There’s a good reason most animals (and people) look at their poop before they cover it up or flush. Our waste can tell us a lot about how we’re doing. And, as cat parents, it’s extra important that we peep at their poop. Because cats are masters at hiding things, what’s going on in that cat litter box might be the only signal you get when something’s wrong. So keep peeping and watch out for these important clues. 

What to look for in their litter box

Most adult cats pee several times a day and poop once, and a healthy cat usually follows a predictable routine. Keep an eye on the frequency, consistency, and appearance of their waste. If you spot any of the following differences, contact your vet.

Pee frequency and volume

• Sudden increases in frequency can signal serious issues like diabetes or kidney disease. 

• Big changes in volume is a common indicator of metabolic problems.

• Reduced or strained peeing could mean a life-threatening urinary blockage. If you see this, get your cat to the vet immediately.

Poop frequency and consistency

• Healthy poop is well-formed, moist, and resembles a small log or cigar shape. 

• Hard, dry, pellet-like poop usually indicates constipation, which can cause serious bowel issues over time. 

• Liquid or soft poop points to diarrhea, which can quickly lead to dangerous dehydration.

Poop color and content

• Dark or black poop can indicate digested blood coming from the upper gastrointestinal tract, often a sign of internal bleeding.

• Red streaks or spots usually mean fresh blood is present, which may signal bleeding in the lower large intestine.

• Pale or yellow poop can point to liver or gallbladder issues, as these organs are key to processing bile.

• Worms mean your cat has an intestinal infection, which are usually easily treatable with the right medication. 

• Mucus could indicate an inflammatory condition like inflammatory bowel disease.

Let Luma doing the looking for you

At Petlibro, it’s our mission to create technology that helps you care for your pets, and understanding their waste better is a critical part of that. That’s why we created the new AI-powered Luma Smart Litter Box. More than an automatic litter box, Luma knows which cat does what and analyzes their pee and poop before it cleans, so you can spot important changes sooner and get them the care they need faster.

• Spot health issues sooner. Luma’s AI records and analyzes their waste before it scoops, and logs what it sees in the app.

• Know whose poop is whose. This self cleaning cat box can recognize up to 10 cats, from any angle, even behind. 

• Get the details without the digging. Each litter box visit is recorded and logged by cat in the app. 

• Love your cat and how your home smells. 24/7 odor control keeps things fresh around Luma, around the clock.

• Your scooping days are over. Luma does the scooping for you automatically and holds up to 7 days of waste. 

• Keep all your cats happy. Roomy design and triple safety checks make Luma a fit for all your cats.*

Your cat relies on you to be their advocate. By paying attention to the signs in their litter box, you can help prevent minor issues from becoming major ones. So take a good look next time you scoop. Or, better yet, let the new Luma Smart Litter Box do the digging for you and unearth even more insights. It’s available now on Petlibro.com or Amazon. 

*For cats under 6 months old, weighing less than 2.2 pounds, or pregnant or nursing, turn off the auto clean function and use Luma’s clean button instead.