12 Best Urinary Cat Foods of 2023

Posted in: Cat Food - Last Updated: January 2, 2023 - Author: Mayurii Rajvanshi
Posted in Cat Food 
Last Updated: July 12, 2021  
Author:  Mayurii Rajvanshi

Why would you  move your kitty to a urinary cat food? How would uyou know that it might help with a problem, and what problem would that be!?

Well, are you noticing weird behavior in your cat lately? Has she been peeing around the house or refuses to use her litter box? 

urinary-cat-food

Cats do the most insane things and this makes them all the more lovable. But sometimes their strange behavior stems from underlying issues and one of the most common health scares is urinary health problems. But don’t panic, a simple diet change to one of the best urinary cat foods can fix this problem for your beloved moggy!

Hill's Science Diet Wet Cat Food, Adult, Urinary & Hairball Control

Our choice is the Hill's Science Diet Urinary & Hairball Control, the best Overall Urinary Cat Food Option.

Hill's Science Diet Wet Cat Food, Adult, Urinary & Hairball Control, Savory Chicken Recipe, 5.5oz. Cans, 24-Pack

Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) is often the main culprit and the root cause can be anything from bladder stones to cancer. Whether your cat is suffering from urinary health issues or she is at a greater risk of developing it due to her age, specially formulated urinary cat foods can reduce the risk, promote faster healing, and provide relief from the discomfort

Here we review the best cat food for urinary crystals to help you choose the right one for your kitty. We’ll also discuss the major causes behind FLUTD, its symptoms, and what to look for in ideal urinary cat food.

1. Hill's Science Diet Wet Cat Food, Adult, Urinary & Hairball Control - Best Overall Urinary Cat Food

If you are looking for the one best cat food for urinary crystals that would do well in all categories- quality ingredients, promote cat urinary health, and help prevent hair build-up- I would strongly suggest you try Hill’s Science Diet Wet Cat Food as a best canned cat food for urinary tract health. The pack comes in two sizes- 2.9 oz and 5.5 oz. Try the smaller size first because cats are well cats and sometimes they reject foods for no rhyme or reason. My cat will be the only cat in the world that is weird about Tuna! 

This adult cat food has a proper balance of proteins, omega fatty acids, and vitamin E to keep your senior cats healthy. There is an appropriate dosage of Magnesium to support your furry feline’s urinary system, which is the first thing that takes a hit as they age. 

The brand says they have added fiber to this urinary wet cat food as well so the hair in your cat’s digestive system passes easily and there is no hairball formation. I like it that the first ingredient on the label is real chicken and not by-products. 

Several buyers have expressed their faith in the brand for formulating the right diet. It is interesting to note some people have switched to this as a best urinary cat food as soon as their cat entered adulthood. 

The only part I am a bit apprehensive about is that they have added corn starch, soybean meal, and pork by-products. So, it might not suit cats with sensitive tummies.

Hill's Science Diet Wet Cat Food, Adult, Urinary & Hairball Control, Savory Chicken Recipe, 5.5oz. Cans, 24-Pack

Pros:

  • Contains real chicken
  • Contains magnesium which is good for urinary health
  • Contains fiber to prevent hair buildup

Cons:

  • Contains corn starch and soybean meal
  • Might not suit sensitive cats
  • I really wish they hadn’t added pork by-products

2. Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Urinary & Hairball Control - Best Dry Cat Food for Urinary Health

I am always on a search for dry food that has an appropriate size kibble. It is easier to store it and is great if you are traveling with your cat constantly. Hill’s Science Diet successfully lures cats with this dry food and though my kitty won’t tell, I can say she likes the smell. I know that’s weird!

Even if your adult cat doesn’t have urinary tract troubles, it makes sense to shift her onto cat food that contains optimized levels of magnesium - just to be on the safer side. Cats are masters at hiding their pain and won’t ever come to you meowing to tell she has a problem. 

You can try the 3.5 lb pack and see if she likes it. The kibble is triangular in shape and will easily fit into your fur baby’s mouth. There are Vitamin E and omega fatty acids to make sure your beautiful feline maintains her shiny coat.

