How PrettyLitter and Adopt a Pet Are Helping Cats Stay Healthy

Cats have this quiet way about them. Everything they do is subtle, soft, and a little bit reserved. Because so much of their behavior is understated, it’s easy to miss when they’re not feeling their best.

When something’s wrong, most cats don’t react in ways that humans can easily decode. However, their litter box sometimes can. Changes in urine are often among the earliest signs of illness, which is why PrettyLitter and Adopt a Pet have teamed up to help shelters and rescues spot potential health issues early.

Four animal welfare organizations — Forsyth Humane Society, Kokomo Humane Society, Stray Cat Alliance, and Cabot Animal Support Services — are testing how PrettyLitter can help cats at shelters and rescues. For three months, each shelter will use PrettyLitter at intake to help identify potential medical issues, such as urinary tract infections or kidney problems, before they become emergencies. Additionally, as part of the partnership, adopters will receive a free bag of PrettyLitter or a coupon, depending on what their shelter offers.

Early detection reduces stress for adopters, shelters and rescues, and cats. It keeps pets healthy. And it saves lives. This stress reduction is crucial, because stressed cats are more likely to develop feline interstitial cystitis (FIC) — the most common diagnosis in cats with lower urinary tract disease. Recognizing the link between stress and serious health issues such as FIC underscores the importance of PrettyLitter’s approach.

Detecting illness and stress in cats isn’t always straightforward. In the wild, showing weakness made an animal a target for predators, so cats evolved to mask discomfort, a survival skill that persists today. As a result, many pet parents notice problems only when a cat acts quietly, isolates themselves, or skips the litter box. By then, an illness may have been developing for some time. With these challenges in mind, PrettyLitter’s color-changing formula helps make invisible clues visible.

How PrettyLitter works

PrettyLitter uses color-changing silica crystals. When a cat uses the box, the crystals react to the urine’s pH and change color to alert you to issues. These may include infections or inflammation. This lets cat parents and foster caregivers spot health problems before a vet visit becomes urgent. This is proactive care built into a routine product.

• Blue or green: Indicates high alkalinity, which may suggest a urinary tract infection. Such infections are more likely in male cats.

• Orange: This can point to acidity, which could signal metabolic acidosis or kidney concerns. Untreated kidney dysfunction can lead to short- or long-term complications for your cat.

• Red: This may indicate blood in their urine, a clear cue to call your vet ASAP.

PrettyLitter turns the litter box into a simple health check. Its lightweight, low-dust, and odor-controlling features have made it popular with busy shelter teams and adopters.

Improving shelter and rescue outcomes

The pilot program evaluates if using PrettyLitter for early health detection at intake can reduce the number of medical returns after cats are adopted. This is science in the service of cats at shelters and rescues and a win for transparency and collaboration.

Cats at shelters and rescues often experience health declines after intake. One study found this is more common than many realize: More than half of the cats admitted to shelters and rescues in the study showed some decline. In fact, 41 percent declined in at least one key health indicator during their stays. Shelter professionals agree that simple, cage-side diagnostics would solve a major care challenge and help keep cats healthy. PrettyLitter meets this need without any specialized training.

A cleaner, kinder future for cats

This partnership shows what’s possible when innovation meets compassion. As PrettyLitter founder Daniel Rotman says, “I wanted to turn something that was considered a nuisance into something that could be a lifesaver.”

If this pilot is successful, it could inspire more collaborations to improve the lives of cats at shelters and rescues and make care easier for those who look after them. Early detection keeps cats healthier, lets shelters and rescues save resources, and helps more pets find — and stay in — loving homes. That’s the result everyone wants.

 References

Amat, Marta, Camps, Tomàs Camps, and Xavier Manteca. “Stress in owned cats: behavioural changes and welfare implications.” Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 15 June 2015; 18(8):577-586. journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1098612X15590867

Banfield Pet Hospital. “Pet Kidney Health 101: Signs of Kidney Dysfunction.” Banfield Pet Hospital, 2 May 2024. www.banfield.com/Bblog/bwell/2024/Pet-kidney-health-101-signs-of-kidney-dysfunction.

“Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.” www.avma.org, American Veterinary Medical Association, www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/feline-lower-urinary-tract-disease.

Vojtkovska, Veroniká, Eva Voslářová, and Vladimir Večerek. “Changes in Health Indicators of Welfare in Group-Housed Shelter Cats.” Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 23 September 2021; Volume 8 – 2021. www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.701346/full

Weir, Malcom, Tammy Hunter, and Cheryl Yuill. “Recognizing the Signs of Illness in Cats.” vcahospitals.com, vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/recognizing-signs-of-illness-in-cats.