Does anyone have any advice on how to prevent urinary track infections? I've only had female cats in the past and my new cat Marley is a male. I've heard that male cats are very prone to UTI's and was wondering if there is anything I can do to keep him from getting them. I heard that feeding wet food can help, does anyone know any other ways?
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Preventing UTI's
- Thread starter mmc32879
- Start Date
A good, quality diet should probably be your only concern at this point. You can find good quality foods in wet and dry forms, but most vets I know recommend dry for the sake of the cat's teeth.
Male cats are more prone to becoming "blocked" due to their relatively narrow urethras, but there are many males out there who never experience such problems. If your cat is turns out to be one that does experience problems, your vet can prescribe a food formulated specifically for urinary tract health.
Male cats are more prone to becoming "blocked" due to their relatively narrow urethras, but there are many males out there who never experience such problems. If your cat is turns out to be one that does experience problems, your vet can prescribe a food formulated specifically for urinary tract health.
Keeping your cat hydrated by feeding a good quality wet food is the best thing you can do, imo.
Driking water is supposed to help with urinary problems, so that's why wet food is good, because cats do not drink enough water, and adding wet food to their diet also adds water to their diet.
My cat had urinary problems and he is now on prescription food Waltham's SO.
It's good for cats with urinary problems, but I am not sure you have to feed that considering your cat does not have any problems right now.
My cat had urinary problems and he is now on prescription food Waltham's SO.
It's good for cats with urinary problems, but I am not sure you have to feed that considering your cat does not have any problems right now.
Prevention is better than cure
edited to add - I'm not suggesting prescription foods as preventative treatment, btw - what I meant by prevention being better than cure was referring to wet food in general.
Firstly, it is not true that dry food is better for their teeth. Cats either swallow the food whole or break larger pieces with the tip of the tooth which does nothing for the tartar line.
Neutered male cats are more prone to UTI's and if possible should be fed as little dry food as possible. Wet food is a much healthier way to feed your cats, be they male or female. The other poster mentioned that cats do not drink enough water as a rule. That is true so wet food helps hydrate our kitties.
You could even go one better than wet food and put your kitty on a raw food diet. From what I've heard from people who had kitties with chronic UTI, the raw food diet made the ultimate difference, and since starting on it have had no UTI issues.
Other things I've heard in my fostering is: A drop of apple cider vinegar to the water to increase it's acidity (breaking up crystals - or keepign them from forming), or cranberry extract (sugar free), a few drops mixed in with their food.
Other things I've heard in my fostering is: A drop of apple cider vinegar to the water to increase it's acidity (breaking up crystals - or keepign them from forming), or cranberry extract (sugar free), a few drops mixed in with their food.
