Finding Honest Answers About Cat Food For Urinary Crystals

Recently I was in one of the pet superstores browsing the pet food isles and couldn’t help but notice that dog food had 4 isles and cat food had only 2. Not only that but the varieties and foods formulated for specific ages and ailments seem to be much more defined in the canine section. This lead me wonder whether there is a cat food for urinary crystals or perhaps only something written about on the internet or pet care manuals. But in order to find the right cat food for urinary crystals it might be helpful to know exactly what we are dealing with.Cat urinary crystals are actually tiny bladder stone formations generally either made up of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate (struvite) or calcium and phosphate (calcium oxalate). Female cats have a high risk of developing struvite crystals, especially those one to two years of age. Calcium oxalate crystals tend to occur in male cats, particularly those who are bordering on senior citizen status.The proper cat food for urinary crystals will vary depending on the type of crystals present. There are couple of cat food manufacturers including Hill’s who have already done much of the formulation for us. Normally prepackaged cat food for urinary crystals is low in magnesium, aids in balancing pH levels, may contain a crystal dissolving agent such as L-methionine, and are high in salt. The high salt content could prove problematic in some cases especially if your feline has a irregular heartbeat or has  other coronary problems. The high salt content is one of the primary reasons why these prepackaged diet are not recommended for long term use.You may be asking why so much salt is included in the first place? The answer is fairly straightforward. Salt encourages increased fluid intake which makes the whole urinary crystal elimination process more effective by keeping the bladder flushed and pH urine levels moderating.Another important step in our program is not to feed your pet table scraps. Now, I know this is a difficult request, cats can beg better than most animals and can generally convince their owners to do almost anything but I encourage you to stay strong. Do not feed them foods that are high in magnesium and also produce high alkaline levels such as mackerel, sardines, salmon, tuna, shellfish, cheese, or vitamin and mineral supplements. Pulling the tablecloth out from under their desires could create a deficiency in essential omega 3 fatty acids. The omegas are found in very few food and not produced by your cat’s body so some form of supplementation could prove beneficial. Omega supplements are widely available, affordable, and can be added to your felines food or given orally.Additionally, many cat owner are implementing supplements containing uva ursi with their diet modification program. Supplemental formulas containing this herb are considered to be a general urinary tonic and may be helpful in preventing crystal formation. This one two punch has proven to be very effective in eliminating urinary crystals and certainly is an option worth considering.

Robert D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of natural health products and natural living with over 10 years experience in the field of natural health and wellness.Learn more about natural pet remedies and natural health at Purchase Remedies.com