Purina Pro Plan Focus Urinary Tract Cat Food. When an infection develops in the cat’s bladder. ensure the cat has an adequate amount of water to drink. Adult Cat Food: What are the Differences? Dry food is the leading cause behind most urinary tract problems in cats. An injury suffered by the cat’s urinary tract. This comes at no extra cost to you and does not affect our opinions on product quality. Research suggests that these issues are most common among cats older than one year, but also younger than four years. The Fluffy Kitty blog inspires cat owners around the world to live a more adventurous and eco-friendly life with their cats. The development of inflammation in the urethra and area of the bladder can also cause a cat to show signs associated with the presence of urinary tract issues. Make sure the cat has water available and litter boxes in fixed locations. This includes every brand listed above. Let’s take a closer look at struvite crystals Struvite crystals are formed from magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate. What Insects & Bugs Are Poisonous To Cats? Your vet will give you instructions to follow. Cats eati… You can read more about which programs we participate in by clicking here. Cranberry juice and herbs such as Cantharis, Uva Ursi and Staphysagris help prevent bacteria from building up in your cat's bladder. In more serious cases, surgical procedures may be used to remove stones. This means that no actual physical cause can be identified. One particular problem often faced with FLUTD in cats is the fact that in as many as 64% of cases, the condition is classified as idiopathic. ¹⁶ . FIC The most common urinary disorder in cats is feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), a diagnosis that is typically made after other possible conditions are eliminated. It becomes harder to initiate an effective treatment protocol to help address any underlying root causes. There does not seem to be a trend toward a specific gender. Protein and phosphorus content and urinary disease, How feeding habits affect urinary tract disease. It also encourages them to urinate more often, meaning the urine isn’t sitting around in the bladder for too long. Some of the common causes of urinary tract problems in cats include: Debris may accumulate within the cat’s urethra or their bladder. Some cats may also vomit when they have FLUTD. This fact considers both sources of water: food and water bowl. This may help to relieve symptoms associated with urinary problems in cats. Since cats naturally feel the need to hunt for their food, using bowls and feeders that allow them to express these normal behaviours can reduce stress. This would mean feeding a high protein canned, cooked or raw diet that is high in moisture and high in meat. Cat’s with weak bladders are also known to be at a higher risk of FLUTD. Once the problem has been treated and your cat seems to be better, implement preventative steps. In this article we’ll explore how your cat’s diet and feeding habits can impact on their urinary health. Naturally, cats would be eating food with a moisture content of about 80%, so they’re not very good at drinking enough water. Analysis of the urine will also provide important information. Do not disregard advice from a professional veterinarian because of something you read here. Often the most important aspect of helping your cat is detecting the problem at an early stage when treatment is more likely to be successful. This can include formation of stones in the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra, and fine grit in the bladder. The development of a tumor in the urinary tract of the cat. There are both fresh and frozen foods available in their range. Secondly, obesity is a big risk factor, too, so using feeding habits that reduce the risk of obesity also impact on FLUTD. Your email address will not be published. 5 Things to Consider Before Choosing a Cat Food, The Best Cat Foods For Sensitive Stomachs, Cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder. The cat may frequently lick the opening of their urinary tract. Typically, we are aiming for a pH of between six and seven, and there are strips available which can be used to measure this number at home. Cats that are overweight or obese are significantly more likely to suffer with urinary tract problems. Unfortunately, pet foods don’t regularly reflect a cat’s natural diet which is one of the major causes of poor urinary health in cats. This can help you better understand how to reduce the risk of your cat developing problems with their urinary tract. Although high levels of protein themselves aren’t a concern for urinary disease, very high levels of protein in a cat that also has renal disease is thought to be a big no-no, as this puts excess strain on the kidneys. Within the United States and the United Kingdom, up to 1% of cats display signs of urinary problems annually (1). Cats consume double the amount of water when fed a water-rich diet versus dry food. Because of the other ingredients, it requires a veterinarian's note to purchase. If the stones are big enough your vet may be able to feel them, however X-ray or ultrasound is also used to detect some stones. Hill's Science Diet Urinary Hairball … It is important for cats to stay hydrated. More water and dilute urine are for more important than the urine pH and ash content of the diet. Usually this is all you need to do for prevention if your cat doesn’t have FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease or crystals. There are plenty of grain-free food options available such as GO Fit and Free Grain Free Dry Cat Food or ProPlan Urinary Tract Health Dry Cat Food. excessively scratching