Choosing the ‘right’ kind of cat food can be incredibly overwhelming. And as a cat owner, we know you’re always thinking about finding the very best food for your cat since proper nutrition plays such a critical role in your cat’s overall health.
But what cat owners might not know, is that nutrition can prevent your cat from contracting serious health conditions like urinary blockages.
Let’s get into some of the ways what you feed your cat can help them stay healthy and prevent future disease.
Understanding Urinary Blockages in Male Cats
We’ve recently seen an increase in cats who are suffering from urinary tract blockages. Male cats are especially prone to this condition because their urethra is narrower than that of female cats.
Stress, the age of your cat, as well as what they eat can all play a role in your cats urinary issues. But, one of the leading causes of your cat’s urinary issues is the formation of crystals in the urethra which can cause painful and even life threatening complete blockages.
How Stress and Diet Play a Role
Your cats stress and diet can cause them to experience UTI-like symptoms, but without the bacterial infection element. This is because stress and anxiety your cat experiences can lead to inflammation of the bladder.
If your cat is experiencing urinary issues, they might have trouble urinating, be crying in pain, or even stop using the litter box. If your cat is experiencing these symptoms and them they go untreated, it could lead to a complete blockage of their urinary tract and even require emergency medical treatment.
How Diet Can Prevent Your Cat’s Urinary Issues
A simple way to prevent your cat from any urinary issues is to make sure they are eating a kidney-friendly diet. When you feed your cat a formula designed to prevent urinary issues, you are helping them to reduce the formation of crystals in the urine, helping them maintain a healthy pH level in their bladder, and supporting their hydration.
So, What Exactly Should You Feed Your Cat?
To keep your cat overall healthy and help them prevent any urinary issues, we recommend stopping in. After an assessment we can recommend to you any prescription diets or formulas that can help reduce the risk of blockages your cat might experience.
But overall, you should aim to help your cat stay hydrated which in turn helps their urinary system flush itself. At the same time, keep an eye on their litter box habits. If you notice any changes, come see us. We can help prevent any medical emergencies from progressing.
And of course, do your best to limit your cat’s stress. Stress can play a huge roll in their urinary issues. Your cat will thrive in an environment that allows them plenty of hiding spots, scratching posts, and interactive toys.
By feeding your cat the right diet, encouraging hydration, and managing their stress, you’re helping to prevent any painful and dangerous urinary blockages.
If you have any questions or concerns about your cat’s diet or urinary health, don’t hesitate to schedule a visit with us! We’re here to help you choose the best nutrition plan to keep your cat happy and healthy!
