Best Food For Cats With Urinary Tract Issues

Wysong Uretic Feline Diet Dry Cat Food

Don’t Feed ‘Veterinary Diet’ for Urinary Disease in Cats?

This dry diet contains: chicken, fish and turkey, in that order. Wysong was created by a veterinarian and grew in popularity by word of mouth and through the veterinary community. Their new formulation contains: higher levels of fresh/frozen and dried meats and organs, protein, and fat, and a comprehensive spectrum and higher levels of micronutrients/nutraceuticals including prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, omega-3s, antioxidants and more. Additionally, excess minerals have been eliminated and natural sourced, urinary-important amino acids added.

Lack Of Water And Dehydration

Some cats, like humans, dont drink enough water, which leads to dehydration. As a result, it can improve the chances of a urinary tract problem developing.

Sufficient water is necessary to keep minerals flowing out to prevent them from building up and forming urinary crystals. Felines that drink enough will have less concentrated urine output and probably urinate more often, flushing out minerals.

Wet cat food can help with this as it contains a good amount of moisture and can help with keeping your cat hydrated. Due to this, many vets feel that the best cat food is wet food and may recommend feeding only wet urinary tract cat food to a cat with urinary tract disease or to those at risk for crystal formation.

Regardless of the chosen diet, access to water 24/7 is crucial.

Can Dry Foods Promote Urinary Health

Well, yes and no. Dry foods cant provide everything thats needed, at least not on their own. There are without a doubt certain premium dry cat foods that specialize in providing the nutrients and minerals that are commonly used to combat infections and diseases, but by nature they lack a crucial ingredient. Moisture.

Moisture is incredibly important in promoting good urinary tract health in felines. For this reason, you cant promote it using just dry cat food, you need make sure they are also consuming enough water.

If adequate water is provided and consumed, then theres no reason why a dry cat food designed for urinary health would be less effective than a wet food for urinary tract health.

Most owners have concerns that their cats dont consume enough water, and its certainly true that cats dont have much of a natural drive to drink water. If you want to feed a dry food, you should consider making use of a small cheap fountain to entice cats into keeping themselves hydrated around the clock, and make sure there are water bowls in every room. You can also soak their biscuits in water to force them to take in more moisture, but many cats will get fussy about this and refuse the food.

Also Check: Topical Estrogen For Urinary Incontinence

Cat Foods For Urinary Health

The urinary health of your cat is incredibly important. If your cat begins displaying symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease such as straining in the cat litter box, having increased urination, showing blood in the urine, urinating in an unusual spot or excessively licking the genitalsyour cat should see a vet right away. The syndrome can have many causes, some serious. Get facts on urinary tract disease in cats. Many foods, both prescription cat food and over-the-counter cat food, can help prevent and heal lower urinary tract disease. Here are five:

Dont Miss: Getting Cat Pee Out Of Hardwood Floors

A Convenient Litter Box Position

BEST PET SUPPLIES LLC Urinary Support for Cats â Cats Total Health ...

Place the litter box of your cat at a quiet and convenient place. Your cat should feel comfortable when relieving itself. So, if you have a high traffic of people and pets in your house, provide a safe refuge for your cat to enjoy its private time.

You should never change the brand of the litter box. Cats are sometimes picky on litter boxes. So, any change of brand of a litter box can make your cat relieve itself on the floor.

Don’t Miss: Coconut Oil For Urinary Tract Infection

Best Treats: Get Naked Urinary Health Crunchy Treats For Cats

All cats love treats- just because your pet has troubles with their urinary health doesnt mean that they dont get to indulge from time to time! However, you shouldnt go overboard, especially with treats that are not formulated to meet the needs of cats with urinary problems. Get Naked Urinary Health Crunchy Treats For Cats is a healthier alternative to the feline version of junk food and, to boot, it is designed to help with urinary issues rather than exacerbate them. These functional treats are made with real chicken cranberry juice, which is thought to help cleanse the urinary tract and acidify the urine, and are grain-free, so no wheat, corn, or soy in sight. The best part is that each treat is under 2 kcal, so you dont have to worry about occasional treats ruining your pets figure.

