This Litter Tells You What You Need to Know About Your Cat’s Health (2024)

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 have determined that, in fact, they really do.

On Trial: Pretty Litter, a crystal-based cat litter that claims to monitor your kitty's health while producing less waste.

The Tester: Jennifer Hussein, an editor who’s too obsessed with her cat

Anyone who knows me also knows that my 10-year-old cat, Carmen (aka “Chunks,” or simply “Kitty”) is basically my best friend. I spoil my cat on a daily basis with organic pet treats, special prescription diet food, more toys than she could ever care to play with, and even a pet stroller to take her outside. Clearly, my cat is used to having the best of the best, but one issue that she and I have always had is with her litter.

Somehow, my cat trails litter everywhere. I know it's not her fault that litter gets trapped between her dainty little toes (or as I like to call them, her beans), but I just can't live with little bits of used litter getting trailed around my house. I've tried out dozen of cat litter brands to solve this problem, and I've found that Pretty Litter is by far the best in terms of quality and convenience.

Pretty Litter stands out from other kitty litter brands for two reasons: It's made up of tiny crystal granules that are less likely to get stuck to your kitty's feet (and in your poop scooper), and these granules also change color after use. It's no wonder that this unique pet product got the stamp of approval from the queen of home goods (and my heart), Martha Stewart.

But why the color-changing feature? Because cats are notorious for hiding symptoms of illnesses, and oftentimes, they won't show signs of sickness until it's too late. This can lead to expensive vet bills and more health issues down the line — which is why it's so important to take your cat to the vet annually, at the very least.

Here’s how it works: When your cat uses its litter box, Pretty Litter’s silica gel-based crystals will change color, telling you if your cat’s pee is too alkaline, too acidic, or even has traces of blood. And if it turns dark yellow or olive green, this simply means your cat’s urine is overall normal. Although the kitty litter's color doesn't change back to its original beige hue after the urine dries, it's still safe to use. But if you'd rather not stare at a pile of half-used colored litter, you can change it out more frequently.

But, please, don’t base your cat’s health solely on the color of your Pretty Litter: If your cat is experiencing any unusual symptoms or behavior, you should always take them to the vet sooner rather than later to make sure everything’s OK.

Another reason why I love using Pretty Litter is that it’s so easy to clean. It minimizes odor much better than other brands that I’ve used, and it’s less dusty, so I'm not greeted by a cloud of litter dust when I pour the bag. When my kitty’s litter box is looking pretty full, scooping is a total breeze. There are no giant blocks of grossness — this litter is clump-free, which means less waste and more use out of each bag (one month's use, to be exact). All you do is scoop out the poo while Pretty Litter takes care of the urine: It absorbs urine and evaporates moisture. Plus, it doesn’t stick to my cat’s paws or her fur, so there’s no trail of used litter around my apartment anymore.

The only thing I would note about this litter is that while it does control odor from spreading, you do get hit in the face with a pungent smell when you're cleaning up the litter box. But I don't necessarily mind it, especially since that happens with just about every litter — I am scooping up poop and pee after all, and nothing's going to make that smell like roses.

Closing Argument: While it’s slightly more expensive than other cat litters on the market, Pretty Litter is worth every single penny. Both Carmen and I are very happy with this color-changing, clump-free litter, and I don’t see myself switching to another brand any time soon. Plus, if it’s good enough for Martha Stewart’s cats, it’ll definitely be good enough for yours.