Things to Watch Out For in the Litter Tray

Dr Kate Mornement - Pet Behaviourist profile picture

Dr Kate Mornement - Pet Behaviourist

PhD in Companion Animal Behaviour, BSc(Hons) in Zoology

Dr Kate Mornement is an Applied Animal Behaviourist, Consultant and Educator to pet parents, industry, government and media. She has a PhD which focused on companion animal behaviour from Monash University and a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Zoology (Animal Behaviour) from Latrobe university.

Things to Watch Out For in the Litter Tray

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell if your cat is unwell and it’s quite common for animals to mask signs of illness. If your cat uses a litter tray, it’s important to keep an eye on their toileting habits and their urine and faeces as these can provide clues whether your cat is healthy, feeling unwell or suffering from a serious illness.

Changes in Urine

Changes in appearance or frequency of your cat’s urine could indicate a number of health issues. Common changes to urine that you might notice include:

1. Blood in the urine or on the litter

This could be due to a urinary tract infection (UTI), a bladder infection or other problem.

2. Change in Colour

Cat urine is typically light yellow and clear in colour. If you notice your cat’s urine is dark yellow, cloudy or pink, seek medical attention.

3. Stronger Smell

If you notice your cat’s urine smells stronger than usual it could indicate dehydration, kidney issues or a UTI.

4. Change in frequency

If your cat is visiting the litter tray more or less frequently to pee, they could have a UTI or be dehydrated.

Changes in Faeces

Most cats poo once each day, however this can vary depending on the individual cat. For example, kittens tend to poo more often than adult cats and old cats tend to poo less frequently. A change in the frequency, appearance or consistency of your cat’s poo can also indicate an underlying health issue.

Some common changes to look out for include:

1. Change in Colour

The usual colour for cat poo is medium to dark brown. Light brown or tan could indicate problems with the liver or pancreas. Whereas black poo could be a sign of internal bleeding.

2. Presence of Blood or Mucous

Red blood or mucous on your cat’s poo could indicate a digestive issue such as colitis and should be investigated by a vet.

3. Change in Consistency

Very soft stools or diarrhea can be caused by a change in diet, parasites, gastrointestinal disease, pancreatic disease and even cancer. Very hard poo can lead to constipation. This can be caused by a number of issues including dehydration, a change in diet, bowel obstruction or gastrointestinal disease.

4. Presence of non-food Items

If you notice pieces of string or fabric or other items in your cat’s poo your cat may have pica (the tendency to inject non-food items). Seeing excessive hair on your cat’s poo could indicate your cat is over-grooming.

5. Presence of Parasites

If you notice worms in your cat’s faeces, it may be due to recent worm treatment, if not, it’s time to worm your cat!

Behaviour changes when using the Litter Tray

If you notice your cat is straining when going to the toilet or that their behaviour has changed it could indicate they’re in pain or discomfort. Cats typically pee, on average, twice a day. Changes in their toileting frequency can also indicate a health issue.

If you notice any of the signs discussed here, the best course of action is to speak with your vet or make an appointment to see them. Although some small changes to toileting habits don’t necessarily mean there’s something wrong with your cat, it’s better to err on the side of caution and catch any potential health issues as early as possible.

Related Articles

Natural Cat Litter - Gentle on the Environment

Made from plant-based environmentally-friendly natural ingredients, are completely biodegradable.

Bringing Home a New Kitten

Some tips for bringing home your new kitten.

A Very Feline Christmas

Cat Christmas presents can also be challenging given feline fussiness, plus what do you do about the influx of guests to your home?

How can we help?

I own a
and would like
help with