Diet for Felines with Bladder Stones

Felines often develop microscopic crystals in their urine, either calcium oxalate or struvite bladder stones, the more common of the two. They can cause irritation and pain upon urination. The crystals can cause obstruction of the urethra, especially in male cats. Bladder stones form when there is an overabundance of minerals within a cat's body. The tiny microscopic mineral particles clump together to form larger crystals and stones. Bladder stones can form in any cat but Burmese and Himalayan breeds appear to have a higher incidence than other cats.

  1. Formation

    • Bladder stones form in the bladder from minerals in a cat's diet. Calcium oxalate stones tend to be predominately calcium, but struvite stones are made up of magnesium, ammonium and phosphate. Insufficient water intake adds to the possibility of stones, and the pH balance determines the type: struvite stones form in alkaline urine and calcium oxalate stones form in acidic urine.

    History

    • Calcium oxalate bladder stones in cats is a relatively new occurrence; as of 25 years ago, bladder stones in cats would have been almost assuredly struvite stones. The pet food industry acidified cat food to help prevent lower urinary tract infections and struvite stones from forming, and the acidic food causes more calcium loss into the cat's urine, which in turn causes a higher incidence of oxalate bladder stones to develop, according to VeterinaryPartner.com.

    Struvite Stones

    • Increasing a cat's water consumption can help lower the incidence of struvite stones in a cat's bladder. Adding vitamin C into a cat's diet can also help control struvite stones from forming. Some prescription diets, balanced in magnesium and phosphorus, are designed to prevent struvite stones by producing a more dilute and acidic urine. Some prescription diets are designed to dissolve stones that have already formed, but they should not be used long-term, according to PetEducation.com, as they are not properly balanced diets.

    Calcium Oxalate

    • Calcium oxalate stones are difficult to treat with diet alone. Lowering a cat's protein intake and restricting its sodium helps in preventing stone formation, according to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. Several prescription diets can reduce stone formation. A veterinarian may also advise using vitamin B6, hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) and potassium citrate to help render the cat's urine more alkaline.

    Water Increase

    • Both stone types can often be successfully prevented by increasing the cat's water intake. A cat may need to be fed an all-moist food diet to benefit from the added water soft food can provide. Water helps to dilute the urine, which helps prevent mineral accumulation. Provide ample water throughout the house. Make sure it is always clean and fresh to entice your cat to drink.