8 Healthy Cat Foods for Cats with Urinary Tract Problems

If your cat is experiencing urinary problems, the first thing you should do is take him/her to the vet. However, once the veterinarian diagnoses the problem and chooses the treatment, as a cat guardian, you have the responsibility to maintain your cat’s urinary tract health as best as possible. That’s how you might end up looking for the best cat food for urinary tract problems. There’s no such thing as the best, but there are good cat foods for urinary health out there, and one of those that you should consider is the Tiki Cat Low Carb Grain-Free Canned Cat Food. Since it’s made with 100% natural, high-quality ingredients and it has 18% protein and 2.3% fat, this option is highly recommended. The nest one on our list is Stella & Chewy’s Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food, another great choice. 

Best Cat Food for Cats With Urinary Tract Problems (Reviews)

Finding the best cat food for urinary health nowadays can be a bit of a challenge as there are a lot of things to consider. The wide variety of products currently available doesn’t make it easier for pet parents to pick the right one. 

Our first piece of advice is to do as much research on the topic as possible and get informed with regard to the potentially dangerous ingredients that pet food can contain. Without further ado, here’s a list of some of the highest rated and most importantly, healthiest products in this category. 

1. Tiki Cat Low Carb Grain-Free Canned Cat Food Review

This food basically consists of shredded chicken in oil and broth, a blend that is commonly described as ‘consomme’. It’s a basic and simple recipe that has just chicken, broth, low magnesium, sunflower seed oil, and a supplement blend that offers the right nutrients to your feline friend.

We might even go as far as to compare it with some homemade cat food for urinary problems that you’d prepare yourself, if you had the time. By the way, the best urinary tract food is homemade food — especially when compared to commercial alternatives.

This food is around 80% water and while this might make you feel weird because you’re spending your money on water, we’d like to point out that hydration is extremely important for cats who have urinary problems. 

The Tiki Cat recipe doesn’t contain any fish or shellfish and its phosphorus content is around 1.07%. Most cats find this option palatable, but there have been some who have refused it, so as usual, it’s a matter of personal taste. 

2. Stella & Chewy’s Dinner Morsels Freeze-Dried Raw Cat Food Review

The best thing about this cat urinary food is that there’s no plant protein in it. Even though cats are carnivores and they need to get animal protein to receive the right nutrients, pet food manufacturers often seem to ignore this fact.

Stella & Chewy’s recipe has less than 1% carbohydrate, which makes it a suitable choice for cats who have weight problems or those who have diabetes. It’s a species-appropriate food that’s mostly made from freeze-dried goose meat, turkey, turkey liver, and duck. 

The nuggets are kept in the bag at around five percent moisture, which means that you will have to rehydrate them with tepid water. This food contains as little as 0.68% phosphorus in its dry matter form, even though one of the first ingredients on the list is ground bone.

Like with other cat foods for urinary tract health, some cats like the taste and others don’t. But the nice thing about this is that you can hydrate it as per your cat’s liking.

3. Purina Pro Plan Focus Urinary Tract Health Canned Food Review

Another decent cat food for urinary health is this one by Purina. I don’t really like recommending food from big pet food brands because most of the time, I find that they use fishy ingredients (not in the good sense). But this one is a pretty good choice as it is designed specifically for supporting feline urinary health. 

It has a balanced pH and reduced dietary magnesium, and the best thing about it is that it is made with real chicken. It does, however, contain animal by-products, as well as some artificial ingredients, so I’d only recommend it for cats who are otherwise clinically healthy (except for the urinary problem). 

Additionally, it is rich in moisture which is a good thing since most cats aren’t keen on drinking a lot of water anyway. 

It is a budget-friendly choice, so if you know that you can’t afford the more expensive options and you want to feed your feline friend some wet urinary tract cat food, it definitely fits the bill.  

4. Wysong Uretic Feline Formula (Dry Food) Review

Giving your feline companion the best cat food for urinary crystals can be challenging, especially if he or she has specific preferences. Did you know that some cats don’t like wet food and always opt for kibble? If that’s the case with your own, the Wysong dry cat food for urinary health might be up your alley.

It’s also formulated for urinary health support and it has been supplemented with probiotics, vitamins, as well as chelated minerals. In other words, it can offer your feline companion the necessary nutrients for a great immune system and wellness. 

