8 Best Cat Foods For Urinary Tract Health
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The best cat food for urinary tract health has the moisture, pH levels, and mineral content to keep your cat’s urinary tract working smoothly. Foods that meet these requirements are easier to find than you might expect.
They’re on grocery shelves and pet store aisles, available with or without a prescription, and sold at almost every price point you can imagine.
We recommend Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken in Chicken Consomme as the overall best cat food for urinary tract health. It provides carnivore-appropriate nutrition in the juicy, low-ash format that cats love and their urinary tracts need.
But this Tiki Cat recipe is far from the only product that supports urinary tract health. Whether you’re on a tight budget or feeding a cat with food intolerances, there’s a great option available for you.
At a Glance: Best Cat Food for Urinary Tract Health To Buy
We highly recommend looking at the comparison table we have below where we highlighted the features of each product. You’ll also find more detailed information about each product later in the article.
Compare Best Cat Food For Urinary Tract Health
|
Overall Best
1. Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken in Chicken Consomme Grain-Free Canned Cat Food |
Best Prescription
4. Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care with Ocean Fish Wet Cat Food |
Best Freeze-Dried
5. Feline Natural Chicken & Lamb Feast Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food |
Best For Sensitive Stomach
6. Hound & Gatos 98% Rabbit Grain-Free Canned Cat Food |
Best For Senior Cats
7. Weruva Truluxe Steak Frites with Beef & Pumpkin in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Food |
Best For Weight Loss
8. Weruva Nine Liver with Chicken & Chicken Liver in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food |
||
|
Protein
16% Min |
Protein
10% Min |
Protein
45% Min |
Protein
8.5% Min |
Protein
48% Min |
Protein
11% Min |
Protein
10% Min |
Protein
10% Min |
|
Fat
2.6% Min |
Fat
2.0% Min |
Fat
20% Min |
Fat
3.0% Min |
Fat
31% Min |
Fat
7.0% Min |
Fat
1.3% Min |
Fat
1.4% Min |
|
Fiber
0% Max |
Fiber
1.0% Max |
Fiber
3% Max |
Fiber
1.0% Max |
Fiber
1.0% Max |
Fiber
1.0% Max |
Fiber
0.5% Max |
Fiber
0.5% Max |
|
Life Stage
Adult |
Life Stage
All Life Stages |
Life Stage
Adult |
Life Stage
Adult |
Life Stage
Adult |
Life Stage
Adult |
Life Stage
Adult |
Life Stage
Adult |
|
Type
Wet/Canned |
Type
Wet/Canned |
Type
Freeze-Dried |
Type
Wet/Canned |
Type
Freeze-Dried |
Type
Wet/Canned |
Type
Wet/Canned |
Type
Wet/Canned |
|
Made In
Thailand |
Made In
United States |
Made In
United States |
Made In
United States |
Made In
New Zealand |
Made In
United States |
Made In
Thailand |
Made In
Thailand |
What’s The Best Cat Food For Urinary Tract Health?
A food’s appropriateness for urinary tract health involves three factors—moisture, acidity, and mineral management. Let’s go into a little more detail.
The best cat food for urinary tract health is rich in moisture.
Moisture is the single most important dietary factor in FLUTD defense. High-moisture food keeps water flowing through your cat’s system, flushing out mineral deposits and helping to prevent infection. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of high-moisture food, showing that it can help to reduce FLUTD recurrence and may prevent it altogether.
Why high-moisture food, though? If hydration is key, why not just give your cat a bowl of clean water?
Cats evolved as desert animals, adapted to life without water bowls. Instead of getting thirsty and drinking like dogs and people do, cats get most of their hydration from their prey. A mouse is 65-80% water. The best cat food for urinary tract health is equally juicy, effortlessly providing all the moisture your cat needs.
The best cat food for urinary tract health has the right acidity to promote a healthy urinary pH.
Diet influences the urinary pH and affects the way that crystals form in the urinary tract. An overly alkaline diet increases the likelihood of urinary tract infection and struvite crystal formation. An overly acidic diet increases your cat’s chances of developing calcium oxalate crystals.
