Persian cat, UTI's, possible blockage, and balancing PH?

Hello, I have a 1 yr old male persian cat of whom I recently (1 week ago) took to the emergency vet. He was lethargic and lying next to the litter box in his own pee, accompanied with some blood. The vet was able to expel some urine (so he wasn't blocked), but the lab results gave suspicion to possible crystals. He is still on antibiotics and was peeing (not in the litter box) yesterday. I even went to petsmart and bought him special PH urinary cat food, which he hates. I"m hoping he will just get so hungry to where he starts to eat it and get used to it.

BUT, I'm wondering about the urinary diet in general for cats, and if protein (chicken) would be good in balancing his PH as well? I caught him in the litter box all day today and he is in there for 5 minutes at a time. When he gets out, there is no urine. I"m terrified that he may be blocked but I do not feel any lumps in his lower abdomen. I don't have $1500 to take him to the ER vet again to have them put a catheter in. PLEASE HELP.

Read the ingredients on the cat food. Stay away from anything with corn, soy or animal by-product.  Wet food is best as it is super high in water content and most cats get their hydration from their food.

When Gizmo was having UTI issues I mixed a few tablespoons of water into his wet food and made it sort of like a porridge, he gobbles it up. Every now and then I mix plain chicken broth into his wet food as it makes him a bit thirsty and he drinks more water.

Prescription and special formula foods tend to be really high in carbs and ash which is TERRIBLE for male cats in general, but specifically for cats with urinary issues.

I give Gizmo Wellness brand wet cat food and it has literally saved his life. It works the best for us. All natural, whole ingredients that cats would eat in the wild.

Gizmo had a UTI and almost crystals but no blockage and the antibiotics worked well for us after a few days.