By the time Carly Martinetti realized her cat, Nico, was sick, her feline friend’s bladder infection had reached an advanced – and costly – stage.

Nico survived, but Martinetti’s veterinarian and medical bills hit $1,000. It would have been far less expensive, the vet told her, had she noticed the symptoms sooner.

So in April, Martinetti decided to stop doing freelance public relations work and launch Pretty Litter, a Santa Monica company intended to help others quickly detect when their cats become sick.

“I’ve always had this idea for a colorful cat litter that’s just aesthetically pleasing,” she said. “It used to be this dreadful time whenever I had to clean the litterbox. So I thought it would be cool if the litter was at least colored so I could enjoy my time.”

Working with a chemist, Martinetti learned she could make a litter that changes colors based on a cat’s health. Pretty Litter’s sparkling white sand will turn blue, red, orange or yellow – each color representing a different symptom – if a cat is ill.

The company needs at least $100,000 to conduct more research, which Martinetti said she hopes to raise through a Kickstarter fundraising campaign that will launch this month.

The business has received a boost from her selection to take part in “Startup U,” a reality TV show on ABC Family that follows entrepreneurs on their quests to garner financial support from venture capitalists. Filming lasted seven weeks, she said, and the show is now airing Tuesdays.

– Cale Ottens