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.
Editors Choice: Wysong Uretic Dry Natural Food For Cats
This dry cat food is not just meant to support your pets urinary health but their whole immune system, as well. Wysong Uretic Dry Natural Food for Cats has a low mineral content and includes natural sourced, DL-methionine to help acidify urine and prevent crystal formation. This makes it suited for urinary health issues, but the rest of the formula is pretty impressive as well- the first ingredient is real meat and it contains prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, essential fatty acids, and antioxidants to promote healthy digestion, healthier-looking fur and skin, and overall vitality, too. Tasty and loved by most cats, this formula boasts 42% protein and 15% fat and no cheap fillers such as wheat or corn.
Pro Plan Canned Cat Food
Theres a reason this product is so popular it comes from a trusted brand and it works.
Its perfectly balanced to reduce urinary pH, which is very important in maintaining urinary tract health. For most cats, this blend is effective in reducing or eliminating symptoms. You will only find glowing reviews of this one!
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Raw Cat Food: The Risks And The Rewards
When it comes to the risks of raw cat food, it is all about common pathogens like Salmonella and Listeria. People who want to feed their cats raw diet must know about animal to human disease transmission and contagion problems.
Despite these risks, more and more pet owners choose a raw food diet for their cats because it offers some fantastic rewards like big improvements in skin, coat, energy and overall well-being.
It is known that raw food helps felines recover faster from numerous health issues such as urinary tract problems, digestive problems, dental disease, allergies, asthma, degenerative diseases, immune disorders, epilepsy and so on.
Cat Food For Urinary Health Can Be Given As A Form Of Prevention Or To Help Treat Existing Issues If Prescribed By A Vet Formulated To Maintain Optimal Urine Ph And Prevent Crystals And Stones From Forming Cat Food For Urinary Health Can Be Wet Or Dry
Unfortunately, many cats struggle with urinary health. My own cat had a perineal urethrostomy surgery as a result of severe urinary infection and struvite blockage, and he barely made it- it was years ago and his lifestyle is forever changed because of it. From recurring urinary infections to urethral blockage and bladder stones which can lead to expensive surgeries and life-threatening conditions, there are various urinary health problems that shouldnt be taken lightly. One of the best things you can do for your cat, whether to prevent urinary problems or to help existing ones, is to reevaluate their diet.
Cat food for urinary health contains everything a feline needs to have a perfect urine pH value, and, in turn, a reduced chance of urinary tract issues. These foods are low in minerals and often contain ingredients that dissolve stones and crystals, and can help your cat maintain a healthy life without frequent UTI issues. Here is our list of 10 best cat foods for urinary health- each is a tailored fit for any kitty and their unique lifestyle.
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Tips On How To Maintain Your Cats Urinary Health
As well as choosing an appropriate, nutritionally balanced cat wet food, there are other steps you can take to help keep your cats urinary system in optimum health:
Increase their water intake a higher water content in their urine will dilute any toxins and minerals, reduce the risk of infections and maintain a healthy kidney function. Cats are known to be reluctant water drinkers so as well as a higher moisture content in their food, look at ways to encourage them to regularly drink fresh water. Adding a little flavor to their water, such as tuna juice, may tempt them to drink more, or as cats can be drawn to running water, consider investing in a cat water fountain.
Reduce their environmental stress if your kit is on the sensitive side, make an effort to reduce their stress and anxiety levels. Ensure they have their own safe space where they can retreat, ensure their litterbox is always clean, feed them in a low-traffic area of your house, and manage any new changes carefully to keep them calm and UTI healthy.
Maintain a healthy weight obese cats have an increased risk of developing UTIs as well as other health problems, so ensure you cats weight is in the normal/healthy zone by managing their food intake and giving them opportunity for exercise. Head over to our review of cat food for weight loss for more alternatives.
Feeding Both Canned And Dry Cat Food
To balance the benefits and drawbacks of both options, you may choose to feed a combination of both. This may be particularly useful with cats who require a higher water intake but enjoy eating dry better than canned.
If you are looking to mix wet cat food and dry cat food, talk with your veterinarian to find the best balance. Your veterinarian can help you calculate how much your cat should be eating and how to portion out the two food options.
Every cat is different, and the amount you feed a day will depend on the age of your cat, your cats current body condition, and the presence of any underlying diseases.