Your cat’s specific needs will depend on which types of urinary tract problems he’s most prone to. In general, however, cats do best when eating a slightly acidic diet. Plant-based foods tend towards alkalinity while meat-rich, prey-inspired foods are in the optimal range for most cats.
Cats consuming a species-appropriate, minimally-processed diet rich in muscle meat, bones, and organs will have a urinary pH of about 6.- 6.5.
The best cat food for urinary tract health has the right mineral balance.
The concentration of phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium contribute to the likelihood that your cat will develop urinary tract crystals. Cats who tend to form stones should consume a diet that’s less than 1.0% – 1.2% phosphorus on a dry matter basis. These diets are usually lower in calcium and magnesium, other minerals with an impact on crystal formation.
An easy way to identify foods low in these minerals is by avoiding those with meat, fish, and animal by-product meals. These meals are usually ground with bones and connective tissue intact, increasing the food’s mineral content.
Our Top Picks For The Best Cat Food For Urinary Tract Health
Tiki Cat Puka Puka Luau Succulent Chicken in Chicken Consomme Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 16% Min
- Fat: 2.6% Min
- Fiber: 0% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Wet/Canned
- Made In: Thailand
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Species-appropriate ingredient list translates to appropriate pH levels
- Moisture-rich food helps to keep the urinary tract healthy
- Features highly-digestible chicken meat as the primary protein source
- Free of any irritating additives
- Low carbohydrate content
- Uses plant-sourced oil instead of animal fat
- Doesn’t have any fiber sources
Because it’s made from chicken meat without a lot of bone or connective tissue, the food is relatively low in ash and shouldn’t increase your cat’s risk of developing urinary tract crystals. Its species-appropriate, meat-centric ingredient list keeps its pH within a carnivore-appropriate range.
With all the qualities we look for in a urinary diet, a generally carnivore-worthy ingredient list, and a history of deliciousness, this food is a good option whether your cat is prone to urinary tract issues or not.
WholeHearted All Life Stages Grain-Free Chicken Recipe
Product Info
- Protein: 10% Min
- Fat: 2.0% Min
- Fiber: 1.0% Max
- Life Stage: All Life Stages
- Type: Wet/Canned
- Made In: United States
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Rich in animal protein and species-appropriate ingredients
- Moisture-rich for hydration and urinary tract health
- One of the most economical wet foods on the market
- Doesn’t contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
- Contains xanthan gum, which doesn’t agree with every cat
This food meets all of our requirements for the best cat food for urinary tract health while boasting one of the lowest prices in the industry. It’s almost identical to the Tiki Cat food in our first place position with a few key differences. Aside from being significantly cheaper than the Tiki Cat food, it contains xanthan gum as a thickener and tuna oil instead of sunflower seed oil.
The food is species-appropriate, moisture-rich, and a crowd pleaser. With highly-digestible chicken taking center stage, this appears to be a highly-digestible, low-ash food that can help to keep your cat healthy.
Smalls Freeze-Dried Raw Water Bird
Product Info
- Protein: 45% Min
- Fat: 20% Min
- Fiber: 3% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Freeze-Dried
- Made In: United States
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Made with premium natural ingredients
- Premium source of real animal protein
- Contains real duck and duck organs
- Available by subscription only
- Low moisture content
This recipe contains a whopping 45% protein with 20% fat, as fed. The moisture level is only 8%, but the product is intended to be rehydrated before feeding. In terms of metabolizable energy, this recipe only contains 1% carbohydrates.
If you’re feeding Smalls Freeze-Dried Raw Water Bird to a cat with urinary tract issues, keep in mind that it is a freeze-dried product and has low moisture. You may need to supplement your cat’s moisture intake in other ways.
Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care with Ocean Fish Wet Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 8.5% Min
- Fat: 3.0% Min
- Fiber: 1.0% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Wet/Canned
- Made In: United States
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Clinically tested to reduce urinary symptoms
- Formulated for cats with urinary crystals
- Contains several low-value plant ingredients
- Only available with a vet’s prescription
According to the company, this Hill’s Prescription Diet food can lower the recurrence of “most common urinary signs by 89%”.
