If your cat has a urinary health issue, making the switch to a urinary cat food can alleviate some of their discomforts by decreasing harmful mineral buildup.
Urinary tract disorders in cats can lead to urinary tract infections, crystal formation, and kidney stones.
These are not only uncomfortable for cats but also significantly impact their overall health.
Keeping the urinary environment clean and healthy can be done by cleaning up their external environment, but it also requires a look at their internal health.
Top Picks For The Best Urinary Cat Food
Protecting your cat’s urinary health is crucial for maintaining their overall health. You can prevent and treat urinary tract issues by making the switch to a cat food formulated with their tract in mind. For balanced nutrition and the ideal urine pH, consider one of the following urinary cat foods.
Best Overall (Recommended)
- Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare...
- Clinically tested to lower the...
- Dissolves struvite stones in as little...
Best Dry Food
- Contains (1) 16 lb. bag of IAMS...
- Chicken is the 1st ingredient in this...
- Formulated to reduce urinary pH and...
Best On A Budget
- One (1) 16 lb. Bag - Purina ONE High...
- Purina ONE +Plus Urinary Tract Health...
- Urinary care cat food provides low...
Best Chews
- Cranberries Support Healthy Urinary...
- Grain Free, Natural With Added Taurine
- Under 2 Calories Per Treat
Best Wet Food/Canned
- Twenty-Four (24) 5.5 oz. Cans - Purina...
- Urinary health cat food reduces urinary...
- Pate cat food made with real salmon for...
Best High Protein
- A Time Tested, Nutrient Dense Natural...
- Fresh, Whole Ingredients, Plus A...
- 42% Protein And 15% Fat. Exceptional...
What Is Urinary Cat Food?
Certain minerals can be found in cat food that can lead to urinary tract issues. For example, diets high in magnesium may lead to the formation of crystals in the urine. To keep your cat’s urinary tract healthy, specially formulated diets can be purchased to avoid these minerals.
Urinary tract health starts with the pH of your cat’s urine. If their pH is more alkaline, they’re likely to form struvite stones. If their urine is more acidic, there’s a higher likelihood that calcium oxalate crystals will form.
Depending on which issue your cat struggles with, urinary health cat food can reduce health issues by making it harder for your cat’s body to create these crystals.
Urinary cat food can work for your cat’s health in a variety of ways. Many formulas have a higher moisture percentage which helps the body to break down and move crystal formations.
If your cat has a specific stone already, some formulas will break down already formed struvite or calcium oxalate crystals.
Urinary cat food can benefit your cat’s overall health and ensure urinary balance as long as you’re getting the right type of formula. Since urinary issues can vary greatly, it’s essential to evaluate your cat’s needs before switching to new cat food.
Types Of Urinary Cat Food
Before purchasing, it’s vital to take note of the urinary tract signs of disease or imbalance. Once you’ve determined your cat’s underlying issue, you can choose between one of the urinary cat food diet types.
Dry Food
Royal Canin Veterinary was one of the first brands to create a urinary health cat food by diluting the minerals that often lead to stone and crystal formation. This has been found highly effective in improving urinary health.
If you’re feeding dry food to your cat, be sure your cat’s water intake is still high enough by encouraging more water consumption or adding a little bit of water to their dry meals.
Wet Food
Urinary health dramatically improves with hydration, wet food delivers both vital nutrition and water content. If your cat suffers from urinary issues, substitute wet food into their diet at least a few times a week. You’ll see a major difference in their overall health and hydration.
Supplement
You can add urinary supplements to any cat formula for those who aren’t keen on switching their pet’s diet completely.
These often come in droppers that can be drizzled over wet or dry food to add the nutrients needed for proper urinary health.
Supplements can also be added to an already balanced urinary diet for an extra kick of nutrition if your cat actively has an infection or stone.
Should You Buy Urinary Cat Food?
If cats aren’t receiving nutritious and balanced diets, they won’t be able to maintain a healthy body and brain.
However, there’s more to consider than just feeding a well-balanced diet to your pets. With persistent health problems, it’s critical to think of how you can provide the best support to aid in disease prevention.
