Aside from newborn kittens who haven’t been taught yet, almost all cats use a litter box daily. It’s one of the easy aspects of owning a cat—there’s no need to take them outside or clean up urine or feces messes. That is, as long as your cat uses the litter box as they should.

With so many brands and types available today, the options for kitty litter can seem overwhelming. Should you go for the cheapest option? What does the difference in particle size mean? What scents do cats like best? Your biggest question might be, “Does the type of litter I buy really matter?”

As cat owners, we spend a lot of time cleaning up after our furry friends’ litter box, which gives us the opportunity to detect when something might not be right. Since urinary problems are so uncomfortable for humans, we understand that any sign of urinary issues in cats should be checked out immediately.