Help with food and medical issues

I found these articles helpful. 

http://www.catinfo.org/?link=urinarytracthealth

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2013/09/09/struvite-stones.aspx

Miss Grinch said:

 
Hello All! I am a newbie to this forum and came across it from my many cat researches I do. I have one cat a blue domestic short hair that is 3 years old and male. Well a few weeks ago I took him tot he vet because I noticed he kept going to the litter box and only droplets of urine were coming out. So I had to leave him at the vet so they could collect a urine sample. He went on his own and they got a big amount from him. I found out he has struvite crystals and cystitis. So they put him on Hills prescription s/d and buprenex. He was getting better and then last week I noticed he was peeing standing up again. Something he hadn't done since the first onset of cystitis. Turns out the cystitis came back so the vet put him on more buprenex. She also did another UA and said she only saw one crystal in his urine. I have to take him back on the 6th of Jan to do another UA and she said if the crystals are gone she wants to switch him to c/d. Now I'm not fond of my cat being on that Hills crap or any other food that has by products in it. Before all this I had him on a grain free diet. He was on Natural Balance. I would give him dry food for breakfast and leave him water out and then wet food for dinner. The vet said I can never put him back on grain free foods and he has to be on Hills or Royal Canin, Eukanuba, or some other foods that will most likely have by products in it. What I am wanting to know is is there any other grain free food that is safe for his urinary tract but also safe for him? Also would anybody know of any holistic ways to treat struvite crystals and cystitis? Thanks in advance.

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Welcome to TCS!

Urinary issues are a serious matter in cats. If you're looking for holistic treatments, please add them under the guidance of a vet. Look for a holistic veterinarian who can guide you through holistic treatments while keeping an eye on the cat's condition.

As for the food. By-products is not actually a terrible ingredient and IMO grain-free is not all that it's made up to be. You may find this interview of pet nutritionist Martha Cline interesting - 

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cat-food-feline-nutrition-with-pet-nutritionist-dr-martha-cline

She also spoke to me about grain-free and by-products. I need to write articles on these labels as well someday

I think you should work with your vet on finding a good replacement. There are plenty of options, including homemade diets. In fact, a consultation with a pet nutrition specialist may be a good idea too.