Besides well-balanced magnesium content, there is fiber to prevent hairballs and high-quality protein to ensure your cat maintains her muscle mass. A drop in muscle mass is often the first sign of aging. The first ingredient is real chicken, so you can relax about the quality. 

However, like several cat parents, I really wish there was no corn gluten meal and wheat gluten. Cats with sensitivities might find it troublesome to keep their food down if they have corn or wheat allergy.

Hill's Science Diet Dry Cat Food, Adult, Urinary & Hairball Control, Chicken Recipe, 15.5 lb. Bag

Pros:

  • Contains the right balance of magnesium which is good for your kitty’s kidneys and urinary system
  • There’s fiber to eliminate risks of hairball
  • Vitamin E and omega fatty acids ensure coat and skin health

Cons:

  • There are corn gluten meal and wheat gluten in the food
  • Might not be great for cats with allergies
  • Some buyers felt that their cats threw up this food more often than others

3. Nutro Wholesome Essentials Indoor and Sensitive Digestion - Best Indoor Cat food for Urinary Tract Health

Let me start with what I have listed about this as a best urinary cat food. If your cat throws up food regularly or has been diagnosed for sensitivity, Nutro Wholesome essentials cat food could help you. It is specially formulated taking the nutrient requirements of indoor cats into consideration. 

The urinary cat food brand mentions it clearly on the pack that the ingredients are not genetically modified. It makes me happy to see there is a brand making efforts to help cat parents, who don’t want to feed GMO foods to their fur babies. 

There are no by-products and no corn, wheat, and soy fillers. So, it is good for cats with sensitive digestive systems. I always look for taurine in the ingredient list because it is essential for cats and am glad this food contains it. It is definitely a solid allround best urinary cat food performer, or so to speak.

Several cat parents have expressed their satisfaction over how this cat food boosted their kitty’s immunity, thanks to antioxidants in it. Omega fatty acids and vitamin E ensure a healthy coat and skin. 

Seems like this particular version is cat tested and approved by parents. And well, this is a bit difficult to achieve! Although, a few buyers did mention that the product didn’t do much in the hairball section.

NUTRO WHOLESOME ESSENTIALS Senior Indoor Natural Dry Cat Food for Healthy Weight Farm-Raised Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, 14 lb. Bag

Pros:

  • Contains non-GMO ingredients
  • There are no by-products, no corn, no wheat, and no soy
  • Really wholesome as it contains the right balance of all nutrients

Cons:

  • Some cat parents have complained their cat didn’t eat it enthusiastically
  • Some parents feel it didn’t do much for hairballs prevention
  • There are some concerns about the Ash content in food.

4. Purina Pro Plan Focus Urinary Tract Health - Best Wet Cat Food for Urinary Crystals

Picking the best wet cat food for urinary crystal problems is the perfect healthy treat for your cat and you might even find her purring happily after mealtime. And if you are looking for good wet food that looks after your furry feline’s urinary health, Purina may have a pleasant surprise in store for you. 

This variant is made with real chicken and according to several buyers, the smell of gravy lures even choosy cats towards their bowl. The brand claims this wet cat food will reduce urinary pH, thereby contributing to urinary health. The food provides low dietary magnesium. 

However, my main issue with this cat food for urinary health is that they list meat by-products right after stating water sufficient for processing as the first ingredient. There is corn starch-modified and wheat gluten as well. 

So if your kitty is sensitive, try this cat food for cats with urinary tract problems first with the smallest pack. 

Some cat parents have mentioned they believe the product has urinary issues preventive value due to high water content. For kitties that aren’t habitual of drinking water, this wet food might do the trick.

Several buyers say their choosiest cat developed a strong liking for this as a leading and best urinary cat food. But there are concerns about the rapidly increasing price. Some complained their kitty developed diarrhea after being put on this food.

Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Chicken Entree in Gravy Cat Food - (Pack of 24) 3 oz. Pull-Top Cans

Pros:

  • Several buyers said this food was liked by their choosy cat
  • Reduces urinary pH and helps maintain urinary health
  • Right now the price is affordable

Cons:

  • Contains meat by-products
  • There are concerns over the increase in price
  • Some buyers have complained their cat developed diarrhea

5. Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health Formula - Highest Moisture Content Urinary Cat Food

Purina has come up with a 28 days challenge and they claim that participants experience symptoms of good health- bright eyes, healthy energy, strong teeth, and healthy gums. They support their claims by stating this urinary tract cat food contains only 100% real meat and no fillers. 

This moisture-rich recipe has no grains, so ideally should suit cats with a sensitive digestive system. There are options to choose from the meat source- fish or poultry. This age-based formula contains a healthy balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients targeted for urinary health, weight maintenance, and hairball management. 

And now comes the part I am really skeptical about. They say zero fillers but the first two ingredients on the label read Corn Gluten Meal and Ground Yellow Corn. So, cats with sensitive stomachs might not be too happy.

The good part is the moisture content, which is 10%. Some cat parents did say that they were concerned about the corn and gluten ingredients too at first but the product did work well for their cats. 

Some even said that it worked like vet prescribed cat food, but was much affordable.

Purina ONE High Protein Dry Cat Food, +Plus Urinary Tract Health Formula - 22 lb. Bag

Pros:

  • Cats like the taste
  • Good moisture content
  • Has the right balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients for urinary health
  • Affordable

Cons:

  • The first two ingredients are Corn Gluten Meal and Ground Yellow Corn
  • Might not suit cats with sensitive stomachs
  • Concerns about finding bugs in the pack

6. IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Urinary Tract Health - Best Natural Urinary Cat Food

Let me start with the positives for this as a best cat food for urinary health. This IAMS Proactive Health recipe is specially formulated to reduce urinary pH, which is the number one reason behind declining urinary health in senior cats. There is calcium and potassium for your furry feline’s heart health. 

The first ingredient on the label is real chicken and by now you already know how much I value this. Vitamin E in this variant helps build your kitty’s immunity. And the thing I really like - the kibble is crunchy and helps prevent plaque buildup on teeth. 

There is no artificial preservative, no synthetic dyes, and no wheat. So, sensitive cats can definitely enjoy this as a best ‘natural’ urinary cat food. Several cat parents have expressed that the food worked really well for their cats with Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). 

Dry kibble addicted cats might love the taste of this crunchy kibble. It is shaped to fit within your cat’s mouth comfortably. Some buyers did mention that other brands caused vomitings in their cats but this one suited rather well.

Even loyal Royal Canin fans mentioned they switched to this brand because of its affordability and effectiveness. Also, this best urinary cat food option offers good value for money. The only thing I can see complaints about is the presence of chicken by-product meal and corn grits. But if it works well on all other parameters, who am I to complain!

IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Urinary Tract Healthy Dry Cat Food with Chicken Cat Kibble, 16 lb. Bag

Pros:

  • Special formulation for urinary health
  • Affordable
  • Well-balanced meal. Contains all necessary nutrients

Cons:

  • Contains corn grits
  • Kibble is crunchy so might be difficult to eat for older cats
  • Although there’s no preservatives, sensitive cats still need a trial of this food as it does contain corn

7. Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care - Best Non Prescription Cat Food for Urinary Crystals

Every time my fur baby felt unwell because of UTI, my vet always used to recommend this as a best urinary cat food option. So, this review comes from my personal experience. I’ll be honest, this dry food for urinary tract health works really well but the cost dissuades me from using it for the long term. 

This Hills Multicare formulation has been developed by expert nutritionists and veterinarians to support your kitty’s urinary health. The most common urinary issue associated with cats is the formation of stones due to excess minerals. And this food has been developed to help improve most urinary health issues with the need for surgical interventions.  

The brand claims that this best cat food for urinary blockage contains clinically tested nutrition to prevent the recurrence of urinary problems by up to 89%. It promotes desired urinary pH levels to help dissolve struvite stones within 7 days, thus reducing the chances of struvite and calcium oxalate stones. 

