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Urinary problems in your cat

Maintain their urinary health with a proper diet

Did your cat miss the litter box again? Accidents can be unpleasant for everyone and may even point to a physical health issue. If your cat has a urinary condition, not to worry—veterinary care and a proper diet can help tremendously.

Read on for advice from your Globalvet team on preventing and treating feline urinary problems.

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How and why cats get urinary problems

How does a urinary problem affect your cat? It hurts! But from a medical perspective, a urinary disease affects your pet’s lower urinary tract (i.e., the bladder and urethra). They’re a common reason pet owners come in to see us.

Most cats prone to urinary issues have their first episode between the ages of 2 and 6. But what causes them? About 90% of urinary problems are caused by 3 underlying conditions:

  • Feline idiopathic cystitis, or inflammation of the bladder
    • This is the most frequent cause of urinary problems in cats.
    • The condition is still not completely understood, but stress appears to play a major role.
  • Urolithiasis, or the presence of sand-like particles or stones in the bladder
  • A urinary obstruction, when the urethra is blocked by material in the urine
    • More common in males, this is a complication of the first two common causes.
  • Infection is rarely the primary cause of urinary problems in adult cats.

Beyond the conditions mentioned above, certain factors may make your cat more prone to them, like:

  • Being overweight or obese
  • Being sterilized
  • The quality of their environment
  • Their diet
  • Not drinking enough water

Preventing and treating urinary problems in your cat with a special diet: Benefits and tips

Eliminating crystals and stones
Reducing the risk of recurrence
Reducing stress
Finding products that work

Get rid of crystals and stones or keep them from forming

The ingredients in specialized foods are balanced to keep the level of minerals like magnesium and phosphorous in your cat’s system low and minimize oxalate content.

Urinary health foods affect the pH and mineral composition of your cat’s urine. This helps create a urinary environment that promotes the dissolution of stones and crystals and/or keeps them from forming. These formulas also meet all your cat’s nutritional needs and give them the energy they need to thrive.

Keep urinary problems at bay

When you feed your cat a specialized diet that also meets their nutritional needs and helps control the level of minerals in their system, you are supporting their urinary health. If your cat has had a urinary problem in the past, a proper diet will help reduce the risk of recurrence by:

  • Dissolving crystals and stones or keeping them from forming
  • Helping them maintain a healthy weight
  • Increasing their water intake

Foods formulated to treat urinary problems come in dry and wet forms. Consider stocking up on both because regularly feeding your cat wet food is a good way to increase their water intake. Ask your vet for advice on choosing the right type of food and figuring out the right serving sizes.

Help alleviate inflammation and the stress response

Stress is a major factor in feline idiopathic cystitis. That’s why some urinary care foods also contain supplements that have a calming effect, like casozepine and tryptophan. These ingredients can help ease the impact stress has on your cat’s urinary health.

Adding in EPA and DHA helps reduce bladder inflammation—a symptom that is painful (and therefore stressful) for your cat.

Sometimes cats get anxious because of something in their surroundings or a lack of stimulation in their routine.

Using feeding strategies and changing up your cat’s environment can help reduce their stress level; thereby contribute to the treatment and prevention of urinary problems, among other benefits.

Need some advice? Check out:

Choose products that are scientifically proven

With specialized urinary care kibble, you know you’re serving your cat something that’s been clinically approved. These foods have been tested and proven to dissolve or prevent crystals and stones from forming and reduce the risk of recurrence.

Buy food designed to promote urinary health in one of our stores

You can shop a range of feline urinary health foods in different brands in our Globalvet clinic stores or online. Find the one your veterinarian recommends.

Need advice on pet food?

Contact your local clinic or visit our online store.
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