Five Cat Food Factors That Discourage Feline UTD
One of the most common causes of feline urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is what your cat eats. A feline diet that is too high in carbohydrates and magnesium, and low in protein can lead to FLUTD. When their cat is initially diagnosed with FLUTD, feline owners will generally first try to get their kitten to eat the prescription food recommended by their veterinarian.
But what if the cat rejects your offer? As an alternative, there are specific non-prescription cat foods available to keep your cat’s urine pH balance at 6.6. A high pH value in the urine indicates the formation of struvite crystals in your cat’s urinary tract. The challenge is finding the right cat food that appeals to cats, contains the right amount of protein and magnesium, and has little to no by-products.
If you happen to be one of those owners who has to find an alternative cat food, here are five things to evaluate when selecting cat food to prevent future occurrences of FLUTD in your kitten:
1. What is the most common ingredient?
The first and most common ingredient to include is protein: meat or fish. Read the label carefully; here are some variations you might see:
Canned cat food:
Beef
Chicken’s liver
Boneless chicken
Meat broth
Dry cat food:
Chicken
Organic Chicken
Herring meal
Chicken meal
Some other good ingredients that will help your kitty maintain good urinary tract health are cranberries and cranberries. Vegetables like carrots are good, and rice is a good grain.
for your kitty to consume.
2. Are there by-products?
Are by-products listed as one of the ingredients? If so, put that food back on the shelf and keep looking. By-products are filler material and have limited nutritional value for their
little cat. By-products are usually carbohydrates, and since cats are carnivores, they need protein, not carbohydrates, for proper nutrition.
Here are some examples of by-products:
Canned cat food:
Corn gluten meal
Ground yellow corn
Soybean flour
Meat by-products
Meat by-products
Dry cat food:
Ground Yellow Corn
Chicken by-product meal
Corn gluten meal
Wheat flour
Cornmeal
Soybean flour
3. How much moisture is in cat food?
What is the percentage of moisture in the cat food you are evaluating? The higher the number, the better for your kitty. More humidity means that your cat will urinate more. Increased
urination will remove any crystals that may be trying to form in your cat’s urinary tract. Canned cat food has a higher moisture content than dried cat food.
4. How much magnesium does cat food contain?
An excess of magnesium will contribute to the formation of struvite crystals (FLUTD). Some magnesium is needed, but generally look for cat food that has a maximum of 0.025% magnesium to
prevent struvite crystals.
5. Does cat food contain DL-methionine?
DL-methionine is an amino acid with sulfur that helps regulate the formation of ammonia in the urine. This amino acid helps keep your cat’s urine pH balance around 6.6, which is normal and does not promote crystal formation.
And … since cats are cats (which means they’re in charge!), Keep in mind that what you select for them may not be what they want to eat, if they don’t like the taste. If this happens, you will have to start over until you find a healthy and nutritious cat food that is worth two more legs than your feline.
Keep these five factors in mind when shopping for cat food to support your kitty’s urinary tract and prevent FLUTD.
And remember, when you are considering changing your cat’s diet, check with your vet. He or she will provide expert guidance and information to make the transition easier for you and your kitty.