Best Food To Feed Cats With Urinary Tract Problems

This post may contain affiliate links. We are compensated for referring customers to our affiliate partners.

Cats are very susceptible to urinary tract problems. Feline lower urinary tract disease is one of the most common illnesses among cats and most cats will have urinary tract health issues at some point in their lives. FLUTD caused by a range of factors and affects both female and male cats. Luckily FLUTD is relatively preventable with a stress-free environment and a good diet.

Bladder Health For Dogs And Cats

Also Check: Can Urinary Tract Infection Cause Erectile Dysfunction

Hills Science Diet Urinary And Hairball Control Cat Food

No artificial colors, flavors, preservatives
No by-product meal

Some cats refuse to eat
Large size kibble

Hills Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Control natural cat food provides precisely balanced nutrition to help support the health of the whole urinary system with optimal level of magnesium. Science Diet Urinary and Hairball Control dry cat food is made with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

Hills uses only high-quality ingredients including real chicken, lamb or salmon protein. Hills dry pet foods have quality protein as the first ingredient and provide clinically proven antioxidant benefits.

How To Care For Your Cat With A Bladder Problem

How to Prevent Urinary Issues in Cats

Urinary issues can be a common occurrence in cats over the course of their lifetime. For this reason, it is a good idea to pay special attention to your cat’s urinary health. Proactive measures to support urinary health can include nutrition and environmental modification to ensure that your cat’s basic physical and behavioral needs are met. If urinary issues arise, partnering with your veterinarian for diagnosis and management can help promote the best possible outcome for your cat.

Should You Find A Non

I really want to emphasize that Im not a veterinarian and this article isnt veterinary advice. If your cat has been treated for crystals, blockages or stones already then you know how serious that condition can be.

So while a non-prescription diet may be cheaper, if it doesnt help with your cats condition youre going to end up with another huge veterinary bill and a lot of pain for your cat- or worse.

Thats not a good scenario for your cat or your budget.

But prescription diets are a very complicated subject and the ambiguity of FDA guidelines doesnt help the situation. These diets also dont contain prescription drugs which can certainly be confusing to the typical consumer that would associate a prescription diet with a prescription drug.

So whats the point of these diets in the first place?

While its not a perfect system, in most cases therapeutic diets have clinical trials backing up the effectiveness of their diet. You can see one such study backing up Hills C/D Multicare here. Most alternatives, unless theyre also a prescription diet, wont have a clinical trial supporting them.

Its important to make any decision with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will be aware of the fact that there arent any prescription drugs in these diets and you both want whats best for your cat.

With all that in mind, lets take a look at a few reasons why youd pursue an alternative.

Cat Food For Urinary Health

Urinary health cat food carefully balances the protein and minerals in the diet to help reduce the risk of bladder stone formation. It has been shown that one particular type of bladder stone called struvite stones can be dissolved by strictly feeding a prescription urinary diet. These stones tend to form in urine where the pH is too high . If youre able to reduce the pH of the urine, struvite stones may be able to be dissolved without surgery, demonstrating how critical nutrition can be in addressing urinary tract health.

A veterinary diet cat food is often the best choice for cats with recurrent urinary tract disease. Such foods include Hills Prescription c/d, Royal Canin Urinary s/o and Purina UR. Veterinary diets are often recommended as they can more adequately control the complex factors surrounding your cats optimal urinary health. Because a veterinarians prescription is needed to purchase these foods, consult your veterinarian to determine if these would be helpful for your kitty.

