ANDRE BEGIN

From the time that Ivy and I adopted each other 10 years ago, I had no problem following the advice of veterinary experts about keeping her litter box as clean as possible. As someone with a fairly sensitive sense of smell, I didn’t want any resulting odors to linger longer than necessary. As a result, scooping daily became part of our routine.

Not only did it keep my nose and my fastidious cat happy, but I soon found out that the litter box contents can offer information about the cat that they can’t tell us themselves.

The first time I became aware of that benefit was shortly after her adoption. While scooping her litter box, I noticed a little worm wriggling around and looking back at me from “the gift” she left behind. Because I was scooping daily, when I was asked by the vet when I first noticed the “stowaway,” I had a pretty accurate response. After a veterinary exam and a prescription for a short round of medication, she was back to normal within a few days.

The second time was shortly after we moved. Ivy’s litter box revealed up to six visits per day to urinate, and each time, producing very small amounts. This was not normal for her. When I contacted our new vet to discuss this situation, she suggested I take her in for an exam and testing. The diagnosis was that her smaller urination pattern could have been in part from the stress of the move. However, when they processed her urine sample, they detected an anomaly that signaled a kidney issue. This led to a change in her diet to get things back on track. Follow-up testing a few months later revealed a full recovery.

The third time happened just recently when I noticed another abnormal urination pattern. Rather than producing one puddle, she left a trail like she was walking while she was doing her business. After a quick visit to the vet for an exam and a urine sample, the diagnosis was that she had a mild urinary tract infection. That being the case, we were able to treat her right away with antibiotics before her condition became more serious.

Given these situations with positive outcomes, it is easy to conclude that when things aren’t normal in the litter box, this can be valuable information. When the cat is not acting like her usual self or off her routine, what’s going on in the litter box can be a clue or a piece of the puzzle to help pinpoint a problem.

A daily glance at the litter box contents helps empower me as a pet parent in being able to pick out what’s normal or what’s different, and in being able to get the expertise needed to help her feel better.

If I scooped her litter box at wider intervals, I don’t know that I would have caught the three situations as early as I did to get her treated as quickly as I did.

And truly, scooping her litter box daily is something that only takes a few minutes out of my day, but that can keep us both on top of any change in her overall health.

Note: The article above is for general information only. Should you have any specific questions or concerns about your cat’s use of the litter box, please consult your veterinarian for professional advice.