Available in both dry and wet options, it is ideal for fussy eaters. The levels of magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus are controlled to provide an optimal balance. There are omega fatty acids, antioxidants, and potassium citrate to further boost health. 

If budget isn’t a problem, I’ll suggest you continue feeding this urinary tract cat food to your adult kitty.

No products found.

Pros:

  • Most cats love the taste
  • Well-balanced nutrition
  • Formula designed by expert vets and nutritionists

Cons:

  • Costly

8. HILL'S PRESCRIPTION DIET c/d MultiCare Stress Urinary Care - Best Stress Related Urinary Cat Food

It might sound surprising but your cute little kitty can suffer from stress too, which messes up with her bladder functioning. This stress can be caused by the demise of another cat in the house or sudden change in the surrounding. Cats look rough tough, but they are little babies. 

Your vet might recommend this particular variant from the house of Hill’s if he feels the urinary issues might be stemming from stress. As with other products by Hill’s prescription diet, this one is also formulated by expert nutritionists and vets to deliver well-balanced nutrition to your kitty. 

This food works well to reduce the risk of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals in the bladder, which is the main cause of Urinary Tract Infections. The food has clinically tested ingredients to prevent the recurrence of common urinary problems. 

Your kitty needs magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus in her diet but in controlled quantities, or else it will aggravate the situation. This variant has carefully controlled quantities of these minerals to provide optimal nutrition. Then there are antioxidants, potassium citrate, and Omega-3 Fatty acids to ensure your furry friend is happy and healthy.

Some buyers have mentioned that this best urinary cat food option helped their cat overcome her habit of peeing around the house. Cat parents have expressed their satisfaction over the effectiveness of the product.

Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Stress Urinary Care with Chicken Dry Cat Food, Veterinary Diet, 8.5 lb. Bag

Pros:

  • Cats find the tastes good
  • Promotes bladder health
  • Ideal for adult cats

Cons:

  • Expensive

9. Hill'S Prescription Diet C/D Multicare Feline Bladder Health - Best Prescription Urinary Cat Food

I would never have understood the importance of buying the best urinary cat food had I not seen the benefits myself. One of my rescue cats was prone to bladder issues that continued until her last days. She was thrice put on this cat food and it always helped her. 

Hill’s brand has introduced S+OXSHIELDTM in their prescription foods. This ingredient has been specifically formulated to reduce the risk of struvite and calcium oxalate crystals.

Many cat parents did say that this product has helped ease off their kitty’s pain due to bladder stones. The taste is well-loved too and even fussy kitties often empty their entire bowl in one go. It is ideal for cats that do not like the chicken flavor of the same version or are bored of it. Cats mostly love fish flavors and this ocean-fresh version is no exception. 

The texture is pate, so for cats, who love to chomp onto pieces, might love it. And for stew lovers, there’s a variant too. And if nothing helps, you can always crush chunks with the back of a spoon.

This pick as a best urinary cat food product has the right combination of vitamins and minerals designed to take care of an aging cat’s energy requirements while ensuring their bladder issues are resolved.

No products found.

Pros:

  • Supports urinary health
  • Ideal nutrient balance
  • Recommended for lifelong feeding of adult cats

Cons:

  • Needs vet’s recommendation
  • Has gluten

10. Royal Canin Feline Urinary So Dry Food - Best Royal Canin Urinary Cat Food

Sometimes cat parents get over-enthusiastic about minerals and vitamins and end up over supplementing. If you are looking for a food that meets all the dietary needs of your kitty and also prevents urinary health issues, this is the best Royal canin Urinary SO Dry Cat Food. The brand’s URINARY SO formula is designed to ensure your cat’s urine is neither oversaturated with struvite nor has the levels of calcium oxalate saturated enough to promote spontaneous homogeneous crystallization. 

You can mix this up with wet food to make sure your kitty gets moisture through her diet, in case she isn’t inclined to drinking water. 

This cat food is formulated with relative supersaturation (RSS) methodology, which reduces the ion concentration in urine. It is one of the key reasons behind the stone formation. 