Pros:
Reducing infections and crystallization in your cat’s urine is the most significant benefit of switching to urinary cat food. These diets can decrease pain and discomfort associated with kidney stones, urinary crystals, and the organ damage that can accompany them.
Since these diets are low in minerals like magnesium, you’ll better be able to regulate the pH of your cat’s urine, which is crucial for good health. These diets also increase the moisture your cat is consuming to ensure they’re hydrated. Proper hydration benefits all internal organs as well as skin and coat health.
Cons:
Depleting minerals from your cat’s diet shouldn’t be done unless it’s absolutely necessary. If your cat doesn’t have bad urinary problems, putting them on a urinary diet can reduce the minerals they’re consuming, which could negatively impact their health.
Therefore, nursing cats, as well as young cats, shouldn’t consume these diets. Any cat with a higher nutrient requirement will suffer eating a urinary diet as it has the bare minimum nutrients.
Some diets aim to increase the urine pH, while others aim to decrease the pH. If your cat’s pH is already too high and you’re feeding a diet to raise the pH, they’ll develop more crystals.
Because these diets require pet owners to have a very clear understanding of their cat’s issue, there’s a lot of room for user error.
Buying Guide
Urinary diets for cats optimizes their urine pH level to reduce the formation of crystals. If your cat has a problem in its urinary tract that you believe could be solved with a diet change, it’s vital to consider which type of food is right based on your cat’s needs.
Your Cat’s Problem
Since the goal is to obtain a 6.0 to 6.5 pH in their urine, you first need to understand their current pH. You can do this by getting their urine tested by a veterinarian or by determining the type of crystal formulations they have.
Once you know how bad your cat’s urinary health is on their current food, you can figure out the intensity of nutrients needed in the new food.
This will ultimately determine the mineral balance they can manage to have in their food. If you don’t identify their issues first, you may be able to improve their symptoms but not treat them all together.
Hydration
Depending on how much water content your cat needs, you’ll want to choose a different food brand.
Your cat should drink as much water as possible if you feed him a dry diet. Adding more wet food to your cat’s diet could improve its hydration if he or she is not drinking water.
Nutrient Needs
Proper nutrition is the most important aspect of any new cat food purchase. When switching to a new diet or doing a feeding test, it can be all too easy to focus solely on the urinary tract and overlook the nutrition.
If the urinary diet doesn’t contain the proper balance of protein, fiber, and high-quality ingredients, your cat won’t be healthy.
Therefore, be sure the first ingredients are still high-quality animal protein, free of by-products and fillers. Be conscious of how much of the diet consists of grains and always get allergy tests done before switching diets.
Veterinary Authorization
Many specialty diets require a prescription or authorization from a licensed veterinarian to purchase. Since urinary disease is a medical condition, your vet must recommend that your cat go on a special diet to manage its symptoms. If you haven’t gotten any advice from your vet regarding a new diet, you must do this before making any purchases.
If you put your cat on a new diet without consulting your vet, your cat could end up with more severe kidney disease or urinary discomfort.
Your vet can also test your cat’s levels of magnesium to see if this is the root of their problems. If their magnesium levels are too high, you can then work to lower them by reducing the dietary magnesium in the diet.
However, if their root issue cannot be solved by lowering dietary magnesium, a urinary diet won’t solve your cat’s urinary problem.
How To Know If Your Cat Needs Urinary Food?
It’s time to evaluate your cat’s food if they’re continuously developing urinary crystals or bladder stones. While no pet owner wants to wait until something is wrong to start taking action, don’t use a specialty diet if your cat is perfectly healthy.
If your cat doesn’t have any urinary health issues and you make the switch to urinary health food, you could be causing an issue by changing their urine pH. If your cat doesn’t have any signs of urinary tract disease, it’s best to leave their diet as is and instead introduce more water into the diet as a preventative measure.
If you start to see that your cat is developing a urinary tract disease like kidney stones, infections, or urinary stones, looking into a urinary diet in addition to increasing water will alleviate these symptoms. The urinary health diet should maintain a urine pH of around 6.0 to 6.5 for optimal urinary health.
