Alternative Products for Cats with Urinary Problems

Does your cat have urinary tract issues that made you open this blog? For sure you are looking for a way to help your cat out of this problem. There are plenty of cat food and veterinary medications you can find but in this blog, I will show you my top recommendations for your cat with urinary tract issues.

Let me tell you first about Urinary Crystals in cats.

Feline urinary crystals are collections of mineral molecules. Sometimes these crystals gather together and become stones called struvite uroliths. These crystals are composed of minerals such as magnesium, phosphate, ammonium, calcium oxalate. When these minerals become overly concentrated, they can cause malfunction in your cat’s urinary system and can cause stone formation.

 

 What causes Struvite Crystals? 

  • Too little water consumption

  • Dry food diets with a moderate protein content that are “high in magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, sodium, chloride, and fiber”

  • Cats age between 2 and 7 years are at risk of struvite uroliths

  • Female cats develop struvite uroliths more often than male cats.

  • Urease-producing bacteria

  • Stress

What are the symptoms of Feline Urinary Tract Disease? 

  • Urinating outside the litter box.

  • Urinating small amounts.

  • Blood in the urine.

  • Crying out while urinating.

  • Excessive licking of the genital area

 According to research, commercial food changes, unfortunately, have led to more surgeries to remove calcium oxalate stones, for this type of urolith requires surgical intervention. So what what products should you buy that highly beneficial for your cats with Urinary Tract Disease?

What are the products that are great for Urinary Tract Disease?

1. Hill’s Prescription Diet

Hill’s offers a variety of urinary care foods, including Prescription Diet c/d Multicare which helps reduce common urinary signs and dissolves struvite stones in as little as 7 days (average 27 days).

 2. Royal Canin

This cat food helps dissolve all types of struvite stones. It also helps lower the concentration of ions contributing to struvite and calcium oxalate crystal formation. It has reduced level of magnesium, a natural component of struvite crystals.

 3. Purina ONE +Plus Urinary Tract Health Formula 

Purina ONE +Plus Urinary Tract Health Formula combines nature and research for results you can see in your cat. That includes a SmartBlend® of high-quality ingredients including real chicken, 0% fillers and no artificial flavors or colors. This easily digestible formula helps maintain urinary tract health by reducing urinary pH and providing low dietary magnesium.

However, what if these products get out of stock? What alternative product could you buy?

The Alternative Product for Feline for Urinary Tract Disease 

Dr. Jeffrey Judkins, DVM, of Animalkind Holistic Veterinary Clinic in Jacksonville, Oregon,  explains, “An abnormally high urine pH predisposes cats to form struvite crystals and uroliths. Raw meat diets are, in general, higher in protein than dry cat diets, which results in a lower urine pH.”

Before any Urinary Tract Diseases make a move to your cat, feed him/her with a high-moisture, raw meat diet that is mildly acidic with the proper fats and nutrients. Cats don’t have the capacity to tolerate carbohydrates so feeding them with low-carbohydrate diets is beneficial. Also, grain fillers in most cat foods promote urine that is too alkaline.  Dr. Jeffrey Judkins’ DVM prefers a raw diet to maintain long-term feline health.

Clearly, feeding your cats raw meat is one best idea—but not just an ordinary raw meat. I’d like to introduce you to Darwin’s Intelligent Design™, a raw prescription diet for cats particularly with kidney disease but this is also best for cats experiencing Urinary Tract Diseases.

 Darwin’s Intelligent Design™ Kidney Support Formula

Darwin usually works with the Vet to come up with the formula and so it actually becomes a Prescription Diet.

Darwin’s offers a specialized formula designed to provide extra support to cats facing kidney disease. These highly palatable and nutritious meals use only hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and pesticide-free meats, with no grains, added fillers or chemical preservatives. Key benefits of this diet include

      • Appropriate protein levels

      • Restricted Phosphorus

      • Included natural Phosphorus binder Chitosan

      • Increased calcium levels (minimizes phosphorus absorption)

      • Enhanced long chain Omega 3 Fatty Acids for glomerular health

      • Increased Vitamin B levels to replace those lost in the urine

      • Added Botanicals and Extracts

Darwin’s Intelligent Design™ Kidney Support Formula requires a prescription from your veterinarian.

Darwin’s Raw Cat Food is gluten free, grain free, and carefully formulated and tested to meet AAFCO feline nutritional profiles for all Life-Stages and the National Research Council’s guidelines for cat nutrition. It’s the best you can do for your cat’s urinary health.

Citations:

Darwin’s Natural Pet Products. (2020, April 12). Urinary Crystals in Cats: What, Why, and Prevention. Darwin’s Natural Pet Products. https://www.darwinspet.com/health-issues/urinary-crystals-cats.html

AVMA. Feline lower urinary tract disease. American Veterinary Medical Association.https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/feline-lower-urinary-tract-disease