Crystals in a cat's bladder and urine are not only uncomfortable, they can be dangerous and even life-threatening in male cats. Often, all it takes to prevent crystals from forming or recurring is making some simple changes in the cat's diet.
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Wet Food
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Wet food prevents dehydration, helps keep the urine dilute and creates an environment that is inhospitable to the formation of stones and crystals. You can free feed wet food the way you would dry. It won't go bad if left out for several hours.
Raw Food
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Raw food most closely resembles a cat's natural diet and helps produce urine at the correct pH to discourage formation of crystals. Independent pet supply retailers sell frozen raw cat food, or try making your own.
Add Water
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Cats do not have a strong thirst drive and need moisture with their food. Adding about 1/4 tsp of water to your cat's wet food will increase its moisture intake and help prevent the formation of crystals. Do not add water to dry food. Most dry foods have a high bacterial content, and bacteria thrives in moisture.
No Dry Food
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Cats who are prone to crystals should not eat dry food, which tends to create very concentrated urine. That's the perfect environment for the formation of stones and crystals.
Avoid Prescription Food
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Most prescription foods contain inferior ingredients that are not species-appropriate for cats.
Encourage Drinking
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Providing filtered instead of plain tap water, or adding some unsalted chicken broth to your cat's water encourages it to drink. Placing water bowls in several locations throughout your house also encourages drinking.
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