5 Steps For Maintaining Your Cat’s Urinary Health
There are several contributing factors to maintaining good urinary health. Follow these steps to prevent urinary infections from developing in your feline.
1. Provide Fresh Water
Water is key in preventing and treating any urinary disfunction. If your cat stays hydrated, it’ll be more challenging for them to develop any kind of urinary infection. Always leave a fresh bowl of water out for your cat and make sure to clean the bowl daily.
If you have a hard time remembering to give your cat water, invest in an automatic water bowl for your cat. This requires you to fill a larger vessel once then leave your cat to drink for a longer period before having to refill.
2. Alternate With Wet Food
Wet food can provide additional moisture in your cat’s diet. This is especially important for cats that don’t drink a lot of water. If you have trouble increasing your cat’s moisture intake. Introducing wet food on occasion will make sure they’re staying more hydrated.
If your cat tolerates it, you can also add some water to their kibble. This will soften the food and increase the moisture content. Any way to add moisture to prevent dehydration in your cat will significantly reduce incidences of urinary infections.
3. De-stress Your Home
Stress is a massive contributor to bad urinary health. If your cat constantly gets urinary tract infections even though they drink enough water, they may have chronic stress.
To de-stress the home, you’ll first need to look for what could be triggering your cat. If you have other pets, try separating them for a few days to see how your cat reacts. If you have children, reduce the amount of time they’re spending with the cat.
Any variables you can control for a short period will provide insight into your cat’s mental health.
4. Keep Up With Vet Visits
Frequent trips to the veterinarian are crucial for cats with urinary problems. Since infections can linger and cause a great deal of discomfort, you need to keep a close eye on their health. With more monitoring, you may be able to find additional ways to prevent more infections from surfacing.
5. Keep Litter Clean
Dirty or insufficient cat litter can be a major cause of poor urinary health. For cats that are prone to infections, they’ll often avoid using a dirty litter box. This could cause your cat to start going to the bathroom elsewhere in your home if you’re not cleaning the box enough.
A great way to get around this is to get an automatic cleaning litter box. If your cat is still having problems even once it’s clean, try switching to natural litter. You can also get a second litter box so that your cat has options if one isn’t clean enough.
The 6 Best Urinary Cat Foods
Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Dry Cat Food
- Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare...
- Clinically tested to lower the...
- Dissolves struvite stones in as little...
Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care dry cat food was developed by veterinarians and nutritionists to support the health of your cat’s urinary system.
A study conducted by Hill’s claims that MultiCare c/d reduced recurrence of most common urinary symptoms by 89%.
Furthermore, they claim that some cats have been able to dissolve the struvite stones as soon as 7 days, and on average, 27 days, which has simultaneously reduced the risk of struvite and calcium oxalate stones forming.
A source of omega-3 fatty acids, pork liver, carrots, chicken, tuna, rice, spinach, and chicken fat are among the main ingredients.
As well as containing important vitamins and minerals, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium levels are controlled to prevent crystallization.
Pros:
- Shown to dissolve struvite crystals and prevents new ones
Cons:
- Not grain-free
- Requires a veterinary prescription
IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Urinary Tract Health Dry Cat Food
- Contains (1) 16 lb. bag of IAMS...
- Chicken is the 1st ingredient in this...
- Formulated to reduce urinary pH and...
This cat food contains chicken as its first ingredient. For many cheaper options, this isn’t the case. A healthy immune system and skin are also supported by added antioxidant Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.
It’s abundantly clear from customer reviews that this food appeals to most cats, even the pickiest ones. Make sure your cat always has access to plenty of water when eating dry food.
Pros:
- Chicken as first ingredient
- Affodable and widely available
Cons:
- Chicken by-product
- Not grain free
Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health Formula Adult Premium
- One (1) 16 lb. Bag - Purina ONE High...
- Purina ONE +Plus Urinary Tract Health...
- Urinary care cat food provides low...
