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Are male orange cats prone to UTIs? Does grain-free food prevent them?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | neutered | 8 years and 9 months old | 14 lbs

We have an adult male orange cat. Is it true that there is a higher likelihood of male orange cats developing urinary tract problems? He has not had any issues but I want to be proactive in his healthcare. We feed him a grain-free diet (American Journey). Is the grain-free diet beneficial against urinary tract problems?

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Shaneez Wallani, DVM

Answered By Shaneez Wallani, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on February 28th, 2019

There have not been any major studies showing that orange cats develop more urinary tract issues than other cats, but some people believe there is anecdotal evidence . Wet food with water added and stress reduction may help reduce the risk of urinary tract issues, but there have not been any major studies showing that grain free diets can help prevent urinary issues. Grain free diets may be linked to heart disease in dogs, but studies in cats are pending.
https://www.fda.gov/animalveterinary/newsevents/cvmupdates/ucm613305.htm
See the link below and consult with your vet about the best food for Stewart https://talkspetfood.aafco.org/rightpetfood .

You may also need to make some adjustments so you can help keep your home a low stress and comfortable place for Stewart, as stress can lead to urianry issues in cats. Cats need at least one litterbox per cat plus one extra to help reduce stress associated with the litterbox. They should be placed in separate rooms, away from the food and water bowls, must be scooped at least daily (preferably multiple times a day) and washed out at least weekly with a mild soap, followed by thorough rinsing. Cats need a lot of space to explore, but keeping them indoors is much safer than letting them outside, due to the risk of injury from cars, wildlife, other animals, etc. The key is providing space (particularly vertical space for climbing, such as cat trees, ledges, and the like) inside the home. Visit http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=T&C=33&S=2 , healthcareforpets.com and https://indoorpet.osu.edu// for tips on stress reduction. Also look into Feliway, a synthetic pheromone that is available in a diffuser and spray form that promotes calm feelings in cats http://www.feliway.com
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian

    Thank you for the additional details. It isn't necessarily true the orange cats have more issues, just that males seem to have more issues with blockage due to their small urethra. I have never read any studies where grain free is more or less beneficial for urinary health. The problem is that one cat can process the same foodd differently as another cat. Certain cats will have a higher or lower urine pH (normal is 6-7) on certain foods which will make them more prone to urinary issues. Also, cats that are more anxious will have increased urinary issues. Again, it is impossible to predict who will have issues. I think it would be fine to start Stewart on this diet and if he starts having issues, you can always change later. You could also put him on cosequin for cats which is a joint supplement but also increases the mucus in the lining of the bladder acting as a natural anti-inflammatory. This has been proven to decrease urinary problems. I hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Megan, DVM, CVA

    Veterinarian

    Thank you for the additional details. It isn't necessarily true the orange cats have more issues, just that males seem to have more issues with blockage due to their small urethra. I have never read any studies where grain free is more or less beneficial for urinary health. The problem is that one cat can process the same foodd differently as another cat. Certain cats will have a higher or lower urine pH (normal is 6-7) on certain foods which will make them more prone to urinary issues. Also, cats that are more anxious will have increased urinary issues. Again, it is impossible to predict who will have issues. I think it would be fine to start Stewart on this diet and if he starts having issues, you can always change later. You could also put him on cosequin for cats which is a joint supplement but also increases the mucus in the lining of the bladder acting as a natural anti-inflammatory. This has been proven to decrease urinary problems. I hope this helps!

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    3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
Can feeding my cat grain-free food prevent urinary tract infections?
Not necessarily. If Stewart has had a lot of UTIs in the past, I would consider putting him on cosequin for cats. This is a joint supplement but it also increases the mucous in the lining of the bladder acting as a natural anti-inflammatory. I would also consider talking to your vet about a prescription diet that is geared toward decreasing the frequency of UTIs. I really like science diet C/D Stress. I hope this helps!
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
What grain-free, low-carb cat food helps with urinary issues?
These (below) are valid short term options. The most important element is the presence of water, you must privilege it above anything else. Purina One Urinary Health Hill’s c/d – Multicare – Prescription Diet - Feline Purina Pro Plan Adult This blog (scroll down up to the last articles) can give quite useful tips! https://catinfo.org/feline-urinary-tract-diseases/
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
What can I do to prevent my cat from getting urinary problems?
Urinary issues are quite common in cats. Different issues can include urinary tract infections, crystals in the urine, bladder stones, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) that is often related to stress, among many other conditions. As with most health-related issues, prevention is the name of the game. Offer your cat ample quantities of water to assure that they are drinking appropriate volumes. Some cats prefer running water sources, so a water fountain designed for cats may be helpful. Water can also be mixed in with canned foods or added to dry food. Monitoring your cat at home for changes is another critical step. Always be sure that your cat is using the litter box appropriately by urinating normal volumes several times per day and is not straining excessively in the box. Too much or too little urine volume can indicate changes that warrant veterinary attention, as can straining to urinate, vocalizing while urinating, or blood in the urine. If a cat has been previously diagnosed with bladder stones or crystals, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet to regulate the pH of the urine and mineral content of the diet to prevent the recurrence of these issues. Cats with previously diagnosed FLUTD may also benefit from calming pheromone collars or diffusers to keep their stress levels at bay.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My cat had a UTI. What diet and care prevent future infections?
Stress related (idiopathic type of inflammation) infection and presence of crystals are the most common causes of it. Struvite crystals are very common and usually comes from alkaline urine. Specific diets can be given to acidify urine like s/d by Hill's. I would recommend to have a look at this link to have more informations about FLUTD (feline-lower-urinary-tract-disease): https://www2.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-lower-urinary-tract-disease. Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. Please find the time to give us a feedback about the consultation as that will be used to improve our service.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Why is urinary wet cat food better than grain-free for cats?
The urinary diet is meant to treat and prevent urinary stones. This is formulated to have minerals and nutrients in certain concentrations to decrease the likelihood of stone formation, to acidify the urine and dissolve certain stones. Being grain-free is not a factor when formulating this food and is not necessary. Likewise grain-free food is not any better than food with grains for helping with urinary disease. The food needs to be specially formulated and labeled as a prescription diet. I hope that helps. If you want more info about this food, I've provided a link below to more information about this food. https://www.royalcanin.com/products/vet/urinary-health
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Food & Nutrition
My male cat has urinary issues. Is raw food safe or effective?
Raw food is not really recommended; the risk of severe infection with bacteria (mainly E. coli and Salmonella) is not worth it. Diet has not been implicated in causing urinary issues in cats anyway. Urinary issues are usually due to stress. It is actually very rare for a male cat to have a true urinary infection (just like in a male human) - the urethra is very long and it is difficult for bacteria to get all the way up it and into the bladder. It is more likely he has FLUTD (cystitis). I suggest you read the attached article. I would do environmental enrichment, put him on a urinary formulated CANNED food and use pheromone diffusers (Feliway) if you have them available to you in Greece. ( https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951488 ) Hope this helps. If you have more questions you can always opt for a private consultation where we can chat back and forth. That way you can ask as many questions as you'd like. Best wishes.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
My cat has a UTI on urinary food. What OTC options can I add?
In cats with urinary irritation, wet food is preferable to help reduce urine concentration and flush out the bladder. I strongly recommend a urine exam in order to determine exactly what is going on and to guide the most appropriate treatment (infection/inflammation etc). A sample can be collected using special urine collection litter which does not absorb urine. Petco provide a home kit for detecting UTI which can help to monitor such conditions
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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