The Rise of the Pet Diaper

In time, all things age. Pets, too, grow old, and, as they do, we cherish them as we did from the moment of their birth. But, despite this love, age takes its toll on many pets, often leading to a situation both embarrassing and inconvenient. An incontinent pet, whether it is too old to know better or too young to have been trained otherwise, is often seen as one of the worst situations one can encounter – the initial panic, the frenzy of cleaning and sanitizing, a huge waste of time repairing a disaster that is likely to be repeated. But how many of us know that such a disaster is no longer necessary?

With the advent of the pet diaper , such accidents can indeed be put behind us. This remarkable innovation absorbs urine and allows even old or untrained pets to roam free of care, granting a reprieve both to them and their owners. Though they are intended primarily for dogs and cats, the large variety of sizes enables them to fit almost any animal with four legs. For bird owners, too, a bird diaper has been developed, one that is equally effective at containing a potential ‘accident’ without harm, and that uses a similar design.

Pet diapers come in two basic types, just as baby diapers do: disposable and reusable. The disposables are designed to stay on and absorb urine for a single use (again, similar to baby disposable diapers), whereas the reusables hold a garment pad that absorbs the urine, allowing the diaper itself to be cleaned and used again. Both of these diapers share several commonalities: they are designed to close tightly, preventing leakage, and their adjustable straps prevent chafing or pinching.

Although is it not uncommon to put a baby’s disposable diaper on a pet, it is advantageous to but a per diaper especially designed for a dog or cat. With these, the hole for the tail is pre-cut and sealed around the edges. This avoids the ‘stuffing’ that leaks out of a tail-hole cut in the back of a “pampers” or other disposable diaper. Also, pet diapers are typically shaped different to accommodate a dog or cat.

In addition to the basic pet diaper, several other devices have been created to meet pets’ bathroom needs. These include suspenders, to keep a diaper from falling off of an especially energetic animal, and a belly band for male pets to absorb unsightly urine stains that would otherwise end up on furniture, carpets, and other household objects. Together with the basic innovation of the pet diaper itself, these developments are enough to alleviate the cares of incontinent pets, allowing them – and their owners – to rest easy.

Charlie Johnson is an avid pet lover with several dogs and cats. He is a freelance writer on assignment for PetDiapers.com