Five Cat Food Factors That Discourage Feline UTD
By: Nancy Wigal
One of the most common causes of Feline Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is what your cat eats. A feline diet that is too high in carbohydrates and magnesium, and low in protein can lead to FLUTD. When their cat is initially diagnosed with FLUTD, feline owners will usually first try to get their kitty to eat the prescription food recommended by their vet.
But what if the cat rejects their offering? As an alternative, there are specific, non-prescription cat foods available to maintain your cat’s urine pH balance at 6.6. A high urine pH value indicates struvite crystal formation in your cat’s urinary tract. The challenge is to find the right cat food that appeals to kitty, contains the proper amount of protein and magnesium, and has few or no by-products.
If you turn out to be one of those owners who has to find an alternative cat food, then here’s five things to evaluate when selecting cat food to prevent future FLUTD occurences in your kitty:
1. What’s the Most Common Ingredient?
The first and most common ingredient that should be listed is protein - meat or fish. Read the label carefully - here’s some variations you could see:
Canned cat food:
Beef
Chicken Liver
Deboned Chicken
Beef Broth
Dry cat food:
Chicken
Organic Chicken
Herring Meal
Chicken Meal
Some other good ingredients that will help your kitty maintain good urinary tract health are blueberries and cranberries. Vegetables such as carrots are good, and rice is a good grain for your kitty to consume.
2. Are There Any By-Products?
Are by-products listed as one of the ingredients? If so, put that food back on the shelf and keep looking. By-products are filler material, and have limited nutritional value for your kitty. By-products are typically carbohydrates, and since cats are carnivores, they need protein, not carbs, for proper nutrition.
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