Remedy for Cat Crystals

The most common crystal found in a cat̵7;s urine is the struvite. Struvite crystals form when the feline̵7;s urine pH is too high̵2;7 or above̵2;according to the British Veterinary Association.

Lowering your cat̵7;s urine pH dissolves struvite crystals. Treatment includes feeding a grain-free diet, increasing water intake, managing your cat's stress and supplementing her diet with cranberry extract.

  1. Acidify Urine

    • Most commercial pet foods contain high planted-based concentrations of carbohydrates, which increase the alkalinity (pH) of your cat's urine, setting up the optimal environment for struvite crystals.

      Feed a canned food high in animal-based protein and fat, low in carbohydrates, says Deborah Greco, DVM, Ph.D., a leading researcher at The Animal Medical Center in New York. Read the labels. Choose wet food that contains human-grade ingredients, like whole chicken and beef, not meat by-products. Meat by-products, the rendered parts of slaughtered cattle and swine, do not include the muscle meat cats with struvite crystals need to acidify urine.

    Eliminate Ash and Magnesium from the Diet

    • Cat food low in ash and magnesium, the minerals which contribute to the formation of struvite crystals, should be part of your cat̵7;s dietary change with one caveat: if the food contains grains, avoid them. Grains, such as wheat, corn and rice are too high in carbohydrates for cats, and produce alkaline urine̵2;the leading cause of struvite crystals. Grains tax feline kidneys, predisposing your cat to an unhealthy urinary tract and struvite crystals.

    Increase Water Intake

    • Keep dry-food feeding to a minimum or remove it completely from your cat̵7;s fare. Dry food dehydrates your cat. A cat with struvite crystals needs hydration to help dilute its urine and flush out crystals before they can potentially obstruct the urethra and create a life-threatening situation, according to peteducation.com. Water is essential to your cat̵7;s health, requiring foods containing 65 to 75 percent water. Dry cat food only contains 10 percent water, while canned foods average 78 percent, according to catnutrition.org.

    Supplement Diet with Cranberry Extract Tablets

    • Making changes to your cat̵7;s diet is the preferred strategy for treating struvite crystals; however, diet changes must be taken slowly to minimize stress. This adds time to your cat̵7;s recovery. Cranberry extract in tablet form acidifies urine and dissolves struvite crystals within 24 hours, according to Wendell O. Belfield, DVM. ̶0;For an average-size cat, use one 250-milligram tablet twice daily for five days,̶1; Belfield advises. He adds, ̶0;A high-level, good-quality protein diet in combination with the extract works excellently.̶1;