How do urinary crystals form in cat cats?
Urinary crystals are one of the most painful things you cat will have to go through if they are experiencing urinary tract issues. Urinary crystals form when there is an excess of minerals present in a cat’s urine. The most common place for urinary crystals to form is in the kidney (kidney stones), but they can also form in the urethra.
The excess minerals start attaching to each other, and can eventually from a urinary crystal. This is obviously very problematic for a cat, as they then have to pee the crystal out, which can be extremely painful. It can also cause your cat to go to the litter box every few minutes.
Best non prescription cat food for urinary crystals
The best non prescription cat food for urinary crystals is PawHealer Cat Bladder Remedy, IAMS Urinary Tract Cat Food, and Chewbo UTI Treatment.
PawHealer is a fast acting, miracle cure for urinary crystals and stones in your cat. It breaks down a wide range of urinary stones, including calcium oxalate, cystine, and urate stones. You can put this medication in any type of cat food.
This liquid herbal supplement is much easier to administer compared to pills and injections. It can work in as little as 24 hours.
2) IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Urinary Tract Health Dry Cat Food ($6-$25)
This is another one of our favorites as IAMS is a line of food that is formulated specifically for urinary health. As the name suggests, this is a proactive measure as the ingredients help prevent the formation of urinary crystals in your cat’s liver. The food works by reducing the pH level of your cat’s urine, which deceases the chances that a crystal will form. The food is also high in vitamin E which keeps your cat’s immune system strong and healthy.
Chewbo is another great option for keeping your cat’s kidney healthy and preventing kidney disease. Along with preventing the growth of kidney stones, Chewbo also helps treat chronic renal problems and helps your cat from developing urinary tract infections. It also helps treat inflammation. This supplement comes in liquid form and can easily be added to your cat’s food or water. This medication can also be used for dogs.
Best natural way to prevent kidney stones in cats
Of course, the best way to treat urinary crystals is by prevention. It is much harder to treat a cat with urinary crystals after they are already formed. Some natural ways to prevent urinary crystals in your cat include:
- Hydration- make sure your cat always has access to fresh clean water
- Salinity- monitor the amount of salt that is in your cat’s diet
- Protein– while protein is important for the growth of all cats, an excess of protein can trigger the growth of urinary crystals.
- Calcium– Feeding your cat a high calcium diet can help prevent the formation of urinary crystals.
- Special formulated cat food– there are many cat foods on the market that actively help to prevent the formation of urinary crystals. The only problem is that many of them require a prescription, which can be a hassle as you must go to the vet and then find a website that accepts online prescription notes. This is why we have decided to make a list of the best cat food for urinary crystals that don’t require a prescription.