Buyers Guide: Tips For Choosing The Best Cat Food For Urinary Health
Choosing a urinary cat food for a feline can be difficult, especially if your feline has an underlying health problem that needs to be offset by diet, such as chronic urinary tract infections or stones. Many cats with common urinary tract problems are diagnosed with FLUTD, which stands for feline lower urinary tract disease. Felines with this problem have reoccurring bacterial bladder infections, develop bladder crystals, and have inflammation in their urinary tract.
This problem is more severe in males, as it can cause urinary blockage and be life-threatening. Females are more prone to bacterial infections, but they dont suffer blockages as often.
Diet can often be used to manage these problems, though it isnt the end-all to treatment. Often, different medications and supplements are needed as well.
Why Might Cats Have Urinary Tract Issues
The first thing you should figure out is why your cat has urinary tract issues, and what exactly is happening to cause the problem so that you can get a return to urinary health as soon as possible.
For the best overview on the subject weve found, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with cat urinary tract diseases by reading this page from Lisa Pierson, DVM.
Most of what well talk about here comes directly from CatInfo.org .
There are 3 main urinary tract diseases that can cause trouble for your kitty.
Best Wet Cat Food For Urinary Health
A cat needs to be properly hydrated and fed wet food only to avoid urinary problems. It could be said the best wet cat food for urinary health is any wet cat food. But there some varieties that are better than others.
Urinary tract obstructions can be very painful for your cat and, if untreated, can cause death if the bladder ruptures. Signs your cat may have urinary problems include: the cat may strain to urinate and/or will make frequent trips to the litter box without urinating, he may cry when urinating, and there may be blood in the urine.
Always remember a cat is an obligate carnivore they simply do not need any other food sources to keep them healthy, except protein. Their protein sources should mimic the high water content of their usual prey and canned food does this adequately.
The best wet cat food for urinary health should be protein rich, low or no carbohydrates or other additives such as fruit or vegetables. It should be low in magnesium, and ash and high in water content.
Recommended Reading: All Natural Urinary Tract Infection Treatment
Best Prescription: Hills Prescription Diet C/d Multicare Urinary Care With Chicken Canned Cat Food
- Type: Wet/Canned
- Made In: United States
Though theyre not necessary for every cat, veterinary diets can help to resolve persistent recurrences of urinary tract disease.
According to the company, this Hills Prescription Diet food can lower the recurrence of most common urinary signs by 89%.
Its pH balance and controlled levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus help to reduce the risk of both struvite and calcium oxalate crystals. If your cat already has struvite crystals, the food can help to dissolve them in, on average, 27 days.
Though hundreds of customers agree that the food can help, youll need to check with your veterinarian to determine if Hills Prescription Diet c/d is the right choice for your cat.
Can Cats With Utis Eat Tuna
Its a big no to consume tuna for felines who are suffering from urinary tract issues. This is because tuna includes a high level of minerals which is not good for their health as it leads to bladder stone issues. On the other hand, it also includes unsaturated fat which can lead to severe underlying health issues in the future such as steatitis.
Recommended Reading: Nature’s Secret Urinary Flush And Support
The Best Wet Cat Food Can Help Prevent Urinary Problems But You Shouldnt Rely On Diet Alone
If your cat starts straining in the litter box, having bloody urine, or is unable to urinate at all, he likely has some form of urinary tract disease.
Cystitis , urinary crystals, and urinary tract infections are all painful conditions that necessitate a trip to the veterinarian. A veterinarian can diagnose the type of urinary tract disease and determine which type of treatment is appropriate.
And if your cat has a complete blockagehe cant urinate at alltake him to the veterinarian immediately. Complete blockages can be fatal if not treated quickly. Immediate veterinary care is required to clear the blockage and treat its underlying cause.
Supporting Pets Best Lives
Prescription Diet foods offer therapeutic nutrition for a range of health conditions. Theyre clinically tested and developed by a team of PhD nutritionists and veterinarians, so you can rest assured your pet is receiving premium nutrition backed by science.
If your pet is facing a specific health condition, or you sense they need additional support, schedule an appointment with your vet and ask how Prescription Diet can help.
As a leader in cutting edge food science and research, Hills is honored to be the US #1 Veterinarian Recommended brand.
If you are not satisfied with this product purchased from your authorized retailer, return the unused portion to them for a full refund or replacement. Learn more here.
Read Also: Signs Of Urinary Tract Infection In Females
Even If Your Cat Has Some Problems With The Kidney Or Urinary System This Natural
Not sure what to feed your cat? Learn how to make your own dog food at home. Offer your cat a drop on a plate or your . Lets look at such a simple raw cat food recipe with chicken. Learn to make your own healthier, safer cat repellent. A cup of water is sufficient to keep the urinary tract unobstructed and healthy. Discover what ingredients and supplies youll need, starter recipes, and common mistakes to avoid. If your cat has any medical problems, such as kidney disease, urinary tract issues, or . We recommend the 10 best cat foods on the market. Even if your cat has some problems with the kidney or urinary system, this natural . For a comment about feeding cats with chronic kidney disease , please see this. During a uti, add a little extra water to homemade meals. Hell make his preferences clear. Including inflammatory bowel disease, allergies, struvite crystals, oxalate stones, lower urinary tract infection, kidney disease & obesity. Homemade cat food recipes for urinary problems · a cup of cooked chicken ·¼ cup of steamed broccoli ·¼ cup steamed carrots ( .
