Cat Food That Causes Urinary Problems
Have you ever had a cat that experienced problems with their urinary tract such as an infection or stone? It’s an awful feeling knowing your poor kitty is in pain when all it wants to do is use its litter box.
Why Do Cats Develop Urinary Problems?
Cats with urinary track problems often experience difficulty emptying their bladders. Blockages may eventually form in the urethra that if left untreated could potentially be fatal for the cat; they can build up and become complicated to handle. There are a few different causes for urinary track problems in felines; it is important to understand what causes the blockages and infections. Causes vary from kidney stones to infections or even cancer. Stones and debris may form when the urine is too alkaline. Magnesium in the cat’s body reacts to the highly alkaline urine and creates kidney stones.
Avoid Grain Foods When Feeding a Cat
Cats are meat eaters; man-made cat food is not necessarily what cats have evolved to eat. There are plenty of healthy cat food products, but some contain many grains which are a major cause of alkali urine and, subsequently, kidney stones.
Removing grains from your cat’s diet should not be a concern; they are a source of many urinary tract problems and they also have very few health benefits for cats. Replace those grains with protein, even if urinary problems were never an issue. Your best bet is to use a cat food without any grains or as few grains as possible. 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.
Protein Helps to Reverse Urinary Infections
Just as grains can cause urine with high levels of alkaline, protein can cause acidic urine, which at normal levels is healthy for cats. When a cat’s urine is at a normal and healthy acidic level, it breaks down the stones in the bladder created by the combination of magnesium and alkaline urine. Your kitty won’t suffer from painful bladder stones.
Cat food with plenty of real fish and chicken are excellent options for preventing and reversing urinary problems. Magnesium, which your cat needs to stay healthy, does not react to acidic urine in the same way. Unless strongly suggested by the veterinarian, a low magnesium diet should be avoided. Focusing on magnesium rather than grain is the wrong approach to handling a urinary problem.
If a urinary problem continues after switching from grain to high protein food, then a veterinarian should be called. Urinary problems may be a result of a more serious problem, so pay close attention to how the cat reacts to the new diet.