However, we couldn’t help noticing that it has some meat protein isolate and that it’s not a grain-free formula. If your cat is allergic to grains, has dermatological problems, or is a diabetic, we’d advise you to steer clear of this one.

The recipe has fresh chicken and chicken meal listed as two of its most important ingredients. It also contains essential fatty acids, which is refreshing. 

5. Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet Weight Management + Urinary Care Cat Food Review

If you’re looking for some decent grain free urinary cat food, we’ll tell you right off the bat that this a good one to pick. It’s actually made with digestible grain-free carbs and it has deboned chicken listed as its first ingredients. 

Plus, unlike other brands of cat food for urinary problems, this one doesn’t have any fillers, by-products, or artificial additives. 

While some urinary tract cat food reviews speak highly of its ingredients and how palatable it is for the cats, the truth is that it does contain some plant protein (mostly from pea). 

The drawback of feeding your cat this diet would be that it does tend to cost a pretty penny, especially when compared to others. However, it does have a protein content of 38%, which is admirable, yet at the same time, it might be less recommended for cats with kidney problems. 

6. Instinct Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Wet Cat Food Review

We wouldn’t recommend this brand if you’re looking for wet urinary tract cat food because it is not primarily designed for cats that experience urinary problems. It does have the right ingredients, but it’s not marketed as such. 

The food has a limited number of ingredients, which means that the likelihood of your cat developing a food allergy to it is very low. Plus, it is both high in moisture and rich in protein, and unlike some of its competitors, it is made with some of the highest quality natural ingredients.

On top of everything, the Instinct Limited Ingredient Grain-Free Cat Food also contains chelated minerals, vitamin supplements, as well as fiber for a good digestion. As a drawback, we’d like to add that it contains some plant protein derivatives (mostly from peas). 

Adult cats are supposed to be fed two 3-oz cans daily or 1 5.5-oz can per each 6 to 8 pounds of body weight. 

7. Feline Natural New Zealand Chicken & Venison Canned Cat Food Review

Once again, this brand isn’t a cat food for urinary problems per se, but its quality and nutrients make it a good choice even for cats with UTIs or FLUTD. The food contains chicken, chicken heart, venison, and venison liver as its first four ingredients. 

It does have a higher phosphorus content compared to other types of cat food in this category — 1.6%, but it’s still low enough to be on the safe side. In terms of its macronutrients, it contains 51% protein, 29% fat, and 7% carbs. It has 65 calories per each 100 grams. 

What’s also worth adding about this choice is that it also contains green lipped mussels, an excellent natural joint supporting ingredient. This is particularly important if you are the guardian of an aging cat who already has a bit of trouble about.

Since it’s so high quality, it’s not cheap, but that should be expected.

8. Nutro Chunky Loaf Adult Wet Cat Food Review

We’ve showcased this brand in another article that we put together, the one about wet food for older cats. The best thing about this one is that it has a low phosphorus content (1.59%) and it’s low in carbs. Therefore, it addresses the needs of cats that have diabetes or those that tend to put on weight easily.

The protein content is 55% while the fat is 27%. Additionally, you will be happy to know that the Nutro cat food doesn’t contain any artificial colors or fillers, so it’s completely healthy to give to your cat. It’s also well aligned with what a cat is supposed to eat.

The high moisture content will give your cat the opportunity to be well hydrated without you making an effort in this sense. Since it’s got limited ingredients, this formula is considered to be healthy, especially since its protein also comes from organs such as chicken liver.   

A Guide to Getting the Best Urinary Cat Food

Whether you are in the market for the best dry cat food for urinary health or you’re looking to get some canned one, it’s a good thing you’re reading this post. 

We’ve put together a list of some of the most important factors that you should consider if you want to get really good cat food for urinary health. Check it out below.  

Dry vs wet

In most cases, wet cat food is the right choice, and that’s because cats have a really weird relationship with water. Even those that have problems with their urinary tract don’t tend to drink a lot of water, and there’s no way of actually convincing them. 

A cat naturally has low thirst levels, which makes her urine a lot more concentrated than in other species. The wetter and juicier the food, the better, since cats are adapted to drinking water rarely and only in small amounts.