Best For Renal Support: Wet Cat Food Kidney Renal Actiwet With Lamb

Kidney problems and urinary problems often go hand in hand- and if that is the case for your pet, youll have to pay special attention to their diet. Wet Cat Food Kidney RENAL ACTIWET is formulated to suit low protein, phosphorous, and sodium diets such and it uses only natural and GMO-free ingredients. Made from salmon, chicken liver, and pasture-raised New Zealand lamb and enriched with healing herbs such as cranberries and dandelion root to help urinary issues and promote diuretic action, and dried clover for purification of the urinary system. As a result, this wet cat food supports the urinary, renal, and cardiac health of felines. Of course, it goes without saying- no food is enough of a medicine on its own, so please consult with a veterinarian to get tailored advice on your pets diet and therapy.

Wet Vs Dry Food For Urinary Problems In Cats

How to Treat and Prevent Urinary Tract Infections in Cats

In general, experts recommend a diet of wet food for cats in order to resolve or prevent urinary problems. The reason for this is the fact that wet food goes through much less processing. So from the actual animal sources such as chicken or fish, wet food retains much more of the nutritional value of the original meat. This is unlike kibble which tends to go through quite a lot of processes in order to reduce the original ingredients to a dry, biscuit form.

Whats more, wet food doesnt cause a cat to lose hydration once its ingested. This helps guarantee optimal levels of fluid that wont cause urine to concentrate in the long run.

Best Supplement: Under The Weather Urinary Support Soft Chews For Cats

Courtesy of Amazon

Key Ingredients: N-Acetyl Glucosamine from shrimp and crab, D-mannose, cranberry extract | Calories per Serving: Not listed| Balance: Not listed | Life Stage: Adult | Texture: Soft chews

Incorporates D-mannose ingredient known to decrease urinary tract infections

Several inactive ingredients

Although most urinary health cat foods are designed to offer your cat complete nutrition without supplements, an additional supplement could be used in combination with non-prescription foods to give your cats health an extra boost in the right direction.

Under the Weather Urinary Support Soft Chews for Cats is just one of many supplements made by this brand. The ingredients include N-acetyl glucosamine that supports a normal pH balance in the urinary tract as well as D-mannose and cranberry extract that promote normal urinary tract health.

Research in humans and animals has shown that D-mannose, a common sugar, helps prevent bacteria from sticking to bladder and urinary tract, reducing and preventing the reoccurrence of bacterial urinary tract infections.

Made in Vermont, this supplement is veterinarian formulated and free of corn, artificial flavors and dyes. A bonus is that a portion of ever sale is donated to the Ruffy Rescue Fund that supports spay and neutering of pets in overpopulated areas of the U.S. and transportation to Vermont for adoption.

What To Look For In A Good Cat Food For Urinary Tract Health

You may not think that your cats diet matters much when, in fact, it is a key factor for his health. What your cat eats is directly linked to his short-term and long-term health. The higher the quality of his diet, the better his digestion and immunity will be which also means that hell be healthier over the long haul. If your cat has urinary issues, making healthy changes to his diet could help with those as well.

Here are some of the things we look for in a good cat food for urinary health:

It is important to remember that diet is not the only cause of urinary health problems in cats and therefore it is not the only treatment. Urinary issues in cats can be caused by numerous things, so youll need to talk to your veterinarian to determine the underlying cause and the best course of treatment.

Don’t Miss: What Do I Take For A Urinary Tract Infection

Best For Weight Loss: Weruva Nine Liver With Chicken & Chicken Liver In Gravy Grain

Type: Wet/Canned
Made In: Thailand

If your cat is prone to urinary tract issues and needs to lose weight, a high-moisture diet like this food from Weruvas Classic Cat line could be an all-purpose solution.

Weruvas Nine Liver with Chicken & Chicken Liver helps keep urinary issues at bay with a combination of high moisture content, carnivore-appropriate acidity, and relatively low ash content.

With just under 20 calories per ounce, this food is significantly less calorie-dense than any dry food on the market and a bit leaner than many top canned foods. With its satisfying consistency and low-calorie content, this food promises to help your cat feel his best while dropping any excess weight.

At just over 10% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis, this food is relatively low-carb and appears to be a species-appropriate choice.

