A veterinarian has issued a critical warning to cat owners about a condition that can prove fatal within 48 hours if left untreated. Dr Alex Crow, a veterinary surgeon and chief veterinary officer at The Net Vet, emphasized the importance of a simple check that many pet owners overlook.
The Litter Tray Audit
Dr Crow, who shares pet care advice on TikTok as @Alex_thevet, urged cat owners to regularly inspect their pet's litter tray. In a recent post, he explained, “If I had to pick the single most important check most cat owners overlook, it would be this. I call this the litter tray audit.”
He highlighted that cats are masters at hiding illness, making early detection challenging. “Cats hide illness better than almost any other animal we treat. They don't show pain, and they don't tend to complain. But their litter tray can tell you a lot if you know what you're looking for,” he said.
Four Key Checks
Dr Crow outlined four essential things to audit every time you scoop the litter tray:
- Amount of urine: A sudden increase may indicate chronic kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism. A decrease could signal dehydration or a life-threatening obstruction in male cats.
- Frequency: Visiting the tray more often with little output could be an early sign of bladder stones, inflammation, or a urinary tract infection.
- Straining or blood: Straining, crouching for long periods, or blood-tinged urine indicates serious distress. In male cats, inability to pass urine is a medical emergency that can lead to death within 24 to 48 hours.
- Position: Unusual posture or urinating outside the tray is often a sign of pain, urinary disease, or arthritis.
Don't Wait
Dr Crow advised pet owners to contact a vet immediately if they notice any of these signs. “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,” he stressed.
His TikTok caption reinforced the message: “Two minutes a week and you’ll catch most early kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, lower urinary tract disease, and the kind of male-cat blockages that can kill them in under 48 hours.”
