Monday, September 13, 2010

Urinary Tract Health in Cats




Last year when I lived in Seattle, I lived with a cat named Buster. He was a lover, but a jealous one, and he was known to pout when his mom (my roommate) had been away for a while. Sometimes he even lashed out with his claws if he had not seen her in a week or so. Kitty knew how to communicate. So I was shocked the day he urinated on my bed--what had I done to provoke the little brat? But then he went in the bathtub, and his urine had blood in it. The vet diagnosed him with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD), and I had yet another opportunity to study the connection between diet and health.

In retrospect, Buster displayed many of the signs and symptoms of FLUTD:
  • excessive urination or frequent attempts to urinate with little output
  • urinating outside the litter box
  • painful urination (or crying out when urinating)
  • straining to urinate
FLUTD is inflammation of the lining of the bladder and/or urethra. This inflammation causes mineral deposits (struvite formation) to crystallize in the urinary tract. It is most common in neutered males, but females are not immune to the disorder. It can lead to total blockage of the urethra, which, if untreated, can be fatal. See the vet immediately if you notice any of the above symptoms and if your cat is increasingly distressed.

There are a number of dietary changes you can make that aid in the prevention of FLUTD.

1. Feed your cat a high animal protein diet. Animal protein in the diet helps keep your cat's urine acidic, which dissolves the mineral crystals which cause the problem. Many foods contain grains which are alkalizing. There are many grain-free foods on the market (Wellness CORE, Best Feline Friends, Mulligan Stew, Taste of the Wild) from which to choose. If you must feed dry food, always choose a grain-free dry food and let your cat's total dry food intake be no more than 50%. Raw food is best for preventing urinary tract disorders, followed by canned food, which generally has less grain.

2. Always have plenty of fresh water available and limit the amount of dry food your cat eats. Cats are inefficient drinkers and, in the wild, they get most of their liquids from the juicy prey they kill. Cats who are chronically dehydrated are prone to FLUTD. The easiest way to make sure that your cat stays hydrated is to switch to raw or canned food. Place the water bowl away from the food bowl, and consider a cascading waterer to encourage your feline to drink more.

3. Feed your cat a "low ash" and low magnesium food. Ash refers to the total mineral content of a food. Foods high in ash will be higher in the minerals that can crystallize in your cat's urinary tract. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus are important, but need to be present in the correct amount and proportion. Dry foods should be less than 7% ash and 1% magnesium; wet foods (containing 78% water)--less than 1.5% ash and 0.02% magnesium.

4. Use supplements that encourage good urinary tract health. Cranberry supplements, such as NaturVet's Cranberry Relief, can prevent harmful bacteria from colonizing the urinary tract. NaturVet also makes VitaCat, a multi-vitamin that enhances you cat's overall health and immunity.

From the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine--Steps to Reduce Occurences and Signs of Lower Urinary Tract Disease
  1. Feed small meals on a frequent basis.
  2. For cats with a history of struvite formation, owners should feed diets that promote the formation of urine that is acidic. Most commercial diets meet this criteria. Avoid supplementing such diets with additional urinary acidifiers, because over-acidification can cause metabolic acidosis, impaired kidney function, and mineral imbalance.
  3. Provide clean, fresh water at all times.
  4. Provide an adequate number of litter boxes (usually one more than the number of cats in the household).
  5. Keep litter boxes in quiet, safe areas of the house.
  6. Keep litter boxes clean.
  7. Minimize major changes in routine.
As always, feel free to contact us at info@luckydogdelivers.com if you have questions or need help choosing a food.