Wysong Uretic Dry Cat Food

Why cooked-food versus raw food? Dr. Ruth also discusses Cats with urinary tract issues

Price on the high side

Wysong has been a leader in pet nutrition since 1979. Uretic cat food has achieved extraordinary results in tens of thousands of felines through multiple generations for over thirty years. It was created by Dr. Wysong and owes its popularity solely to veterinary recommendation and word of mouth.

Uretic now contains higher levels of fresh and frozen and dried meats, organs, protein, fat, and a comprehensive spectrum and higher levels of micronutrients and nutraceuticals including prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, omega-3s, antioxidants and more.

Don’t Miss: Mrx Rc Feline Urinary So

Iams Proactive Health Adult Urinary Cat Food

Prescription cat food is notoriously expensive, and even non-prescription diets cost more than traditional food. If youre tight on budget, why not try this dry food from IAMS? You can get a large bag for a very affordable price! It lacks quality a little compared to more expensive options, but it is still a brilliant option nonetheless.

Firstly, despite being a low-value option, real chicken is the number one ingredient in this recipe. Some chicken by-products are included but seeing real animal protein listed first is excellent for budget-friendly food. This protein is easier to digest and helps support strong muscles, and the overall protein content is gentler on the kidneys.

Mineral levels are also low to support the urinary system. Unlike the other foods Ive reviewed, IAMS doesnt give a full mineral breakdown. However, the food does contain only 0.1% magnesium and 1.0% calcium, perfect for preventing crystals while providing the minerals needed for good health. This also helps to lower the urinary pH to prevent crystal formation.

Whats more, IAMS tackles several other health conditions with this all-encompassing formula. They use vitamin E for a strong immune system, Omega-3s and -6s for healthy fur and skin, and calcium and potassium for good heart health. Additionally, the dry kibble helps clean teeth and prevent tartar build-up, but ensure you check your cats fluid intake to compensate for the low moisture content.

Pros

Cons

Increase Your Felines Water Intake

A good urine water content can dilute the minerals, urinary irritants, and toxins that may lead to problems.

Concentrated urine can form crystals, irritants, and stones. In fact, these things can lead to chronic bladder inflammation.

Therefore, increase your felines water intake to keep her urinary tract healthy. Also, it will keep your feline hydrated and energetic.

Read Also: Fruits For Urinary Tract Infection

Why Use A Urinary Tract Cat Food

As cats age, they develop different urinary problems and because your kitty is sneaky about it, you wont notice the symptoms unless you are very attentive. Sometimes this can be dangerous because if there is a blockage in the urethra, it can be fatal.

More often than not, the problem could be caused by Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease , which is a collection of various symptoms. There are several reasons for urinary health issues in cats but the most common ones are kidney stones, debris in the bladder and/or urethra, blockage in the urethra from urine build-up, and inflammation.

Stress, injury, congenital abnormality, and problems with the spinal cord can also be the contributory factors. However, theres one aspect that often goes unnoticed but it could be playing a major role in aggravating urinary problems and its symptoms.

It is the dietary intake of your cat. If your furry feline isnt getting proper nutrition, it will show up in form of health issues. Ingredients in cat food influence the pH of urine, its concentration, and volume.

Purina Pro Plan Focus Urinary Tract Health Formula Adult Wet Cat Food

According to PurinaOne, the Purina Pro Plan Cat Food can help reduce the urinary pH of your cat and provide low dietary magnesium so your feline can maintain good urinary health.

Offers your kitty a savory gravy dish thats tasty and nutritious. It also contains prebiotic fiber, which promotes digestive health for your cats overall well-being.

The Purina Pro Plan Wet Food is specialized nutrition to meet cats of different ages, lifestyles, and unique needs. With the balanced nutrition offered by this cat food, your cats immune system will be strong and the urinary pH levels low.

Like most wet cat foods, this food comes with high water content. This means increased moisture intake for your cat, optimizing his or her urinary tract health.