Food & Feline Urinary Tract Infection

Looking in the cat food aisle can be overwhelming with all of the different brands and varieties of food. Cat food manufacturers make kitten food, senior food and even urinary tract infection prevention food. Cat owners need to know what it takes to make a urinary tract infection prevention food.

  1. Causes of Feline Urinary Tract Infections

    • Microscopic crystals that are made of magnesium, ammonium and phosphate are one of the causes of urinary tract infections in cats. These crystals can lead to urinary tract infections if connected with bacteria. They can also gather as sandy grains and turn into a plugged urethra in tomcats or bladder stones.

    Acid or Alkaline

    • Some groups suggest using supplements to help create a perfect "ph" balance, but owners must exercise caution. Too much acidity in a cat's urine can cause urinary tract infections according to website Vetinfo. Yet, owners do not want to make the cat's diet high in alkaline as this can lead to bladder stones as pointed out by Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Education.com.

    Correct Diet

    • Owners can find specially made foods that help prevent crystal formation in those cats most susceptible for them. The manufacturers of these diets work to create a balanced level of the minerals that help form the crystals. These special diets aid in producing more diluted urine, so those annoying and potentially dangerous crystals are less likely to form. Doctors Foster and Smith Pet Education.com states some formulas of cat food include but are not limited to Purina CNM UR-Formula, Royal Canin Urinary SO, Royal Canin Control, and Hill's c/d, w/d, and r/d.

    Raw Diet

    • Proponents of the raw diet state that by cooking food meant for pets, the nutritional elements are lost and the animal will not absorb them. It is also argued that felines are carnivore in nature and should be getting more organ meat or meat from muscle to have a truly balanced diet. Kymythy R. Schultze, a certified clinical nutritionist and animal health instructor, suggests chopping up some steamed vegetables into a feline's meal to provide what it might have received in the wild if owners decide to make their own pet food. A holistic veterinarian will have suggestions for owners creating such a diet for their cat.

    Dietary Changes

    • If owners choose to convert to specialized kibble or an unprocessed food diet, they should gradually make the change over a period of ten days. They should begin by mixing a little of the new food in with the old food. As each day goes by add a little more of the new food and less of the old. If they decide to go with the kibble, they should make sure one meal is wet food to aid in extra moisture. Either way, owners should always provide fresh, clean water. A cat getting more moisture is essential for urinary problem prevention.

    Signs of Urinary Problems

    • When a cat is having urinary problems, it may avoid using the litter box, choosing to spray outside of the box. It might try going in a sink or bathtub. The animal may also try to find cool places like tiles or tubs to urinate. If blood is in the urine or the animal is straining to urinate with little or no output, it is time to see the family veterinarian immediately. Antibiotics can treat an infection, while a plugged urethra or bladder stones may require immediate surgery.