Straining in the litter tray is one of those things owners notice immediately but often hesitate to act on the same day, partly because it's hard to tell from the outside whether it's a passing thing or the start of something that needs a vet.

This is the softening counterpart to Johnson's stool firmer: rather than firming up loose stools, it's aimed at the opposite problem, helping to soften solid stools, help a cat pass them normally, and lubricate the gut. It contains essential vitamins and minerals, and comes as two 10g sachets, for cats over 12 weeks of age.

• 2 x 10g sachets
• Contains essential vitamins and minerals
• Helps soften solid stools
• Helps lubricate the gut
• For cats over 12 weeks of age

On telling this apart from constipation that needs a vet. A cat that's straining repeatedly, producing nothing, vocalising in the tray, or off its food alongside it needs a same-day vet visit — this sachet is for an occasional, otherwise well cat having a harder-than-usual stool, rather than for a blocked or seriously constipated one.

Who it's for: owners of an otherwise well cat over 12 weeks old having the occasional harder stool, wanting a mild vitamin and mineral aid rather than nothing at all.