We all know that a pet’s 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, there’s 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 cat’s diet, and maintaining an appropriate urinary pH. When it comes to selecting a urinary care cat food, you’ll find yourself faced with myriad options. That’s where we come in – to help you choose the purrfect solution for your cat, we’ve 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.
Kicking off our list is this Purina urinary cat food. Something of a heavyweight in the petfood world, Purina have channeled all of their expertise into crafting a food that helps cats with urinary issues stay healthy and comfortable. The food is tailored to tackle these issues in a few ways. First of all, it features a high moisture content, for easy digestibility and better hydration. Secondly, it’s low in magnesium, one of the main culprits behind bladder stone formation in cats. The food also helps to lower the pH of your cat’s urine, reducing the risk of stone formation, and helping to prevent infection.
These highly specific features don’t detract from the food’s ability to nurture your feline friend. Made with real beef and chicken, the tasty dish offers cats the protein they crave. Meanwhile, vitamin E promotes healthy hair and skin, while B vitamins support a healthy metabolism. The food is also blended to support your cat’s immune system, contributing to overall health and further tackling pathogens in the urinary tract.
For more information on the brand, check out our review of Purina Pro Plan Dog Food.
Tailored UT health food for cats
Moisture rich, wet formula
Low magnesium content
Lowers urinary pH
Made with real beef and chicken
Contains vitamin E for healthy skin and hair
B vitamins support the metabolism
Blended to promote a healthy immune system
The next diet to earn itself a spot on our list is Hill’s CD cat food. Tailored specifically to help cats with urinary issues, this tasty food helps to prevent bladder stones, and has the added bonus of tackling fur balls, too. Made with optimal magnesium levels, the blend helps to keep painful urinary crystals at bay. It’s also full of healthy fiber, which helps any furballs your cat experiences to pass easily.
The wet food is also full of moisture, for optimal hydration, and made with natural ingredients. In fact, it’s totally free from artificial flavors and preservatives. A tasty blend of chicken, turkey, and pork is sure to satisfy your cat’s meaty cravings, and keep them coming back for more. The food also contains a blend of vitamins and minerals your cat needs for great overall health. Hill’s are a well-known name when it comes to special diets, and they’ve successfully channeled their expertise towards Hill’s urinary cat food.
Take a look at our detailed Hill’s Cat Food Review.
Wet cat food for UT issues and fur balls
Optimum magnesium content prevents bladder stones from forming
Full of fiber to help hairballs pass easily
Moisture rich for great hydration
Made with natural ingredients
Free from artificial flavors and preservatives
Contains a vitamin and mineral blend for overall health
Wysong have also earned themselves a spot on our list, with their own urinary health cat food. The first dry food to make out list, this clever blend is natural, nutrient dense, and formulated to promote better urinary health. Excess minerals, which can result in the formation of urinary crystals, have been removed from the food, while important methionine has been added.
As well as keeping urinary issues at bay, the food is great for your cat’s overall health. Wholesome fruit and vegetables provide the range of micronutrients your pet needs for a healthy and happy life. Omega fatty acids help their skin and coat to flourish, while antioxidants support the healthy functioning of their immune system. Free from fillers and artificial additives, this food is a tasty and natural option that your feline friend will love. It’s suitable for cats of all breeds and life stages, making it an ideal feed for multi-cat households.
Dry food to promote urinary health
Free from excess minerals that can form urinary crystals
Added methionine promotes a healthy urinary tract
Fruit and vegetable extracts provide a variety of vitamins
Omega fatty acids promote healthy hair and skin
Antioxidants support the immune system
Suitable for life stages and breeds
Royal Canin SO is the next food to make it onto our list. Royal Canin are a well-known name when it comes to special pet diets – and for good reason. Their carefully blended urinary SO cat food helps your kitty to tackle a range of health issues, from cystitis, to urinary crystals. Thanks to its high moisture content, the food also helps to keep the urine dilute, flushing out any excess minerals that can trigger these conditions.
The food is very appealing to cats, too – chicken and pork are its first ingredients, providing the tasty protein they need and crave. Meanwhile, a selection of fish oils offer healthy Omega fatty acids, which help your cat’s coat and skin to flourish. The food is also rich in iron, which is great for maintaining your cat’s energy levels.
Find out more about Royal Canin Cat Food.
Wet cat food for urinary tract health
High moisture content helps dilute urine and prevent stone formation
Helps to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Protein rich meat is the number one ingredient
Fish oils promote healthy skin and hair
Rich in iron, for healthy energy levels
Hill’s have earned themselves a second spot on our list with their dry UTI cat food. With its optimal magnesium content, and high levels of fiber, the food has been carefully formulated to promote urinary tract health, while making fur balls easier to deal with. The carefully balanced food helps support your cat’s urinary system overall, while its low magnesium content helps to prevent the formation of urinary crystals.
