitoring cat litter is produced by several brands, although many of them function similarly. The general “crystal” appearance of the litter is attributed to its composition of light silica gel. In addition to functioning as a standard cat litter due to its exceptional absorbency, this gel is made to change color in response to a variety of variables, including the pH level of the urine. This is based on the theory that color changes might indicate problems with the urine that warrant a trip to the vet.
Is Cat Litter Used for Health Monitoring Reliable?
If your cat’s pee changes, you may be alerted in real time by using health monitoring cat litter. For example, it can indicate a change in pH levels without providing an explanation. Because they are typically with their dogs when they relieve themselves, dog owners tend to learn more about their pets’ potty routines than cat owners.
In this regard, cats are a little more independent than dogs. It might be a little difficult to respond to the veterinarian when they ask whether you’ve observed any changes in your cat’s litter box habits recently. Color-changing cat litter might make it easier for you to respond to this query. However, these litters may be more beneficial in principle than in practice since cats, unlike dogs, don’t often experience large variations in urine pH due to illnesses, urinary crystals, or stones. It’s crucial to remember that outcomes aren’t always reliable as a result.
Is Cat Litter for Health Monitoring Right for You?
Cat litter health monitoring can be helpful, but it shouldn’t be the only source of information. So, how may color-changing cat litter help you the most? Consult your veterinarian to see whether adding it to your litter arsenal—even if it’s just temporarily—might be useful. The following situations might be appropriate moments to use the litter:
Cats with health issues: It may be helpful to notice blood in the urine before it becomes a major issue if your cat is prone to health issues, such as cystitis or UTIs.
Older cats: UTIs are frequently more common in older female cats.
Diabetes: It is beneficial to look for sugar in the urine of cats that have the disease. There are additional solutions, including urine test sticks from your veterinarian, that could be accessible as not all health monitoring litters screen for sugar or function properly even if they do.
Are There Any Drawbacks to Take into Account?
It might be challenging to choose the ideal cat litter, particularly if your cat is picky. For this reason, you may be reluctant to switch if your cat like their existing cat litter. It’s possible that you have no influence over the alteration since silica gel irritates certain cats’ paws.
Additionally, keep in mind that not all local stores carry all health-monitoring cat litter, so depending on where you live, you might need to order it online in some situations. The cost must also be taken into account, as health-monitoring litter is more expensive than regular litter. Additionally, there are several additions that are exclusive to your veterinarian.
Your veterinarian can provide guidance depending on your cat’s medical needs if you’re not sure if this cat litter is right for you.
Complete Thoughts
When findings are interpreted cautiously, health-monitoring cat litter can be useful in some circumstances. You shouldn’t count on this cat litter to take the place of your veterinarian’s advice. It could be a possibility if you want to utilize the litter to help you and your veterinarian address a specific health issue, but be aware that there might be drawbacks as well.