A non prescription cat food for urinary crystals is often the best option for a cat owner if the condition has been treated without success or to prevent a recurrence.
In some cases, this food must be given long-term and may be necessary to keep a cat from having any more adverse reactions.
In some cases, this food must be given long-term and may be necessary to keep a cat from having any more adverse reactions.
This article was written by experts wearing hats with expertise in medicine, nutrition, etc.
Table of Contents
What Is Non Prescription Cat Food?
Non-prescription cat food is a brand-name food specifically formulated for urinary crystals. These should not be confused with medical prescription diets, specifically formulated to control medical conditions such as renal failure, diabetes mellitus, and urinary tract infections.
What Are Urinary Crystals?
Urine is a sterile liquid that is formed by the kidneys. It contains proteins and other molecules called solutes. When urine becomes more concentrated (more solutes than water), the solutes tend to settle out and form crystals.
Sometimes the crystals are too small to be noticed by the naked eye. However, if they grow large enough, they will become visible in your cat’s urine.
In some cases, crystals can become large enough to cause irritation, infection, and in extreme cases, blockage of the urethra (the tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body). When this happens, it can be fatal if not treated promptly.
What Is The Purpose Of Non Prescription Cat Food?
The precise reason a person chooses not to take a prescription drug is often unclear. However, at one time, most people did not have ready access to prescription drugs, so they chose to try a non-prescription medication.
It is important to note that there is no scientific evidence that non prescription medications are safer than their prescription counterparts; however, in some cases, the quality of non prescription medications may be better.
In the case of non-prescription urinary crystals, there appears to be an association between anti-inflammatories and pain medications and cats.
Non Prescription Cat Food For Urinary Crystals
As with any other medical condition, diet plays a big part in controlling urinary crystals. There are many different brands of cat foods that have been formulated to control the formation of crystals, and therefore most cats can eat their regular diet. However, some owners prefer to feed a urinary crystal-specific diet to ensure complete control.
Non prescription diets are very palatable and are often high in animal protein which may be attractive to cats that refuse to eat their prescription diets.
Doctors will sometimes state that the cat’s body does not work well enough to flush out crystals.
Some cats have an underlying infection, disease process, or allergy that causes high levels of inflammation and crystals to form in the kidneys.
5 Best Non Prescription Cat Food For Urinary Crystals
Here are the best 5 non prescription cat food for urinary crystals:
1. Wysong Uretic Natural Dry Food
Wysong Uretic Natural Dry Food is a urinary stone diet formulated to avoid the formation of crystals within the cat’s body.
It contains high levels of animal protein and other nutrients that are thought to help with the reabsorption of crystals from the kidneys.
Wysong Uretic Natural Dry Food can be given twice daily and should be a part of your cat’s regular diet.
2. IAMS Proactive Health Adult Urinary Tract Health Dry Cat Food
IAMS Proactive Health Adult Urinary Tract Health Dry Cat Food is a urinary stone formula formulated to specifically avoid the formation of crystals within the cat’s body. It contains high levels of animal protein and other nutrients that are thought to help with the reabsorption of crystals from the kidneys.
IAMS Proactive Health Adult Urinary Tract Health Dry Cat Food can be given twice daily and should be a part of your cat’s regular diet.
3. Pawhealer Cat Bladder Remedy For Urinary Stones And Crystals
PawHealer Cat Bladder Remedy for Urinary Stones and Crystals is a urinary crystal diet designed to help dissolve the crystals that form in your cat’s urine. It can be given twice daily and should be a part of your cat’s daily diet.
PawHealer Cat Bladder Remedy for Urinary Stones and Crystals will require you to get used to seeing very small portions of food on the bottom of a bowl: usually less than one teaspoon per feeding.
4. Royal Canin Feline Stone Control Dry Cat Food
Royal Canin Feline Stone Control Dry Cat Food is a urinary crystal diet designed to help dissolve the crystals that form in your cat’s urine. It can be given twice daily and should be a part of your cat’s daily diet.
Royal Canin Feline Stone Control Dry Cat Food will require you to see very small portions of food on the bottom of a bowl: usually less than one teaspoon per feeding.
5. Purina One Cat Adult Urinary Tract Formula Cat Food
Purina One Cat Adult Urinary Tract Formula Cat Food is a urinary crystal diet designed to help dissolve the crystals that form in your cat’s urine. It can be given twice daily and should be a part of your cat’s dietary regime.
The cat owner can mix it with their regular food or feed it on its own as two small meals per day.