Meanwhile, its clinically proven antioxidant blend helps to support a healthy immune system. Not only is this great for your cat’s overall health, a properly functioning immune system will also support your cat as they fend off UTIs. Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, Hill’s diet is gentle on sensitive stomachs, too. It’s made with natural animals proteins your cat will love, and a range of fruit and veg extracts for overall nutrition.
Dry food for urinary tract health in cats
High fiber levels allow hairballs to be easily passed
Low in magnesium to prevent urinary crystals forming
Clinically proven antioxidant blend supports your cat’s immune system
Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
Made with delicious natural meats and produce
Purina have also found a second spot on the list, thanks to their dry food, specially blended to promote urinary tract health in cats. The food encourages increased water intake, diluting the urine and helping to prevent problems such as bladder stones and UTIs. The food also helps to acidify the urine slightly, dissolving any crystals that may have begun to form.
Thanks to its reduced magnesium content, these crystals are unlikely to form in the first place, so you can rest assured your kitty has great all-round protection from this common but dangerous condition. As well as protecting the urinary tract, this food also helps to promote your cat’s overall health. Its rich protein content helps kitties to thrive, while vitamin E supports their hair and skin. Vitamin B-12 promotes a healthy metabolism, while antioxidants help keep the immune system fighting fit. Owners report that the food works like a charm, keeping urinary crystals at bay even in cats who are especially prone to them.
Check out our Purina Cat Food Review.
Dry cat food for urinary health
Encourages increased water intake in cats
Helps dilute the urine, keeping stones and UTIs at bay
Low magnesium content to prevent urinary crystals from forming
Contains vitamin E to support healthy hair and skin
Vitamin B-12 promotes healthy energy levels
Antioxidants support the proper functioning of the immune system
Making their third and final entry onto our list is Purina, with this delicious and nutritious dry cat food. The specially blended formula helps maintain a healthy urinary tract in a number of ways. It acts to lower the pH of your cat’s urine, making it slightly more acidic. This helps to dissolve any urinary crystals, and makes it much more difficult for future deposits to form.
The formula also contains low levels of magnesium – the usual culprit in urinary crystal formation. As well as keeping urinary issues at bay, the food also promotes great overall health. Made with real chicken, the food offers cats all the protein they need to thrive. Meanwhile, a range of vitamins and minerals help to support overall health. Omega three and six fatty acids keep the skin and coat in tip top condition, while vitamins A and E support a properly functioning immune system. Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives, the food is great for cats with sensitive stomachs, too.
You may also like our Purina One Cat Food Review.
Dry cat food to promote urinary tract health
Lowers urine pH to dissolve and prevent the formation of urinary crystals
Contains low levels of magnesium – the leading cause of urinary crystals
Real chicken gives cats the protein they crave
Omega three and six fatty acids promote healthy coat and skin
Vitamins A and E support the immune system, reducing the risk of UTIs
Free from artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives
The next food to earn a spot on our list is by IAMS. Their tasty food helps to protect your cat’s urinary tract from common ailments. Specially formulated to reduce the pH of your cat’s urine, the food helps to dissolve urinary crystals, and prevent new deposits from forming. It also contains a carefully balanced level of magnesium, further reducing the risk of crystal formation.
Cats love the taste, too. At its heart, the formula revolves around real natural chicken, providing your feline friend with the lean protein they crave. Each kibble provides a satisfying crunch, and also helps to keep plaque at bay for a healthy mouth. The food also contains vitamin E, for a strong immune system, and calcium and potassium to support the normal functioning of the heart. Owners say that even picky cats loved the taste, and noticed a marked improvement in urinary health.
Dry cat food to support urinary health
Lowers urine pH to prevent the formation of crystals
Optimal magnesium levels further reduce the risk of urinary crystals
Crunchy kibbles help to prevent plaque build-up
Vitamin E supports the immune system
Potassium promotes a healthy heart
Made with real chicken
If your cat is sensitive to grains, finding the perfect food can sometimes be a challenge. Luckily, Ziwi Peak have you covered, with their grain-free wet food. Although it’s not specifically designed for urinary tract health, the formula does support the urinary tract. Its high moisture content helps to dilute your cat’s urine, significantly reducing the risk of UITs and urinary crystals.
Because the food is grain-free, it’s also low in magnesium. This further reduces the likelihood that urinary crystals will form. Thanks to its deliberately limited ingredients list, the food is perfect for allergy prone cats, and sensitive stomachs. It’s free from grains, rice, soy, sugars, potatoes, fillers and artificial preservatives. Instead, the recipe hinges on single-sourced venison; grass-fed and ethically raised. The blend also features New Zealand Green Mussels, known for their ability to support joint health. The food also contains a range of vitamins and minerals to support overall health, derived from organ and bone – just as your cat would encounter them in the wild.