Bland diet recipe for dogs and cats with tummy problems from i.pinimg.com
Also Check: Blue Buffalo Cat Food Grain Free
Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Food
Best Cat Food for Urinary Tract Health and Sensitive Stomach: If your cat has a sensitive stomach, you want to feed him something that is made with whole food ingredients. It is also a good idea to limit the number of ingredients in your cats food to reduce the risk of triggering a food allergy or sensitivity. We recommend this Ziwi Peak Lamb Recipe Canned Food for cats with urinary problems because it contains a single source of animal protein, it is rich in moisture, and it contains a short list of high-quality, natural ingredients. This formula features fresh lamb as the main ingredient with lamb lung, kidney, liver, tripe, and heart as supplemental sources of protein and nutrients. The only other main ingredients are chickpeas and New Zealand green mussels. Youll also find that this recipe contains chelated minerals for nutritional balanced and it is supplemented with DL-methionine as well.
- Pros: Single source of animal protein, high in moisture content, complete and balanced nutrition, easy to digest, supplemented with DL-methionine, limited list of ingredients
- Cons: Fairly high in calories , may be too high in fiber for some cats
Recommended Reading: Pineapple Juice For Urinary Tract Infection
How Much Magnesium And Phosphorus Is In Royal Canin Urinary So
Now lets take a look at another of one of the biggest prescription diets out there and see whats inside Royal Canin.
Heres whats inside the canned version of Urinary SO on a dry matter basis :
- Magnesium: 0.4%
- Phosphorus: 0.8%
Heres what the Royal Canin website has to say for the dry version of Urinary SO:
- Magnesium: 0.1%
Best For Sensitive Stomach: Smalls Cat Food
- Made In: United States
This recipe from Smalls ticks all of our urinary health boxes and does a few things that other foods cant. For starters, its moisture-rich, meat-based, and it doesnt have too much ash.
The recipe features chicken muscle meat and organs as its primary ingredients. While its not a prescription diet, its meat-centric recipe and relatively low carbohydrate content should promote a healthy urinary pH.
Choose from minced-style recipes or classic pâté to provide your cat with protein-rich, low-carb cat food that is formulated for cats in all life stages.
Recommended Reading: Gnc Ultra Mega Urinary Support For Dogs
Wysong Uretic With Organic Chicken Canned Cat Food
Though it is not a prescription diet, this Wysong Uretic with Organic Chicken Canned Cat Food is formulated specifically to address urinary health problems in cats. This recipe is designed by a licensed veterinarian and contains high levels of protein, low levels of carbohydrates, and is fortified with micronutrients and nutraceuticals to support urinary tract health. Youll find that this recipe contains a variety of healthy ingredients starting with organic chicken and brown rice, followed by blueberries, DL-methionine, and cranberry extract.
Our Nutrition Philosophy Was Based On A Promise
Why Choose BLUE?
Our promise to feed Blue the best food possible evolved into a whole new way of feeding pets. Healthy ingredients arent just a trend for us theyre a part of our history. Since we started in 2003, weve always used high-quality natural ingredients with real meat first. Never any corn, wheat, or soy. And no poultry by-product meals. Its been that way since day one. And it always will be.
Chicken is a protein source that supports muscle development and energy.
Recommended Reading: Male Urinary Tract Infection How To Treat
Can Apple Cider Vinegar Cure Utis In Cats
Apple cider vinegar is an exceptional remedy for urinary tract infections in felines. You can use it to create a pH balance in your felines urine and maintain it to get rid of bacteria.
Meta description What are the 10 Best Cat Foods for Urinary Tract Health? Lets get started. Here is the list of best cat foods for urinary tract health
Ingredients To Prevent Cat Urinary Problems
Several ingredients in cat food can further prevent cat cystitis and bladder crystals. Cranberry juice and herbs such as Cantharis, Uva Ursi and Staphysagris help prevent bacteria from building up in your cats bladder. In some cats, a deficiency of Vitamin B-6 and Vitamin C contributes to the formation of bladder crystals. However, consult your vet before introducing any vitamin supplements to your cats diet. A high quality canned food, especially one that is formulated for urinary tract health, will have all of the vitamins your cat needs. Foods such as bananas, apples, broccoli, squash, and most fruits and vegetables help to keep the urine alkaline.
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What Makes A Best Cat Food For Urinary Crystals
As I mentioned earlier, food plays an important role in your cats urinary health. High-quality cat food with the right ingredients can prevent such issues and might even help in treating urinary problems by pairing along with the treatment prescribed by the vet.
