The main difference between urinary tract cat food and regular cat food is that the former is specifically made with enough salt to cause the kidneys to expel the excess sodium when they excrete it. This movement also tells your cat's brain that it needs to consume more water.
Only mix foods for the same species and life stage (i.e. don't mix dog and cat food, or puppy and adult food together). Make sure both foods are nutritionally complete and balanced, with similar nutrient profiles.
Happily, in most cases the answer is yes. It's generally fine to change your cat's food to a different brand. Provided the new food is complete and balanced, suitable for your cat's life stage, and that they actually like the taste of it, there's no reason why you can't mix it up.
This meal is exclusive for cats with urinary tract Infections. When these affected cats are transitioning into this diet, care is needed. There could be a few side effects, such as weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. This meal is not for bones, tissue, and body development.
Wet food plays an important role in keeping your cat hydrated and can help prevent the formation of urinary crystals.
Wet cat food or canned food can be a bit pricier than most dry food selections. However, when it comes to specific health concerns, particularly urinary tract health, cats are decidedly better off eating wet foods.
Cats are biologically programmed not to drink water which is near their food or near their toileting area - this is thought to be their instinctive avoidance of contaminating their water with potential sources of bacteria.
If you feed primarily canned food or don't like the idea of having multiple bags of kibble lying around, you can still provide your cat with variety by rotating through different products on a more gradual basis. Every few months, as you are running out of one type of food and are due to purchase more, switch brands.
A better idea is to put them in separate bowls as you make the switch. If your kitty is only eating the old food, try mixing them, or just decrease the amount of old food you offer to encourage your cat to consider the new food.
The mix is key: The right balance between dry and wet food
Mixed feeding – that is, feeding wet and dry food – combines the advantages of both food types. However, instead of mixing wet and dry food in a bowl, you should offer each food type in a separate bowl at a certain time of day.
Why do cats get bored of their food? While Mr Whiskers may like consistency in most areas of life, it is possible for your cat to feel bored of the same food. Part of this has to do with the innate nature of cats as apex predators.
How often should cats eat wet food? What do vets recommend? Wet food is not a special meal or an occasional treat. Cats can and should eat wet food every day because it agrees with the feline digestive system better than dry or semi-moist food.
If your cat has been diagnosed with a urinary tract problem, it's important to feed her the right cat food. The right nutrition can help control mineral levels, maintain a healthy urine pH, and help reduce inflammation to safely resolve urinary issues.
Nutritionists and veterinarians developed Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care wet cat food specifically to support a cat's urinary health. Hill's claims that c/d Multicare was studied and demonstrated to lower the recurrence of most common urinary signs by 89 percent.
To keep your cat healthy and prevent FUS or problems such as UTI's, you need to feed fresh raw, or frozen fresh raw food to your cat. Changing one type of kibble to a 'urinary appropriate kibble' is not the answer and will not treat the underlying condition.
Even dry food left out for your cat to free feed needs to be fresh, so be sure to provide new food each day.
Although many cats are content to eat a single food, some cats may develop finicky eating habits and become very selective about what foods they'll accept. Feeding your cat two or three different cat foods provides flavor variety, and may prevent your cat from developing an exclusive preference for a single food.
It is best to start in a bi-weekly schedule at first slowly. Feed your cat one protein for a week and gradually start adding the next protein in until he can tolerate it. There is no exact timing when it comes to how frequently you should change your cat's food—let your cat dictate what he can do.
Cats do not like their food and water right next to each other. Cat behaviorists believe this may be due to cats hunting away from their water source in the wild. Cats also do not enjoy the scent of food while drinking water. In addition, they are turned off by food particles in their water.
– Adding extra water to wet food can also help increase water intake. Some cats will happily eat a food that resembles soup! – Start by adding a small quantity of water (e.g. 1 dessert spoonful) and gradually increase this over a period of several days if your cat is happy to eat their watered down food.
Raise your cat's dish
But it's actually easier for your cat to eat when the dish she's eating off of is slightly elevated, and therefore closer to her mouth. Give her a boost by using a stand that raises her dish a couple of inches off the ground.
Although this diet may not be the most appropriate diet for your other cats, it is not harmful. I feel that it's OK for the other cats to eat the kidney diet so that their housemate can have a longer, healthier life.
Diet is the most common management strategy since there are several commercial diets designed to treat and/or prevent the most common types of crystals/stones including: Hills c/d or s/d. Royal Canin Urinary SO. Purina UR.
Tuna contains high concentrations of unsaturated fats that are quite unhealthy for cats. It can cause a serious vitamin E deficiency, which can lead to a dangerous condition called “steatitis.” This is a painful disease where the cat's body becomes inflamed. Tuna is also high in minerals that can cause bladder stones.