Urinary Tract Cat Food: Reduce Your Cat’s Risk of FLUTD

Urinary tract issues (UTIs) can affect cats of all ages. UTIs in cats usually occur when there is a bacterial infection in the bladder or urethra.

Hence, the type of food your cat consumes can reduce the risk of UTIs by flushing bacteria out of their system. Urinary tract cat food produces a favorable internal environment in which urinary stones are less prone to develop as your cat is encouraged to urinate regularly. 

Here’s all you need to know about urinary tract cat food and how it helps in curing feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).

What is urinary tract cat food? 

Urinary tract cat food is a type of cat food that is made specifically to dilute excess minerals, which can cause stones in the kidney. It dilutes excess minerals by controlling the number of minerals, such as magnesium or calcium, which are known to lead to the production of urinary stones.

It also introduces methionine, an amino acid that inhibits bacteria from sticking to urinary tract cells, as well as essential prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, antioxidants, and other nutrients. Additionally, they’re developed to ensure your cat's urine is slightly acidic, which reduces the production of crystals.

If your cat has had past urinary health issues, it could benefit from one of the various urinary tract cat foods on the market. You should choose ones that contain appropriate levels of minerals, protein, and bladder protectants to help keep your cat’s urinary system healthy. 

Signs and symptoms of urinary issues in cat

Here are some notable signs and symptoms of urinary issues in cats:

• Straining while urinating
• Frequently urinates outside of its litter box
• Loss of bladder control
• The urine comes out pink, dark or bloody
• Licking the genitalia area
• Lack of appetite
• Increased frequency in urination
• Crying out in pain during/when attempting to urinate
• Loss in energy or interest in normal activities

Foods that increase risk of UTI in cats

Did you know that the food you give to your cat is critical to its general health? Additionally, certain foods can increase the risk of urinary tract disease.

A high concentration of certain minerals, like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, which are commonly present in grocery store brand cat food, can cause crystals to develop in the urine. This can lead to urinary stones.

The pH, or acidity, of urine, is influenced by food. Urine should be mildly acidic, in the pH range of 6.3–6.6, for a healthy urinary system because struvite crystals form more slowly in an acidic environment.

Does dry food cause UTI in cats? 

Cats that are solely fed dry food are more prone to getting UTIs. Dry food contains less moisture and because cats are not big water drinkers, dry food increases the risk of dehydration in your cat. This can cause its urine to be more concentrated, making it less likely to clear out the urinary crystals that cause discomfort to your cat. 

The domestic cats' wild predecessors obtained the majority of their water requirements by eating meat. Hence, it will be wiser to feed wet or even raw cat food to your cat to mimic its natural diet to help keep urinary issues at bay. 

Petcubes’s range of raw cat food is full of natural deliciousness and antibiotic-free meat. This holistic meal has a specific mixture of protein, calcium, taurine, omega oils, and iodine, assuring improved digestion, a better coat, and more energy for your cat.

Other foods that can help prevent urinary problems in cats 

Here are some foods that can be incorporated into your cat’s diet to prevent urinary issues from arising: 

Water

One of the most crucial stages in keeping your cat's urinary system healthy is to increase its water consumption. It is important to keep your cat hydrated as toxins, minerals, and urinary irritants that might cause issues are diluted by a larger urine water content. 

Irritants can lead to persistent bladder inflammation, and concentrated urine is more likely to produce crystals and urinary stones. Cats are naturally thirst-tolerant creatures, so getting them to drink a lot of water may be difficult.

Providing a "kitty fountain" or offering plenty of fresh water in various bowls around the house are two ways for improving your cat's water consumption. Because many cats like to drink running water, kitty fountains are particularly beneficial.

Moreover, wet food such as canned cat food has a higher water content compared to dry diets. Thus, providing wet food for your cat is a simple method to increase the amount of water in its daily diet. You may also persuade your cat to spend more time at her water bowl by adding meal toppers such as tuna juice or sodium-free chicken broth. 

Bone Broth

Bone broth for cats is perfect for preventing urinary problems in cats. Bone broth not only provides critical hydration, but it also includes nutrients and minerals that can aid in the battle against illnesses. Bone broth contains amino acids, such as glycine and arginine, which have been demonstrated to alleviate inflammation. 

You can try Petcubes's Bone Broth Dr for cats which is specially designed with filtered water, 100% good quality bones, apple cider vinegar, turmeric and extra virgin coconut oil.  It's carefully crafted with just the correct quantity of nutrients to keep your cat healthy.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar can also help to reduce the pH of your cat's urine, which helps to eliminate and avoid hazardous germs. A study on apple cider vinegar demonstrates that apple cider vinegar may assist to inhibit the growth of E. coli, the bacterium responsible for 80 to 90% of UTIs in animals. 

Every day, add a half teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to your cat's diet. You may decrease the bitterness by combining it with chicken or beef broth. Apple cider vinegar, like cranberries, is only beneficial if your cat's urine is overly alkaline. 

Difference between urinary tract cat food and regular cat food

The main difference between urinary tract cat food and regular cat food is that the former is specifically made with enough salt to cause the kidneys to expel the excess sodium when they excrete it. 

This movement also tells your cat’s brain that it needs to consume more water. Thus, a low PH in its urine is maintained by increased water consumption.

How long does it take for urinary tract cat food to work?

Urinary tract cat food usually starts working between 7 to 10 days but is dependent on whether your cat has the sort of stones that are amenable to dissolving. The length of time it takes for the stones to dissolve is determined by their size. 

Grain free urinary tract cat food

Another method is to include grain free urinary cat good into your cat’s diet. Grain free cat food is exactly what it sounds like: cat food without grains. It does not contain wheat, corn, oats, barley, and rice that are commonly used in cat food.

If you’ve wondered whether you need to put your cat on a grain free diet, the answer is not necessarily. Grains are included in pet food as a cost-effective and easily digested source of vitamins and energy, rather than as fillers. 

There are no evident negative effects or reductions in the quality or length of life of cats with urinary issues when grains are present in their meals. A grain free diet is more suitable for cats that have been diagnosed with a grain allergy and have reactions to ingredients such as rice, maize, or barley.

Urinary tract cat food wet 

If your cat is a fan of canned food, you can introduce canned urinary tract cat food into its diet. Since canned food has a high moisture content, it is an easy way to incorporate water into your cat’s diet. Doing so reduces the risk of the formation of urinary crystals in the cat’s kidneys.

Conclusion

Introducing urinary tract cat food into your cat’s diet is highly beneficial for your cat as explained above. You may test your cat's pH at home using at-home kits or diagnostic cat litter. If your cat keeps on showing signs and symptoms of urinary issues, have your local veterinarian do a more reliable test. Also, do check with your vet before making any changes to your cat’s diet.