Here is a quick lay down on the ingredients that make cat food good for urinary health:
Wet v Dry Urinary Cat Foods
Both wet and dry best urinary cat food options are designed specifically for urinary health contain nutrients and minerals necessary to combat infections and inflammations. However, there is one important factor we cannot ignore- moisture.
If your cat drinks adequate water, there is no reason why dry food wouldnt work. But in case your cat doesnt have the natural drive to drink water often, wet food might be a good option.
Berberis Vulgaris
Common Barberry, or Berberis Vulgaris, is known to promote healthy bladder and urinary tract. It has an immunity-boosting effect on humans as well as feline health.
Cantharis
This is a homeopathic strain obtained from beetles and is considered useful for acute cystitis attacks. Cantharis provides quick relief from urinary crystals.
Staphysagris
This is another natures gift that helps provide comfort to cats suffering from urinary infections and soothes the urinary tract.
Beneficial Urinary Tract Ingredients
When choosing the best food for urinary problems there are a few things to look for on the products packaging and nutrition labels. These include:
- Low dietary magnesium. This micronutrient is often the main culprit of urinary crystals . High levels of magnesium are generally found in whole grains, so buying grain-free food is already a step in the right direction.
- Formulas that lower pH levels in urine. Urinary crystals dont thrive in acidic environments . Aiming for food that promises to lower pH levels can also help prevent the formation of crystals in the future.
- High moisture content. As we mentioned earlier, hydration is key in preventing bladder stones and crystals. Ample water intake dilutes your cats urine and keeps it flowing healthily. .
- Quality: Choosing low-quality food almost guarantees health problems. Your cat should eat a complete and balanced diet made from quality ingredients. You may need to do some brand background checks to ensure their food meets high-quality standards. We recommend:
Donât Miss: Great Choice Cat Food Review
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Wysong Uretic Feline Diet Dry Cat Food
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.
Best Cat Food For Urinary Tract Crystals: 4 Leading Brands
Urinary tract issues are not that uncommon in cats. Especially with cats that have been on a dry food diet for some time.
A lot of dry foods dont provide the proper balance of nutrition and vitamins a cat needs and they can develop urinary tract crystals .
A health condition that is a particularly uncomfortable, and potentially dangerous health issue if left untreated.
While its vital you get your cat seen by a vet and act on their advice, they will almost certainly recommend some dietary changes going forward.
One of the cats I adopted many years ago went through this exact process. By changing up his diet to include the best cat food for urinary tract crystals he made a full recovery and never had further issues.
Here is everything youll need to know about why some cats develop urinary tract crystals, the signs to look out for, and the best foods to help your kitty avoid this health issue.
Contents
Also Check: Royal Canin Urinary So And Calm
How We Rate Foods
Our database of cat foods contains over 2000 individual foods.
We collected all the relevant information on each product, including:
- Macronutrient profiles
- Price and price per pound
- Calories per 100 grams
- Whether meat is the first ingredient
- How each food compares to the average of all foods on a macronutrient basis
- Whether the recipe uses more than 4 controversial ingredients
Each of these data points works together to form a star rating on a 1-5 star scale .
We think that this system provides a fair, transparent system by which we can compare all foods on an equal footing, and give you the easiest possible time when choosing the best of the best.
Urinary So Morsels In Gravy Canned Cat Food
Royal Canin Urinary SO is a veterinary-exclusive wet cat food for cats with urinary health concerns< br> < br> As a result of increased demand, you may experience difficulty purchasing certain products in the coming months. If you need an alternative diet recommendation or help locating a product, please contact our Nutritional Advisors at 800-592-6687 or via < a href=”https://www.royalcanin.com/us/contact-us”> Live Chat< /a>
Available in
Recommended Reading: Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Urinary Tract Health
Prescription Brand Alternative: Hills Science Diet Urinary & Hairball Control Dry Food
Many prescription urinary diet brands also make non-prescription diets as well.
While these non-prescription versions dont have clinical trials backing them, they often have a similar ingredient profile considering that theyre made from the same brand and if youre looking for a close substitute they can be a good place to start.
Thats where Hills Science Diet Urinary & Hairball Control dry food enters the picture.
But whats the difference between the C/D prescription diet from Hills and this recipe?
The biggest difference is, of course, the lack of clinical trials supporting this diet when it comes to urinary health, and as weve already discussed thats what really sets prescription diets apart from the rest.
Beyond that, the list of ingredients is quite similar. We can see that the first 8 ingredients for the prescription C/D diet are:
Chicken, Whole Grain Corn, Corn Gluten Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Brewers Rice, Pork Fat, Chicken Meal, Egg Product
Compared that to the first 8 ingredients in the non-prescription urinary and & hairball diet and we see:
Chicken, Whole Grain Wheat, Corn Gluten Meal, Pork Fat, Powdered Cellulose, Wheat Gluten, Chicken Liver Flavor, Dried Beet Pulp
While some smaller ingredients have been shifted, the big protein sources are similar across both recipes. But as Ive said before, theres more to these diets than just the first 8 ingredients and this is only to give you an idea of whats inside.
You can read some of those reviews and .