Photo credit: Pretty litter; Jennifer Hussein
From the best products
There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder – do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and found that it actually does.
In court: Pretty Litter, a crystal-based cat litter that claims to monitor your kitten’s health while producing less waste.
The tester: Jennifer Hussein, an editor who’s too obsessed with her cat
Everyone who knows me also knows that my 10 year old cat Carmen (aka “Chunks” or simply “Kitty”) is basically my best friend. I pamper my cat daily with organic pet treats, special prescription diet foods, more toys than she could ever play, and even a stroller to take her outside. Of course, my cat is used to having the best of the best, but one problem she and I have always had is her litter.
Somehow my cat is chasing trash everywhere. I know it’s not her fault that trash gets wedged between her petite little toes (or as I like to call them, her beans), but I just can’t live with small pieces of used trash running around my house. I’ve tried dozens of brands of cat litter to solve this problem and I’ve found that Pretty Litter is by far the best in terms of quality and comfort.
Pretty Litter stands out from other brands of cat litter for two reasons: it’s made up of tiny crystal granules that are less likely to get stuck on your kitten’s feet (and in your Poop Scooper), and these granules also change color after use. It’s no wonder this one-of-a-kind pet product has received the seal of approval from the queen of housewares (and my heart) Martha Stewart.
But why the color change function? Since cats are notorious for hiding symptoms of illness, they often don’t show signs of illness until it’s too late. This can lead to expensive vet bills and other health problems. This is why it is so important that your cat is taken to the vet at least once a year.
The story goes on
Photo credit: Pretty litter
Here’s how it works: When your cat uses their litter box, Pretty Litter’s silica gel-based crystals change color, indicating whether your cat’s pee is too alkaline, too acidic, or even bloody. And if it turns dark yellow or olive green, it simply means that your cat’s urine is overall normal. Although the color of the cat litter does not return to its original beige shade once the urine has dried, it is still safe to use. However, if you’d rather not stare at a pile of half-used colored waste, you can swap it out more often.
But please don’t base your cat’s health solely on the color of your pretty litter: if your cat experiences any unusual symptoms or behaviors, you should always take them to the vet sooner rather than later to make sure everything is okay.
Another reason I love Pretty Litter is because it’s so easy to clean. It minimizes odor much better than other brands I’ve used, and it’s less dusty so I don’t get greeted by a cloud of dust when I pour the bag. If my cat’s litter box looks pretty full, scooping it up is a breeze. There are no huge blocks of rudeness – this waste is lump-free, which means less waste and more consumption from each bag (a month to be precise). All you do is scoop the feces out while Pretty Litter takes care of the urine: it picks up urine and evaporates moisture. In addition, it no longer sticks to my cat’s paws or fur, so there are no traces of used rubbish in my apartment.
The only thing I want to notice about this litter is that while it does control the spread of the odor, you will be hit in the face with a pungent odor when you clear the litter box. But I don’t necessarily mind, especially since it happens with almost every litter – I shovel poop and piss and nothing will evoke that rose smell.
Final argument: Pretty Litter may be a little more expensive than other cat litter on the market, but it’s worth every penny. Both Carmen and I are very happy with this color changing, lump free waste and I see myself in no position to switch to another brand anytime soon. And if it’s good enough for Martha Stewart’s cats, it’s definitely good enough for yours.
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