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What to Feed a Cat with Urinary Problems

What to Feed a Cat with Urinary Problems

Updated on July 18, 2024
Reviewer Profile Photo
Reviewed by Dr. Whitney Miller
DVM, MBA, DACVPM

By Stacey Hunvald, DVM

Although it might be unpleasant to think about, urinary issues are a major concern for pet parents, estimated to affect 4 to 8% of cats visiting veterinarians. When their urinary system is not at optimum health, a cat’s overall well-being can quickly become compromised. Because your cat’s diet impacts what they eliminate, nutrition can play a critical role.

Cat food for urinary health

Urinary health cat food carefully balances the protein and minerals in the diet to help reduce the risk of bladder stone formation. It has been shown that one particular type of bladder stone called struvite stones can be dissolved by strictly feeding a prescription urinary diet. These stones tend to form in urine where the pH is too high (or alkaline). If you're able to reduce the pH of the urine, struvite stones may be able to be dissolved without surgery, demonstrating how critical nutrition can be in addressing urinary tract health.

Note that these diet recommendations are specifically for lower urinary tract concerns (bladder and urethra) and require a prescription from your veterinarian.

Hill’s Prescription c/d Multicare Urinary Care

This cat food is carefully formulated with ingredients that eliminate struvite stones in as little as seven days and prevent the formation new ones. Proper pH levels in your cat’s urine are crucial to preventing stones, and this urinary care cat food provides that in a delicious chicken flavor.

Royal Canin Urinary s/o

By increasing your cat’s urine production and lowering the ion concentration and magnesium levels in their bladder, this prescription diet from Royal Canin helps dissolve stones and prevents them from accumulating. It provides your cat plenty of moisture and the protein and fat requirements the rest of their body needs to stay healthy.

Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet W+U

One possible cause of urinary problems in cats is an improper diet, which can also cause unhealthy weight gain. If this is the case for your pet, you’ll need a cat food that manages both health issues. This cat food contains lower levels of fat and calories to reduce weight, and fewer minerals to support urinary health. 

Prescription urinary cat food is available in both dry kibble and wet forms. Since cats can be choosy about diet changes, yours may need to try a few different flavors or brands to find one they like. As with any diet change, make the change gradually over a 10-day period by adding small amounts of the new food to your kitty’s original diet, increasing the proportion of the new diet slowly. With some cats, offering a separate bowl with a small amount of the new food rather than mixing the two can increase acceptance as well as make your cat’s diet preferences clearer. 

Many older cats develop kidney disease, which is part of the upper urinary tract (along with the ureters). Diet can also be helpful for managing kidney disease but requires different adjustments. Diets recommended for upper urinary tract health are designed to minimize excess protein and phosphorus, whose byproducts are filtered by the kidneys. This change can help reduce the workload on the kidneys to better maintain compromised kidney function. And as with any change in diet, your veterinarian should be consulted.

Signs of urinary health issues in cats

Many of the urinary tract issues that can affect cats have similar symptoms. They include: 

  • Increased frequency of urination
  • Accidents outside of the litter box
  • Blood in the urine
  • Pain or straining when using the litter box
  • Hiding when not using the litter box

Because the signs and symptoms are so similar, it is important to work with your veterinarian to determine which issue is affecting your kitty so it can be fully treated. Your veterinarian will likely want to perform a urinalysis to evaluate the urine for blood, bacteria, crystals, and other urinary factors. Additionally, imaging may be recommended to evaluate for stones. While diet and environmental recommendations are often similar for each issue, additional treatment is often necessary for proper resolution, including medications in the case of FIC or UTI and/or surgical procedures in the case of certain types of stones or blockages. 

In some cases, bladder stones can cause an obstruction of the urethra, which can quickly become an emergency. If your cat is straining in the litter box and you have not seen visible urine output in 12 to– 18 hours, this is a life-threatening emergency and must be addressed by a veterinarian immediately. Due to their anatomy, male cats are at much greater risk for urinary blockage than females.

What causes urinary issues in cats?

Urinary tract health can be frustrating to manage because of its many potential contributing factors, including your cat’s individual anatomy, environment (how stressed they are), their diet and the chemical makeup of the urine itself.  

The most common urinary tract issues in cats include inflammation, urinary tract infections, bladder stones and urethral obstruction. Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) is a condition in which the bladder and urethra become inflamed but no medical cause can be determined. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) occur when bacteria from outside the body works its way through the urethra and then multiplies in the bladder.

Bladder stones (also called uroliths) occur when certain molecules in the urine  join together and crystallize, forming hard stones in the bladder. Because they are often rough, they can irritate the bladder lining. UTIs often also occur when bladder stones are present. Crystals in cat urine can sometimes indicate a cat has or is at risk for bladder stones.

Other ways to keep your cat’s urinary tract healthy 

In addition to diet, water intake and environmental factors play a large role in keeping your cat’s urinary tract healthy. 

Encouraging water consumption can be helpful for nearly all urinary tract health issues. Increased moisture in the body allows the urine to be more dilute, which reduces the concentration of the molecules and irritants that contribute to urinary health issues. One way to increase hydration is to feed wet cat food. Studies have shown that the overall moisture intake of cats who eat  wet food is higher than in cats who only eat  dry kibble. 

Another way to encourage water consumption is by offering your cat a water fountain with flowing water. Many cats prefer flowing water to regular cat bowls and will drink more when the water is flowing and fresh.

Some urinary issues, particularly FIC, are thought to be related to stress in a cat’s environment. New people or pets in the home, not having enough litter boxes, litter boxes or food bowls that are in high-traffic or noisy locations, or just plain boredom can all stress your cat out.

If your veterinarian suspects that your cat has FIC, addressing environmental issues can be helpful to reduce recurrence. Increasing mental stimulation for your kitty through toys, puzzle feeders and cat trees can lessen stress associated with boredom. Ensuring there is at least one more litter box in the home than there are cats is also recommended. Additionally, make sure your cat has a quiet place to eat and drink as well as to use the litter box. 

When there are stress or behavioral issues between cats in the same household, your veterinarian or an animal behaviorist may have recommendations to help cut the tension.  They might suggest using stress-reducing diffusers, particularly in mild situations. In more severe cases, medications or behavior modification to address anxiety and stress interactions may be needed. 

While urinary health issues can be frustrating to address, they are also among the most responsive to the influence of diet and environment. Work with your veterinarian to develop a urinary health plan for your kitty to help them live their healthiest, happiest life.

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