and grooming themselves. The most common signs that your cat might be experiencing the dreadful effects of FLUTD may include: There are different ways that urinary tract problems in cats can be treated. One such example is The Wyesong Uretic Dry Cat Food. The cat should also get enough exercise to avoid weight gain. Helping Cats with Urinary Problems. Since cats are unable to communicate with their owners in plain English (or whichever language you may speak), it can sometimes be hard to know what is wrong with your cat when they start to act differently than usual. Certain diets can cause urinary pH to rise and can be the cause of crystals forming. One in three cats will get kidney failure, properly called ‘chronic renal insufficiency’ or ‘chronic kidney disease’. Protein Helps to Reverse Urinary Infections Just as grains can cause urine with high levels of alkaline, protein can … Tell your vet about the symptoms the cat experienced. You may notice your cat visits the litter box more frequently – the cat may also sometimes squat over the litterbox for prolonged periods of time. As more research was conducted, it became clear that magnesium level is of greater concern than ash content. Cats are also prone to diseases of the upper urinary tract, most commonly kidney failure. There are different types of urinary problems in cats prevention options available. Causes of Male Cat Urinary Blockage. Read more about our story on our about us page. Examples include Hills C/D, Royal Canin Urinary SO and Purina Pro Plan UR ST/OX, although other brands and variations within these brands are available and are suitable for different conditions. Only approximately 2% of signs related to a urinary issue in a cat is actually caused by an infection that has developed in the urethra or the bladder. When urinary tract problems have occurred in your cat, it is important that you take appropriate measures to prevent them from happening again. Firstly, stress is a big risk factor for FLUTD, so feeding your cats in a way that reduces stress can help to reduce FLUTD. Crystals and stones also form better in acidic or alkali environments, depending on the type of crystal, and the food your cat eats is what dictates how acidic the urine is. Chronic Renal Failure. Special diets that prevent the formation of one kind of crystal can actually cause the other, so it is best to avoid such diets for your cat. You should take a couple of additional steps to prevent recurrence as well. In fact, we now know that the ash content of the diets is largely an irrelevant concern. In addition to the above-mentioned risks and causes associated with the development of FLUTD, it should be noted that cats may also be prone to develop this problem if they are under constant stress. Urinary Tract Infection or there is something blocking the urinary tract such as a bladder stone. Treating urinary problems in this way may contribute to kidney disease, as recent evidence has suggested that the low magnesium content of these diets may have a detrimental effect on the kidneys over time. Take your cat to the vet for a thorough checkup once you see no more signs of urinary problems. Another possible medical option may include fluid therapy. If your cat is suffering from a UTI--short for urinary tract infection--creating a homemade diet is a great way to load up your feline fur kid with extra nutrition, fresher ingredients, and even specific foods and liquids targeted specifically to increase immunity and fight inflammation. Dry cat food is a contributing cause of urinary problems (stress is another). Cats are generally lazy, so their diet is a really important cause of obesity. The primary health conditions associated with FLUTD include diabetes and hyperthyroidism. Bacteria Can Cause Infections, Painful Symptoms. Your cat strains to urinate or urinates in small amounts. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be taken as seriously by owners as it should be. Recommended food for bladder and urinary problems. Again, this can make cats very ill, and whilst your veterinarian cannot fix the disease, they can help you to manage it, so we recommend a trip there first. These usually involve changing the pH of the urine, but may also contain ingredients to encourage an increased urine output – following the theory that dilute urine doesn’t produce as many crystals. Hill’s Science Diet Hairball Control & Urinary Dry Cat Food. There is a number of potential causes for urinary problems in cats to develop. If the cat food contains more proteins, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium, you should re-consider buying that cat food. A number of spinal cord issues may also lead to the development of FLUTD-related symptoms. As you probably know, there are different breeds of cats, each with their own traits. This can be done by ensuring the cat eats a balanced diet by buying the right foods for them. © Copyright Fluffy Kitty 2015-2020 | All Rights Reserved | As Amazon Affiliates, we may earn from clicks and purchases at no cost to you. As a cat owner, be cautious about these issues that your feline friends may develop. Potential risk factors that are detected should be dealt with accordingly to minimize the risk of a recurrence. When on a dry-food only diet, cats don’t always adapt to take in enough water and produce very concentrated urine, which increases the chance of inflammation and crystal formation. Often, tumors can go unnoticed for a long time and can even become cancerous. Also some health-related problems that the vet to see if there are both fresh and foods... Unfortunately, it requires a veterinarian 's note to purchase high ash.! 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