Why is urinary wet cat food better than grain-free for cats?

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/

Regular food is much less effective in preventing recurrent urinary tract issues in cats which are very prone to repeat episodes - it is impossible to say how sensitive he is and without trying you will not know but there is a chance he could relapse on ordinary canned food. Urinary diets tend to be adjusted to maintain urine pH to prevent crystals and are restricted in minerals and use only high quality protein sources to minimise the risk of urinary tract issues as well as providing an important source of fluids compared to dry food. The very best option in affected cats is urinary canned food but in many cases a high quality, commercial canned food is sufficient - if he relapses on this you will have to source the urinary prescription food as a treatment and prevention

Without a full diagnosis of the actual health conditions it is almost impossible to advise on a suitable diet - kidney failure, urinary stones/crystals, urinary tract inflammation, incontinence and bladder tumours can all cause urinary tract symptoms in older cats and each require slightly different management - I recommend you contact your vet to discuss exactly what types of food are most likely to help Patches. When it comes to kidney and urinary issues however, high quality, specialist prescription diets are preferred as they are tailored to prevent progression and reduce severity of clinical signs and are worth the investment, even if you can only stick with them for 8-12weeks to allow stabilisation

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!

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

Purina Friskies is a low/mid grade quality food and I would not be surprised if his crystalluria returns. He really needs a prescription diet such as c/d from Hills or a similar formula from Royal Canin. Your veterinarian should have this food available, or be able to send you to a store to purchase with a prescription. I have also had good luck using Crystal Stone Formula ( a Chinese herbal), but this is a prescription herbal. I would be happy to consult with you about this. I would recommend a prescription diet for at least 6 months prior to trying to wean off of it. If you absolutely CANNOT get a prescription diet, I would focus on a high quality, high protein diet, but NONE will dissolve and prevent crystals as well.

In mild cases, any wet food may be sufficient to keep the urine suitably dilute to prevent recurrence but i would recommend 6weeks of the specialist urinary wet food to stabilise and maximise recovery. If symptoms recur then i would recommend urinary food only thereafter