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The Best Cat Food For Urinary Tract Health In 2021
We all know that a pets diet can have a significant impact on their overall health and wellbeing. By providing your feline friend with a healthy, balanced diet, you can help them stave off a whole host of medical conditions. Among cats, bladder stones are one of the most common issues. These small, rock-like deposits form in the bladder, causing painful inflammation and blockages.
Nasty as these little stones are, theres plenty that owners can do to keep them at bay. Feeding your pet a urinary tract cat food can help keep things flowing smoothly, by limiting the presence of certain minerals in your cats diet, and maintaining an appropriate urinary pH. When it comes to selecting a urinary care cat food, youll find yourself faced with myriad options. Thats where we come in to help you choose the purrfect solution for your cat, weve compiled this handy buying guide. Below, we run through the top 10 options on the market right now, before answering some common questions about urinary issues in cats.
Best Cat Foods For Urinary Tract Health In Cats
Want to learn which food is the best cat food for urinary tract health so your cat can live a longer life? Youre on the right page. Adults cats often suffer from dehydration, which causes many felines to develop urinary tract problems in life.
Learn how to better take care of your cats urinary tract health by providing a suitable, nutritious diet.
Article last updated:
- How to Tell Your Cat Has UTI Issues
- Choosing the Right Cat Food for Urinary Tract Health
- Cat Food Reviews for Urinary Health:
- Hills Science Diet Urinary Cat Food Review
- Wellness Grain-Free Wet Cat Food Review
- Royal Canine Feline Urinary SO 33 Dry Food Review
- Purina One Focus Urinary Wet and Dry Food Review
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Hills Science Diet Hairball Control & Urinary Dry Cat Food
If youre one of the millions of cat owners who need to leave their cat at home while they go out to work or run errands, then you probably already know that leaving out a serving of wet cat food is like asking for disaster. Wet cat food cant stay out for longer than 20 minutes, so its likely to turn bad just a few minutes after you rush out the door. For that reason, wet cat food might not be the best choice if you find that you need to leave your cat at home for more than a few hours.
Fortunately, there are some choices that help maximize urinary health despite being in dry kibble form. One of the best options in this category would have to be Hills Science Diet Urinary & Hairball Control Dry Cat Food.
Although dry kibble isnt recommended for urinary health, this specific formulation features the same blend of ingredients found in the wet food variation. Its also a lot cheaper than its wet formulation counterpart, which makes it a great investment for pet owners who want the benefits of Science Diet without putting too much of a dent on their wallet.
There Are Many Factors To Consider When Choosing One Or The Other
Among the timeless questions debated endlessly from generation to generation, such as What is the meaning of life? and Does the refrigerator light go off when the door is closed?, is one veterinarians and cat owners are particularly familiar with: Is feeding canned or dry food better for cats? Cat loversand many veterinariansoften have strong and absolute opinions on this question, and disagreements on the subject tend to be about as amicable as those on politics and religion.
The most widely held belief seems to be that canned foods are healthier for cats than dry diets. This is predicated on two key arguments:
1) As obligate carnivores, cats cannot thrive on dietary carbohydrates, and canned diets are low-carb compared with kibble. Therefore, dry diets are more likely to lead to obesity and diabetes mellitus , two common and important feline health problems.15
2) Cats eating dry food dont drink enough water, and this increases the risk of chronic kidney disease and lower urinary tract diseases, such as feline interstitial cystitis and urolithiasis. Feeding canned foods maintains better hydration and promotes dilute urine, reducing the risk of these diseases.4,6,7
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Helping Cats With Urinary Problems
Often the most important aspect of helping your cat is detecting the problem at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be successful. This can only be done with regular veterinary visits. Cats are well-known for masking signs of pain, resulting in very subtle symptoms that are difficult for cat owners to detect. In addition, it can be difficult for cat owners to spot changes in litter box habits. Needless to say, if you do notice changes in your cats routine, you should consult with your veterinarian immediately.
Nutrition can also play a part in managing many of the diseases that can cause inappropriate urination. However, the best diet for your cat will depend on your cats individual situation. Diets that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates are often recommended for cats with diabetes, while diets that help control urine pH are often advised for cats that tend to develop stones or crystals in the urine. There are even cat foods which contain glucosamine and/or fatty acids such as DHA or EPA. These are beneficial for cats with arthritis or other inflammatory conditions. Your veterinarian can help you determine which diet is best for your cat.
