best food to feed to prevent UTI

A moist food of some kind will help with both UTI prevention and the obesity.

A food lower in carbs and higher in animal proteins will also help with his weight.

Has he had problems with recurring UTIs, had one UTI, or do you just want to prevent trouble in the future?

Usually if you're just looking to prevent problems or he's had one UTI, switching to a good canned food should help. The extra moisture will help keep him flushed out. If he has problems with recurring UTIs even after the switch, sometimes extra steps are needed.

Canned food will help him lose weight safely, too. Dry food is very calorically dense (fattening!).

A high-quality canned food is typically one that is grain-free. If it's fruit, veggie and fish-free, it's even better.

Some brands that come in grain-free flavors are Wellness, Natural Balance, Felidae, and Nature's Variety Instinct. You can get a full list by completing a "grain-free" search on petfooddirect.com.

Good luck!

AC

My boy was overweight - I worked with my vet to determine how much he should be fed (it was way less than the guidelines on the cans and bags). Most vets are very into helping maintain good weights for cats and dogs - don't be afraid at all to appeal to your vet for help in figuring out portion sizes. My boy has been losing weight gradually, and that's what you're lookin for - a gradual loss that's maintained healthily.

Also, tell your vet your concern re the UTIs. In my experience, vets don't automatically jump to a prescription med until it's needed (my boy is now on Hills C/D, which is for urinary health - he did have struvite crystals). And, once you find a food that works for your cat and you, don't worry if someone on the internet isn't keen on that particular food. So, if your cat does well on Science Diet, stick with it as long as it works.

If you're putting water on the dry kibble, I'd suggest taking it up after 30 minutes or so - wet food does spoil. Mine get a little wet morning and evening, and a measured amount of dry food for the rest of the day. My boy doesn't care for wet food in general - he loves his kibble...and no point in feeding a cat what he simply will not eat.

Also, given the urinary issue, and your cat's weight and hunger, your vet may well check for diabetes - don't panic!!! Diabetes in cats can be treated. But good for you in getting her a good check up. If your vet doesn't mention checking for diabetes, mention it to her...better to be over cautious than miss something.

I noticed on Labor DAy 2009 my boy started going in and out of the litter box, and instead of his two big pees a day, he had little pees. I ran to the E-vet...his bladder was palpitated and luckily he was not blocked. The e-vet gave him a pain shot and also put him on a course of Baytril, an antibiotic, to treat a possible UTI. I was told to take him to his regular vet for a check after the antibiotics were done. At that point, a urine sample showed that he had struvite crystals. The vet prescribed Hills C/D - as my boy likes dry food, we tried both the wet food and the dry version.

After the pain killer, Dante was able to pee ok. The follow up urinalysis, after eating CD, showed nice clear urine. His last senior panel in January 2011 showed normal urine as well.

The food can't cure a UTI, you do need antibiotics for that - but, if necessary, a prescription food can help immensely in preventing the formation of crystals if that was contributing to the UTI occurences. The Hills CD is considered maintenance diet for urinary health, as I understand it.

Also, whatever you can do to encourage water consumption is great - wet food, a water fountain, whatever works for you.

I had a UTI cat in past and this is the reason I switched her over the Breeze
litter box so I can see what is going on with her urine. Also since she
is used to a different cat litter it makes it so easy to collect it if I every needed to again. Those funny things the vets uses was just impossible for my cat to get it. Sat their all day waiting for that pee.
I am happy my cat does get UTI's anymore but I am ready!

Here's a link that does a pretty good explanation of getting a urine sample IMO. http://www.vetinfo.com/cat-urine-testing-explained.html

My boy didn't like the plastic litter at all - we always end up with the needle draw. A lot of vets like to try the litter first, as it should be less stressful, but the needle works too.

Was your cat's bladder empty during the exam - that may be why they sent you home with the litter kit. If you don't manage to get a sample, try to get her to drink more, or eat some wet food before the next vet visit and they may be able to get a sample while you're there.