Its pH balance and controlled levels of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus help to reduce the risk of both struvite and calcium oxalate crystals. If your cat already has struvite crystals, the food can help to dissolve them in, on average, 27 days.
Though hundreds of customers agree that the food can help, you’ll need to check with your veterinarian to determine if Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d is the right choice for your cat.
Feline Natural Chicken & Lamb Feast Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 48% Min
- Fat: 31% Min
- Fiber: 1.0% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Freeze-Dried
- Made In: New Zealand
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Low in phosphorus compared to other freeze-dried foods
- Species-appropriate pH levels support urinary tract health
- Can be as moisture-rich as you want it to be
- Primarily made from highly-digestible animal ingredients
- Extremely expensive
It’s a meat-rich, species-appropriate food that features chicken meat, lamb heart, kidney, liver, and blood as primary ingredients. Other ingredients include flaxseed as a source of fiber, New Zealand green mussel as a source of omega-3 fatty acids, and supplements that make each meal nutritionally complete.
Though the food comes out of the bag dry, you can use warm water to give it a consistency that works for both you and your cat.
Hound & Gatos 98% Rabbit Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 11% Min
- Fat: 7.0% Min
- Fiber: 1.0% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Wet/Canned
- Made In: United States
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Novel protein source makes it a good option for cats with food intolerances or allergies
- Rich in high-quality, low-ash ingredients
- Species-appropriate pH levels reduce the risk of urinary tract issues
- A very expensive food
- Some cats don’t like the rabbit flavor
Weruva Truluxe Steak Frites with Beef & Pumpkin in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Food
Product Info
- Protein: 10% Min
- Fat: 1.3% Min
- Fiber: 0.5% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Wet/Canned
- Made In: Thailand
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- Rich in moisture to maintain good urinary tract health
- Relatively low in phosphorus compared to other non-prescription foods
- Contains pumpkin, which may help to prevent constipation
- A protein-rich food with low carbohydrate content
- One of the most expensive cat foods you can buy
It’s not a prescription food and isn’t necessarily a solution for cats with kidney disease, but it manages to deliver a combination of high protein and low phosphorus content. For senior cats at risk of developing kidney disease, that’s invaluable.
As a meat-based food with relatively little plant matter, this food should help to maintain an appropriate urinary pH.
Weruva Nine Liver with Chicken & Chicken Liver in Gravy Grain-Free Canned Cat Food
Product Info
- Protein: 10% Min
- Fat: 1.4% Min
- Fiber: 0.5% Max
- Life Stage: Adult
- Type: Wet/Canned
- Made In: Thailand
Guaranteed Analysis
Dry Matter Basis
- A moisture-rich diet that promises to support urinary tract health
- Relatively low-calorie for cats who need to lose weight
- Primarily made from nourishing animal-derived ingredients
- Contains potato starch and xanthan gum as thickeners
- Relies on sunflower seed oil instead of animal fats
- One of the most expensive foods on the market
Weruva’s Nine Liver with Chicken & Chicken Liver helps to keep urinary issues at bay with a combination of high moisture content, carnivore-appropriate acidity, and relatively low ash content.
With just under 20 calories per ounce, this food is significantly less calorie-dense than any dry food on the market and a bit leaner than many top canned foods. With its satisfying consistency and low calorie content, this food promises to help your cat feel his best while dropping any excess weight.
At just over 10% carbohydrates on a dry matter basis, this food is relatively low-carb and appears to be a species-appropriate choice.
Final Thoughts
Digestive issues are just as common as urinary tract health problems. Fortunately, there are a wealth of foods that address both. This recipe from Hound & Gatos is one of them.
It’s a moisture-rich food made from top-quality ingredients and should help to control urinary tract health. It’s also a limited-ingredient food made from rabbit, a novel protein for many cats.
Like other Hound & Gatos foods, it’s popular among cats with food sensitivities and digestive issues. Many reviewers say this food is among the only products their cats can eat without digestive upset.
What if your cat is sensitive to rabbit? Consider any of the other recipes on our list of the best limited ingredient cat food.