Purina One Cat Adult Urinary Tract Formula Cat Food is available in 3 different flavors: chicken, tuna, and salmon.
Is There Anything Else I Can Do To Help My Cat?
If your cat is currently on a prescription diet, you should continue feeding it as directed. Most cats suffering from urinary crystals will be perfectly happy to eat the prescription diet.
If you are already feeding one, there is no need to switch your cat to a non prescription diet. However, if you have tried several times and your kitty refuses to eat it, switching may be ideal.
Is There Non Prescription Cat Food For Urinary Crystals?
Yes, there is. However, it is not recommended that a cat with urinary crystals be fed a prescription diet as the formulation of these diets are often different and designed to control crystals’ formation.
This is because the prescription diets are formulated to exactly match your cat’s diet (which includes animal protein), and therefore they may not cause your cat’s body to produce enough fluids to flush out the crystals.
Does Dry Cat Food Cause Urinary Problems?
There is no scientific evidence that dry cat food causes urinary problems, including crystals. However, you should avoid feeding a homemade diet to your cat.
This is because many of these diets contain high levels of carbohydrates, which can cause your cat’s body to produce more crystals and can also lead to infections in the kidneys.
There are also certain dyes, flavoring, and preservatives in commercial foods that have been shown to increase crystal formation.
Remember: Do not feed a non prescription diet if you have already fed it on prescription.
Prescription Vs Non Prescription Urinary Cat Food
Prescription urinary cat food will contain the same ingredients as your cat’s current diet. It will be specially formulated to control the formation of crystals in the body.
Conventional foods are not designed to control and prevent the formation of crystals and, therefore, may not be suitable for cats with urinary stones.
There is a difference between prescription dry food and non prescription dry cat food. Non prescription dry cat food can be purchased at most brands, including LIDO, Hills, Iams, and Purina.
When feeding a non prescription dry cat food, you should make sure that the ingredients in the diet are suitable for your cat.
Foods that contain animal protein should be low in carbohydrates. The amount of carbohydrates needed to control crystal formation is not known, and therefore it is not recommended to feed a diet completely free of carbohydrates.
Are Cats That Eat Urinary Cat Food Prone To Urinary Problems?
It is unclear whether your cat will likely develop a problem from eating prescription dry food. No scientific studies have tested the effect of different diets on cats suffering from urinary stones.
It is important to feed your cat a balanced diet to avoid any future development of crystals. The success of these diets is usually related to the amount of control it has on the formation of crystals in your cat’s urine.
Non prescription dry foods are not specifically formulated for cats suffering from urinary problems and therefore may not have the same effect on crystal formation as a prescription diet.
Feeding too much food may lead to infections within the kidneys and increase the number of crystals in your cat’s urine.
Final Thoughts
Before trying a urinary cat diet, you should speak with your vet and discuss what is best for your cat.
If your vet recommends a prescription diet be fed to an otherwise healthy animal, it should only be fed under their specific instructions.
The changes you make to your cat’s diet may cause some discomfort because your cat will not know or understand why the diet has changed.
You should not switch a prescription dry food to a non prescription dry food if you currently feed it on prescription.
FAQs
Can I Change to Non-Prescription Cat Food for Urinary Problems?
You should not change over to a non prescription urinary cat food if you have already been feeding it on prescription.
What’s in Non-Prescription Cat Food?
Most non prescription cat foods contain many ingredients, including chicken, fish, lamb, and fats. There is also an abundance of chicken-based products in this category which can upset your cat’s stomach.
Is Urinary Cat Food Cheapest?
Some brands offer non prescription food; this is slightly more expensive than dry cat food. However, if your cat suffers from urinary crystals, feeding a prescription urinary diet may be cheaper. The only way you will know if this is the case is to speak with your vet and ask them what they recommend.
How Much to Feed a Cat?
The best way to decide how much to feed a cat is by weighing the amount they currently eat and feeding them this amount.
Feed your cat no more than 1/3 of their current daily intake. This will ensure that they are fed enough food to maintain their current body weight with the addition of a little extra for growth and lean muscle development.
Hi there! My name is Koushik; I am a cat lover. I specialize in writing about pet care & food. I have a wealth of knowledge on cat food niches and related subjects. I have worked in the pet industry for over 5 years and am passionate about helping cat owners provide the best care for their furry friends. With knowledge of cat food and nutrition, I aim to share their insights and help cat owners navigate the world of cat food niches. I enjoy playing with my two cats, reading, and exploring new cat food brands in my free time.