My cat was diagnosed with crystals in the urine - What do I feed him?

Question

My cat (Loki) was recently diagnosis with crystals in his urine (by the Animal Hospital). The Animal hospital prescribed Feline Hill's Prescription Diet w/d (available only via prescription). I have been reading up on Hills Rx Diet and have come across very mixed reviews. Just checking to see if anyone knows of an alternative food for cats with crystals or FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder).
I am off to the vets tomorrow - just would like to go in there somewhat prepared. I don't know if there is anything else out there, available with or without a script.
Loki is a 7.5 years old male cat - weight is 17.8 (a healthy baby boy).

Thanks for any assistance with this.
Loki

Answer 1

My 10 year old Female Ragdoll cat "Gillian" was diagnosed with crystals in her urine also . I took her in and had a blood and urine test because she had been exposed to the Recalled Canned Cat food . That was the reason for the crystals . My Vet. told me to use a quality cat food with no fillers , NO ASH , and a lower protein . I was using Innova EVO dry cat food (not part of the recall) and as a treat at night I would give her Nutro canned cat food (part of the recall). I have since stopped feeding any canned food completely , and have switched to a Prescription kidney Health cat food . Innova EVO is a total quality food but it is very high in protein and her kidneys can't process the protein as well now. You don't need a prescription to get a prescription foods, it is means that it is only sold by a Vet . There are several feline kidney diets out there , and you can get them at Quality pet food places , I go to "Pet Vet" (but I live in the Bay Area) they are a low cost Vet and have several different types of prescription diets . You just go to the Vet and pick it up. you can also feed a natural diet , I haven't checked into that much. She was re-tested a week ago and she still had crystals in her urine but it was a lower count then before and her blood test showed improvement in her kidneys since the last test. Was your cat fed any of the re-called cat foods ?

Answer 2

Before you go tomorrow go to: http://www.littlebigcat.com and read Dr. Jean Hovfe's article "Urinary Tract Disorders in Cats. It's at the end of about fifty articles on cat health, nutrition, behavior and medical issues. Also read the one "Why Cats Need Canned Food". She is, after all, a veterinarian and every bit as qualified as the vet you will take Loki to.

In my own personal experience I was told my cat would die if he did not have the prescription food after his urinary blockage. He had nothing but a raw meat diet for the rest of his life and never had further urinary problems. (He did die of mammary cancer when he was twelve).

Answer 3

There are several veterinary diets made for this. Science diet w/d is a low fat/high fiber diet and used for weight control or intestinal problems. Your vet may have put him on it to help him lose weight, plust all science diets prescription cat foods are designed to prevent crystal formation. If he has crystals, we usually put them on science diet s/d to dissolve them (if they are struvite), then after a few weeks maintain them on c/d. Another brand we've had great success with is Royal Canin S/O. It prevents the two most common crystals, struvite and oxylate. Purina also makes a veterinary diet. All 3 are very good, and I wouldn't be afraid to use any of them. There aren't any over the counter diets for this.

Answer 4

I used to pick up my special diat Low Ash cat food at the vet's office, but I did not need a prescription. Most vet offices carry the right kind of food for this sort of problem, where as the stores packaged cat food is too high in ash content.

Answer 5

Cat food for urinary tract health

It will say it on the bag.

Or Science Diet

Answer 6

i KNOW THAT I WAS TOLD THAT TO NOT FEED YOU CAT ANY MORE DRY/HARD FOOD~ WHEN A CAT EATS THAT THEY AREN'T GETTING ENOUGH FLUIDS IN THEM FOR THE FOOD TO DIGEST AND PROPERLY GO INTO THEIR SYSTEM~ SOFT/WET FOOD IS MUCH SAFER(WELL DEPENDS,REMEMBER THE INCIDENT WITH WHAT EVER WAS PUT INTO THE FOOD A COUPLE MONTHS AGO) IT HAS MORE FLUID IN THE FOOD AND MAKE THE CATS DIGESTIVE TRACK WORK CORRECTLY AS WELL AS THE URINARY TRACK. BUT THAT IS ONLY WHAT I WAS TOLD ALONG WITH ONCE IN A GREAT WHILE FEEDING THAT CAT THE HILLS FORMULA! WELL HOPE ALL GOES WELL FOR YOU AND YOUR CAT.