Some cats respond well to water fountains, however, which we might address in another article. The fresh water is a little more appealing than the one in their bowls, which would become slightly stale over the course of a day. 

Fluid intake is essential for the health of the urinary tract (also in humans, not just in pets). It effectively washes the system, keeping it clean and clear of bacteria and other germs. A more concentrated urine contains more bacteria and makes it more difficult for tissues and mucous membranes to fend off attacks from the otherwise physiological flora. 

That’s why dry cat food for urinary health rarely achieves its purpose — that of keeping your cat’s urinary system healthy. 

Mineral content

If you want to make your own good cat food for urinary health, you have less to worry about than if you were to purchase it. And that’s because you are likely to use ingredients such as animal organs or meat instead of adding anything else. 

Commercial cat food for urinary health should contain less than 1.7% phosphorus on a dry matter basis. That’s why most urinary health diets contain low magnesium, phosphorus, as well as calcium, which is not necessarily a good thing. Older cats might need a little calcium once in a while but you can supplement it separately if that’s necessary.

When feeding mineral-rich food to your cat, however, you have no way of controlling the amount that he or she is getting. So that’s why it’s a good idea to keep an eye on these percentages on the packaging. 

Ingredients to avoid

I’ve written an extensive article about this topic in the past, where I listed some of the dangerous ingredients that can be present in cat food. With a cat that has urinary problems, it is paramount to always check the ingredients.

If at all possible, avoid those that have things like meat by products of any kind, whether from meat or fish. The ash content matters, as well, as it can be rich in minerals. Look for options containing less than 2% ash. 

A note on prescription cat food 

Prescription cat food can acidify your cat’s urine so that the crystals are broken down and eliminated with ease. However, most brands out there, no matter how popular they might be, rely on the use of low quality ingredients and even ingredients that cats shouldn’t be eating (such as corn). 

Prescription cat food can also be low in protein, which doesn’t make any sense since cats should always eat a lot of protein, what with them being carnivores. Carb-heavy cat food can actually cause struvite formation because they are more alkaline than they’re supposed to be. Look for low-carb food, if possible. 

However, if your vet recommends prescription cat food for urinary problems, I’d advise you to utilize it for a limited amount of time. Hill’s canned S/D can be utilized for a short amount of time if your cat has struvite crystals — not calcium oxalate ones. 

Urinary Problems That Can Affect Your Feline Buddy

Some of the most common urinary health problems that can affect our feline friends are the following: 

• UTIs (urinary tract infections)
• Kidney disease
• Bladder or kidney stones
• Cystitis (bladder infections)
• Spinal cord issues
• Congenital abnormalities
• Hyperhydration due to other conditions (such as diabetes)

If you notice any clinical signs that pertain to your cat’s urinary health, get to the vet as soon as possible. Stones are particularly dangerous as they can block the entire urinary system, making the toxic compounds in the urine to be absorbed into the body and even passed to the cat’s lungs and even brain. Urinary tract problems in cats should never be ignored as they can really be life-threatening. 

Cat Urinary Tract Infections — Basic Symptoms to Be on the Lookout For

Cats are really good at hiding illness, which means that we have to go out of their ways to observe their behavior and realize that everything is fine (or not). But a cat that has a UTI or an even more complicated urinary tract health issue will exhibit some typical clinical signs. Here they are:

• Frequent attempts to urinate 
• Painful or straining to urinate – the cat can even cry out while peeing 
• The presence of blood in the urine
• Constant irritability
• Urinating outside the litter box
• Licking the genital area too often

Preventing UTIs in Cats

Almost all aging cats end up with one type of urinary problem or another, so it is a good idea to give them harmless and good cat food for urinary health once in a while. We’re not referring to the prescription ones. High-quality, protein-rich and grain-free cat food can effectively prevent this mishap, especially if your cat’s immune system is on par. 

If your cat has had a UTI, you should know that about 80% of the cats in his or her situation end up at the vet’s office with the same problem in a matter of several months. Make sure that your cat’s litter box is always clean, since cats are in the habit of ‘holding it in’ if the litter box is dirty.

Spend enough time with your cat and avoid any stressful situations. If you know that you’re going to move soon, you might as well give your cat some omega 3s and probiotics and other supplements so that his/her immune system can cope as best as possible.