The reduced magnesium content helps dissolve the pure struvite stones and prevents them from forming in the future too. Cat parents have expressed their satisfaction over results and some even said that they have put their adult cat on this food permanently.

Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care with Ocean Fish Wet Cat Food, Veterinary Diet, 5.5 oz. Cans, 24-Pack

Pros:

  • Helps dissolve urinary stones
  • Reduces risk of crystal formation
  • Supports urinary health
  • Prevents recurrence of stone

Cons:

  • Needs a doctor’s recommendation
  • Some cat’s dislike the taste

11. Royal Canin Feline Urinary SO Wet Can

The high moisture content makes this variant a better choice over the dry counterpart we just discussed above. This best Royal Canin Urinary SO wet cat food product is formulated to dissolve struvite stone and reduce their recurrence by acidifying the urine. 

It is common for cats to develop idiopathic cystitis, which is a common form of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. This can be a painful condition due to which cats often refuse to even eat. A simple introduction of this product can help enhance your cat’s eagerness to eat, along with helping ease her pain during bladder movements.

This best urinary cat food pick is most suitable for senior cats disinterested in eating and also facing a drop in their muscle mass. This product contains the right proportion of vitamins and minerals needed to take care of your cat’s energy requirement and proper weight maintenance.

Royal Canin Feline Urinary So Dry (7.7 Lb)

Pros:

  • Helps in urine dilution
  • Reduces the concentration of struvites and calcium oxalates
  • Cat parents have reported their fur babies did find it tasty

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Needs vet’s recommendation

12. Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care

There are high chances your furry feline’s behavioral issues might be stemming from underlying issues, especially urinary health. She might even refuse to use her litter box. Quality cat food like this variant can help comfort her and relieve symptoms. 

This is the wet version of the Hill’s Multicare Urinary Care and contains canned chicken in gravy form. If your cat is showing no enthusiasm for dry food or doesn’t drink adequate water, switch over to this wet variant. 

Cat parents have mentioned how their fussy kitty too walked up to the bowl just by the smell of the food. It definitely lures cats to eat and the taste makes sure they look forward to mealtime. Just like the dry version, this formulation is also developed by nutritionists and vets while keeping the dietary needs of cats with urinary issues in mind. 

This option as best urinary tract cat food leans definitely towards the expense side, but as per the satisfaction expressed by a lot of buyers, the food seems worth your money. The delicate balance between magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus is maintained to promote the desirable pH levels in urine. 

Cat parents have mentioned that their kitty was able to pass urine with ease after being put on this diet.

No products found.

Pros:

  • Helps dissolve stone
  • Enriched with antioxidants, potassium citrate, Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Well-balanced nutrition

Cons:

  • Expensive

Why use a Urinary Tract Cat Food?

As cats age, they develop different urinary problems and because your kitty is sneaky about it, you won’t notice the symptoms unless you are very attentive. Sometimes this can be dangerous because if there is a blockage in the urethra, it can be fatal. 

More often than not, the problem could be caused by Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), which is a collection of various symptoms. There are several reasons for urinary health issues in cats but the most common ones are kidney stones, debris in the bladder and/or urethra, blockage in the urethra from urine build-up, and inflammation. 

Stress, injury, congenital abnormality, and problems with the spinal cord can also be the contributory factors. However, there’s one aspect that often goes unnoticed but it could be playing a major role in aggravating urinary problems and its symptoms. 

It is the dietary intake of your cat. If your furry feline isn’t getting proper nutrition, it will show up in form of health issues. Ingredients in cat food influence the pH of urine, its concentration, and volume.

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As cats age, they develop different urinary problems and because your kitty is sneaky about it, you won’t notice the symptoms unless you are very attentive. Sometimes this can be dangerous because if there is a blockage in the urethra, it can be fatal. 

More often than not, the problem could be caused by Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD), which is a collection of various symptoms. There are several reasons for urinary health issues in cats but the most common ones are kidney stones, debris in the bladder and/or urethra, blockage in the urethra from urine build-up, and inflammation. 