Grain-free wet food for cats with sensitive stomachs
High moisture content dilute the urine, keeping crystals and UTIs at bay
Without grains, the food is low in magnesium, further preventing urinary crystals
Limited ingredient recipe is great for cats with allergies
Free from grains, rice, soy, sugars, potatoes, and artificial fillers or preservatives
Contains New Zealand Green Mussels to support healthy joints
Last, but not least, Wysong finish off our list with their second entry. Their wet Uretic diet is the perfect solution for cats with recurrent urinary problems. Thanks to its high moisture content, the food helps to dilute cats’ urine, keeping urinary crystals and UTIs at bay. With its low carbohydrate content, the food not only mimics the kind of diet that cats would eat in the wild, it also contains relatively low levels of magnesium, further reducing the risk of urinary crystal formation.
Made with organic chicken, the food is rich in healthy protein, too. Alongside this chicken, Wysong’s blend contains a range of vitamins and minerals, essential for overall feline health. B vitamins promote a healthy metabolism and energy levels, while vitamins C and A promote a properly functioning immune system. Owners say that most cats enjoy the rich taste, and noticed that the food prevented UTIs from occurring.
Wet cat food for urinary tract health
High moisture content dilutes urine, keeping UTIs and crystals at bay
Low magnesium levels further reduce the risk of urinary crystals
Made with organic chicken
Contains B vitamins to promote a healthy metabolism
Vitamins C and A support the immune system
If your cat is struggling with urinary tract issues, one of these 10 foods could be the perfect solution. With so many options to choose from, we’re confident that there’s something on our list to meet the needs of any feline friend.
We’ve also answered some common questions about urinary tract issues in cats, so you can work out whether your kitty needs help, and how you can best support them.
When choosing food with urinary tract health in mind, it’s important to consider the following:
When it comes to choosing a urinary tract health food, you’ll need to know that it’s effective. Look out for the following indicators:
We’ll discuss how each of these factors contribute to better urinary health later on.
Generally speaking, wet foods are best for cats with urinary tract issues. This is because they have a much higher moisture content, helping to dilute the urine, which reduces the risk of UTIs and urinary crystals. If you and your cat prefer dry food, there shouldn’t be an issue provided you moisten it before serving, and ensure that fresh water is always available. You may also like our reviews of wet cat food and dry food for cats.
Any allergies or sensitivities your cat has should always be taken into account when choosing a food for them. Luckily, limited ingredient and grain-free foods can also possess urinary tract health benefits. Check the ingredients list carefully before making your final decision.
Check out our guides on Grain Free Cat Food and Limited Ingredient Cat Food.
You don’t want to treat your cat’s urinary tract issues, only to see another area of their health deteriorate. For this reason, it’s important to choose a balanced food made with quality ingredients. Look for a food featuring real meat as its first ingredient, and avoid artificial additives and fillers.
UTIs can be harder to spot in our pets than in ourselves, since cats can’t just tell us their symptoms.
However, we can look out for the following signs:
If your cat exhibits one or more of these symptoms, it’s important to take them to the vet as soon as possible. The symptoms may have been triggered by an infection, but can also be the result of inflammation, or urinary crystals.
Receiving a professional diagnosis will arm you with the knowledge you need to treat your cat’s condition.
The following dietary features can prevent and control urinary tract issues:
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.
When cats develop urinary crystals, magnesium is the main culprit. By reducing your kitty’s 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.
Some foods work to reduce the pH of your cat’s 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.
Cats can develop crystals and stones in their urinary tract for two main reasons:
Unfortunately, many commercial cat foods can increase the likelihood of urinary crystals forming. This tends to be due to their low moisture content, which causes a cat’s urine to become more concentrated than it naturally should be. When a cat’s urine contains high concentrations of certain minerals, deposits can form as crystals or stones.
Urinary crystals can also be a manifestation of broader health issues – most commonly, kidney disease. This condition changes the pH of your cat’s urine, making it slightly alkaline. Without an acidic environment, crystals and stones cannot be dissolved, and are more likely to form.
Improving your cat’s urinary tract health is a careful balancing act. As well feeding them the right kind of diet, you can also promote urinary health with these tips:
In our opinion, the best cat food for urinary health has to be Purina’s Pro Plan Focus. This tasty food gives cats the rich protein they need to thrive, while keeping bladder stones and other urinary issues at bay. Its low magnesium content helps to prevent urinary crystals from forming, and it also acts to lower the pH of your cat’s urine, supporting overall urinary tract health.
On top of these benefits, it’s a tasty, wholesome food. Rich in vitamin E, the blend promotes healthy skin and hair. It also contains a range of B vitamins, supporting your cat’s metabolism, and antioxidants for a properly functioning immune system. Owners say that even famously fussy felines love the taste, and noticed a marked difference in their cat’s urinary health.