Food Treatment for Bladder Stones in Cats

Cats suffering from bladder stones (also known as struvite uroliths and calcium oxalate uroliths) require special veterinary care to treat the stones and prevent them from reoccuring. While some stones can only be treated by means of medication or surgery, others are effectively treated and managed by following a special diet.

  1. Benefits

    • Following a prescribed diet for bladder stones may prevent your cat from having to undergo surgery and will prevent your cat from having to ingest harsh medications to acidify its urine.

    Types

    • Since there are different types of bladder stones, there are also different types of diets to accomodate these stones. The diets are available commercially from your veterinarian, and the food will act to acidify or produce more alkaline urine depending on the type of stone your cat suffers from.

    Considerations

    • The treatment is only effective if the cat will eat the prescribed diet, and unfortunately not all cats will eat the special food. The diet must be used exclusively for it to work, so a cat's refusal to eat the food will result in the need for alternative treatment.

    Misconceptions

    • Dietary treatment of bladder stones may not act as quickly as medication or surgery. Dietary treatment can take up to a few months to successfully dissolve bladder stones in cats.

    Warning

    • Specialized diets for the treatment of feline bladder stones are not effective for all types of stones. If the diet is to acidify the cat's urine, the cat should not take any other types of acidifiers. Cats with kidney disease should not eat an acidifying diet.