Cats need low magnesium levels to reduce urine pH and support urinary tract health.
Four sources of antioxidants and real chicken help boost one’s immunity. A crunchy kibble containing calcium helps keep teeth strong as well as nourish a soft coat with omega-6 fatty acids.
Specially designed to support urinary tract health by reducing urinary PH and offering low magnesium
Pros:
- Real Chicken
- No filler
- Balanced diet
Cons:
- Negative reviews about the recent formula change
- Moisture content is low
Get Naked Urinary Health Crunchy Treats For Cats
- Cranberries Support Healthy Urinary...
- Grain Free, Natural With Added Taurine
- Under 2 Calories Per Treat
They are filled with real chicken as the first ingredient and are formulated with cranberries, which are natural antioxidants that promote urinary health. Moreover, these products are grain-free, containing no corn, wheat, soy, or dairy products.
Pros:
- Rich in cranberries which serves as a natural source of antioxidants to support urinary your pal’s urinary tract health.
- Natural and Grain free
- Under 2 calories per treat
Cons:
- Not a complete meal
Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health, High Protein Adult Wet Cat Food
- Twenty-Four (24) 5.5 oz. Cans - Purina...
- Urinary health cat food reduces urinary...
- Pate cat food made with real salmon for...
Available in packs of 12, 24 or 36 cans, the Purina Pro Plan Focus Classic Urinary Tract Health Formula Adult Wet Cat Food Variety Pack is a great option.
Three different flavors are available-Ocean Whitefish, Beef and Chicken, Chicken, and Turkey and Giblets- or two flavors each-Ocean Whitefish and Salmon.
The recipes have low dietary magnesium and are intended to lower urinary pH. Purina products are made in the United States and are widely available and among the least expensive brands available today.
Pros:
- Great flavor options
- No prescription needed
Cons:
- Meat by-products are the first ingredient
- Added colouring
Wysong Uretic – Dry Natural Food for Cats
- A Time Tested, Nutrient Dense Natural...
- Fresh, Whole Ingredients, Plus A...
- 42% Protein And 15% Fat. Exceptional...
Developed by veterinarians, the nutritional composition of this food considers wellness, immunity, and urinary systems.
Fresh, frozen, and dried meat and organs, protein, and fat have been added to the Uretic dry formula most recently updated in Fall 2020.
Chicken, chicken meal, and chicken fat, potato protein, brown rice, peas and flaxseeds are sourced from U.S. farms. Cranberry extract lowers urinary pH by lowering the alkalinity of urine.
In addition to the antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, Wysong is conscious of micronutrients/nutraceuticals. The supplement contains methionine, which increases urine acidity.
Additionally, small amounts of fruits and vegetables have been added to mimic what would be in a prey’s stomach.
Pros:
- No prescription needed
- Backed by science based nutrition
Cons:
- Cats with a sensitive stomach may find it hard to digest
Conclusion On Urinary Cat Food For Urinary Tract Health
There are several ways to improve the urinary health of your feline without changing their cat food.
It’s important to try other methods before opting to change your cat’s food, as their urinary health could be failing due to another health issue.
If you’ve already introduced more water into their diet and worked to reduce environmental stressors without any luck, consult your veterinarian about reducing the dietary magnesium in your cat’s diet.
Frequently Asked Questions
What ingredient in cat food helps with urinary problems?
The levels of magnesium within a cat’s diet are generally what alleviates urinary problems. Common ingredients to look for include methionine, omega-3’s, and probiotics. These ingredients will reduce the formation of crystals or stones within the urinary tract.
How do I know if my cat has crystals in its urine?
Your cat may have crystals in their urine if you notice any pain or straining when they try to urinate. You may also observe increased licking of the genitals or even blood in the urine. If you see any of these symptoms, be sure to visit a veterinarian right away.
How long does it take for urinary tract cat food to work?
You should give urinary tract cat food for about ten days to start working. This doesn’t include the period spent transitioning onto the new food. If your cat has frequent infections or crystals, it may take longer for the food to become effective.
Last update on 2023-04-01 at 10:28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