Stress, injury, congenital abnormality, and problems with the spinal cord can also be the contributory factors. However, there’s one aspect that often goes unnoticed but it could be playing a major role in aggravating urinary problems and its symptoms. 

It is the dietary intake of your cat. If your furry feline isn’t getting proper nutrition, it will show up in form of health issues. Ingredients in cat food influence the pH of urine, its concentration, and volume. 

In fact, manipulation of the pH of urine through food has proven to be effective in treating and preventing several urinary health issues in cats. There has been a study on this and it concluded the source of protein has a significant impact on urinary composition in cats. 

If you suspect your cat is struggling with problems in her urinary system, do not self treat at home. Visit a vet and get a thorough check-up done. 

I recommend switching your adult cats to food specifically designed to prevent such issues that crop up as they age. It is better to err on the side of caution. But do seek advice from the vet.

urinary-tract-cat-food

How to Know if Your Cat Needs a Best Urinary Tract Cat Food

If your cat is like mine and is very shy to ‘go’ in front of you, spotting the first few signs of urinary tract infection can be a challenge. But as parents, we do need to find ways to keep an eye on them. Some of the visible symptoms of UTI are:

Straining to go to urinate

Your cat might find it difficult to urinate. She could be passing too little urine and it feels like she is struggling hard to relieve herself.

Bladder inflammation

If the urine is cloudy, bloody, or dribbling, chances are high she has inflammation. Bloody urine can also be a sign of internal injury or blockage. If you notice blood in the urine, seek an appointment with the vet immediately.

Frequently attempting to urinate

If your cat has no problem using the litter box but all of a sudden she is urinating outside it, then it surely is an alarm. This is a sign your kitty is facing some discomfort.

What Makes a Best Cat Food for Urinary Crystals?

As I mentioned earlier, food plays an important role in your cat’s urinary health. High-quality cat food with the right ingredients can prevent such issues and might even help in treating urinary problems by pairing along with the treatment prescribed by the vet. 

Here is a quick lay down on the ingredients that make cat food good for urinary health:

Wet v Dry Urinary Cat Foods

Both wet and dry best urinary cat food options are designed specifically for urinary health contain nutrients and minerals necessary to combat infections and inflammations. However, there is one important factor we cannot ignore- moisture. 

If your cat drinks adequate water, there is no reason why dry food wouldn’t work. But in case your cat doesn’t have the natural drive to drink water often, wet food might be a good option.

Berberis Vulgaris

Common Barberry, or Berberis Vulgaris, is known to promote healthy bladder and urinary tract. It has an immunity-boosting effect on humans as well as feline health.

Cantharis

This is a homeopathic strain obtained from beetles and is considered useful for acute cystitis attacks. Cantharis provides quick relief from urinary crystals.

Staphysagris

This is another nature’s gift that helps provide comfort to cats suffering from urinary infections and soothes the urinary tract. 

These natural ingredients are very helpful but cats have their own moods and might object to the taste or flavor. If that’s the case, I suggest you buy these supplements making sure the label reads cat safe.

Final Thoughts on The Best Cat food for Urinary Health

My personal preference for the best urinary cat foods would be Hill's Science Diet Wet Cat Food, Adult, Urinary & Hairball Control. The main reason I picked this variant is that my cat won’t ever walk up to the water bowl unless she really needs to drink. And there’s no way to coax her to drink more water. 

So, wet cat food is a must to increase the moisture content in her diet. Then another reason for choosing this variant is the formulation. It has the right balance of all the nutrients needed to promote urinary health. 

The taste is enticing and a high-quality protein source means your furry feline will be able to maintain her muscle mass. I suggest you buy the bigger packaging as it is more cost-effective.

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About the author

Mayurii Rajvanshi takes pride in being a content ninja, who is an avid animal lover. She has fostered numerous cats and developed in-depth knowledge of feline facts so she can write about cat health and cat care to help dispel myths with authentic information. Her aim is to encourage responsible pet parenting and cat adoption.

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