A veterinarian has issued a warning to pet owners, emphasizing an often-overlooked check that could reveal life-threatening symptoms. Dr Alex Crow, a veterinary surgeon and chief veterinary officer at The Net Vet, shared his advice on TikTok, where he is known as @Alex_thevet. He urged cat owners to pay closer attention to their pet's litter tray.
The Litter Tray Audit
Dr Crow explained: "If I had to pick the single most important check most cat owners overlook, it would be this. As a vet, it's one of the first things I ask every owner in clinic. I call this the litter tray audit." He noted that cats hide illness better than most animals, but their litter tray can reveal crucial information.
Four Key Signs to Watch For
Dr Crow listed four things to audit every time you scoop:
- Amount of urine: A sudden increase may indicate chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism. A decrease could signal dehydration or, in male cats, a life-threatening obstruction.
- Frequency: Visiting the tray more often with little output may indicate bladder stones, inflammation, or a urinary tract infection (UTI), all of which are painful.
- Straining or blood: Straining, crouching for long periods, or blood-tinged urine signals serious distress. In male cats, inability to pass urine is a medical emergency; without treatment, death can occur within 24 to 48 hours.
- Position: Unusual posture or eliminating outside the tray often indicates pain, urinary disease, or arthritis, not misbehavior.
Dr Crow urged pet owners to see a vet immediately if these symptoms appear. "Cat urinary disease can go from mild to critical in just hours. Volume, frequency, straining, and position—the litter tray audit. Two minutes a week that could save your cat's life."
In his video caption, he reiterated: "If your cat is straining to wee, going in and out of the tray with nothing coming out, weeing outside the tray, or producing blood-tinged urine, please don't wait until tomorrow. Especially if they're a boy. That window is really small."