How Can Changing Your Cats Diet Help With Urinary Problems
The following dietary features can prevent and control urinary tract issues:
- High Moisture Content
As mentioned earlier, foods with a high moisture content can help your kitty to stave off urinary tract problems. This is because eating moisture-rich foods increases their overall hydration, and dilutes the urine. Without high concentrations of minerals such as magnesium, painful urinary crystals are unlikely to form. Dilute urine also promotes regular litter tray visits, flushing out any bacteria that could trigger a UTI.
Take a look at our guide on Moist & Semi-Moist Cat Food.
- Low Magnesium Content
When cats develop urinary crystals, magnesium is the main culprit. By reducing your kittys magnesium intake, you can significantly reduce the risk of these crystals forming. High concentrations of magnesium are often found in whole grains, so feeding your cat a grain-free diet could be an easy way to reduce their intake.
- Low pH
Some foods work to reduce the pH of your cats urine, making it a little bit acidic. This acidic urine can often dissolve small urinary crystals and helps to prevent new ones from forming in the future.
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Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary So Dry Food
This brings us on to the dry cat foods, and theres no better place to start than with the Royal Canin dry equivalent of the wet food weve just looked at.
Though using a dry food to combat urinary health issues means youll have to ensure your cat also drinks plenty of water, there are some upsides.
One of the biggest upsides to buying any dry food is that you get a lot more for your money. This is especially true when the food addresses health concerns. You can also leave the food out without spoiling, or make use of a cat feeder to schedule meals for you.
You get the same nutritional value as you would with the wet food, but with significantly less moisture and usually a few more calories in the same volume.
Providing you keep your cat hydrated, then this is the best dry food available for cats suffering with urinary tract problems. Since you get a bit more for your money here than with the wet foods, we think its a better all round option than the other two brands.
Dry Cat Food Benefits
Dry cat food is less expensive than canned food, so people who are on a strict budget or those that feed community cats may choose this option.
Dry food also does not have to be stored in the refrigerator and can be left out much longer than can food. This is a good option if you free-feed your cats, but any portion not eaten by the end of the day should be discarded.
You can also use dry cat food in automatic feeders or in puzzle feeder toys.
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Best Dry Cat Food For Urinary Tract Health Buying Guide
Urinary Tract Infections are common in cats and can be treated easily if diagnosed early. If your feline is facing any UTI problems, all products mentioned above could be the best solution. Therefore we make this complete guide so you can do little homework yourself and find that your cat buddy needs your help or want to visit the vet.
Purina Pro Plan High Protein Urinary Tract Health Cat Food
This salmon wet food formula from Purina is another meal you can offer your adult cats that suffer from urinary tract issues. The food contains real salmon plus other essential protein sources.
The formula is carefully put together to help reduce your cats urine pH as it contains a low dietary magnesium thus helping them maintain a healthy urinary tract.
It is also tasty and well balanced with all the needed nutrition to suit adult cats.
There are so many positive reviews about this formula, so it will probably become your cats favorite too.
What we like:
IAMS Proactive Health dry cat food results in overall health improvements in adult cats.
It contains nutrients for heart and urinary system health.
The formula also features quality chicken protein, calcium, potassium and vitamins that can improve the cats urinary tract health by reducing urinary ph.
This crunchy dry cat food can also increase your cats water intake, helping them clear any deposits in their bladder.
What we like:
- High-quality protein-based urinary health cat food
- Optimized for urinary ph and crystals
- Increased thirst and water intake
- Healthy meal packed with nutrients for heart health
- Highly reputed among cat owners
What we dont like:
- Taste may be displeasing to some cats but they get used to it after trying for a few times.
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Why Cats Are Prone To Urine Crystals And Bladder Stones
Urine crystals and bladder stones form when more magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, or protein exists in your cat’s urine than its system is able to effectively dissolved. Special diets that prevent the formation of one kind of crystal can actually cause the other, so it is best to avoid such diets for your cat.
A great deal of research has been on-going as to the relationship of diet to urinary tract health, and the thinking has changed over a period of just a few years. Originally it was thought that diets high in magnesium and ash contributed to the problem. Now, more emphasis is being placed on the pH of urine . Veterinarians recommend a range between 6.0 and 6.5.