Five Cat Food
Factors That Discourage Feline UTD
by: Nancy E. 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.
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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
occurrences 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:
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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.
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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.
Here are some examples of by-products:
Canned cat food:
- Corn gluten meal
- Ground yellow corn
- Soybean meal
- Beef By-Products
- Meat By-Products
Dry cat food:
- Ground Yellow Corn
- Chicken By-Product Meal
- Corn Gluten Meal
- Wheat flour
- Corn Meal
- Soy flour
3. How Much Moisture Is In the Cat
Food?
What's the percentage of moisture in
the cat food you're evaluating? The higher the number, the better for
your kitty. More moisture means your cat will urinate more. Increased
urination will flush out any crystals that may be trying to form in
your cat's urinary tract. Canned cat food has a higher moisture
content than dry.
4. How Much Magnesium Does the Cat Food
Contain?
An excess of magnesium will contribute
to struvite crystal formation (FLUTD). Some magnesium is necessary,
but generally look for cat food that has a maximum of 0.025% magnesium
to prevent struvite crystals.
5. Does the Cat Food Contain DL-Methionine?
DL-Methionine is an amino acid with
sulfur, which helps regulate ammonia formation in urine. This amino
acid helps maintain your cat's urine pH balance around 6.6, which is
normal and does not encourage crystal formation.
And...since cats are cats (which means
they are in charge!), be aware that what you select for them may not
be what they want to eat, if they don't like the taste. If this
happens, you'll need to start over again until you find a wholesome,
nutritious cat food that merits two paws up from your feline!
Keep these five factors in mind when
shopping for cat food to maintain your kitty's urinary tract and
prevent FLUTD.
And remember, when you're considering
changing your cat's diet, consult with your vet. She or he will give
you expert guidance and information to make the transition easier for
your and your kitty.
About The Author
Nancy has successfully eliminated
cat urine odor from her home, and kept the kitty that caused it.
The Cat Urine Odor Advisor helps you save money and stop the
damage in your household by offering solutions that work together
to eliminate cat urine odor from your home.
http://www.cat-urine-odor-advisor.com
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