Best food for Urinary Problems?

Hi all.

My husband's and my two year old male cat has had urinary blockages twice. Now he gets a substantial amount of canned food since we figured out he hates drinking water (no matter if it's fresh or not). We also add a teaspoon or so of water to his food once a day.

It hasn't returned but we've been worried about him having troubles again. We've found non-prescription urinary health food difficult to come by and I'm wondering if there are foods out there, dry or wet, that do the same job but aren't labeled as such. The vet says he needs things that lower his urinary pH. Does anyone know of anything that has worked?

Your vet should have given you the information and suggested treatment based on your cat’s signs, symptoms and history. I would call and talk with the vet about the percentages of what nutrient s he/she thinks is appropriate in a OTC food... You say canned is being served may I ask what kind?

They gave us some canned food for a month that was prescription. The vet said that the food from the store should be fine, and dry food would be fine because he'd "probably never have a problem again." I had removed the blockage before the vet opened in the morning so most of the plug was out, but he had a lot of inflammation and a few crystals in the urine.

The second time the cat had to stay over night and get a catheter. This time they sent us to a different vet (it's a very small vet with no overnight abilities). My husband was the one that talked to them, and we put the cat on proPlan urinary tract health formula. He hasn't had a problem since.

So, get more detailed info from the vet? That makes sense.
I noticed ash and magnesium is much higher in ALL dry foods (including those for urinary health) than in ALL wet foods. What I want to ask the vet is if any wet food would be good as long as it's nutritionally balanced.

Yeah since it has caused a blockage on two different occations ... pro plan is one of three OTC certified for uti health

I have a chronic blocker, and after a lot of trial and error, I've had to keep him on dry CD (yuk), and 2 brands of prescription food (Purina and Royal Canin). Avoid fish flavored foods - the last can of it that Muddy ate caused him to block and he had 2 days in the ER on a catheter. You need to walk the line with what they like to eat, and what isn't going to hurt him.

There is a medication called Urikare which lowers the PH in their urine. Muddy takes one of those every other day. Even with the prescription food, when I tried to wean him off these pills, he became distressed.

Good luck - it is maddening until you find the combination that works.

Ditto on the NO FISH instruction - I know they love it, but fish doesn't love them!