Food recommendations for cystitis and UTIs

Hi everyone, I've been reading with interest the information in this forum regarding cystitis, UTIs, and food. I have 3 cats, and just recently my 5-year old Birman had his first bout of cystitis - no blockage, thankfully. My 14-year old calico has battled UTIs in the past, and my 4-year old Siamese has been on Eukanuba Veterinary Diet low ph/s for about 6 months also due to cystitis. I have just very recently switched all 3 to the above Eukanuba Vet brand and am adding water to the food, which they seem to like.

I noticed in the various threads about cystits and food that it is recommended to go to canned, but I am unclear as to what brand of canned?

Any recommendations for specific brands of canned food for cats with cystitis? If the expensive dry Eukanuba and adding water is the best way to go, I'm willing to pay the price but am curious to know what others have purchased for their cats with cystitis.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Talk to your VET

They do make a canned Eukanuba low pH. You'll have to buy it through the vet as well, because it is prescription only. It's expensive, but canned food has been proven to help stop the reccurance of blockages. Hans is on the Eukanuba Moderate pH dry and wet, and he loves both! (He had bladder stones a few months ago.)

If your kitties don't have crystals, then I think any high-quality (no by-products) brand is considered to be good. The idea is that the dry food does not provide them with enough water to keep their urine dilute, and cats don't like to drink much on their own. Since wet food is about 70% water, it tricks them into consuming more than they would with dry food alone.

My younger cat (she's 6) was just diagnosed with cystitis as well. I had been feeding her dry only, but I've added wet food at least once per day since her diagnosis. I'm gone too long to take away the dry food completely, unfortunately. I just put her on Amitriptyline since the inflammation hasn't subsided.

I also have a hyperthyroid kitty (age 12), and my vet recommended that we avoid the canned foods with fish flavors and liver. This is easier said than done. I finally found one, a Merrick food called Turducken, that doesn't have any fish or liver. The cats seem to like it, and it has dried cranberries, which might also be good for the bladder (it works in people!).

If your kitties have crystals, you'll want to talk to your vet about the best wet food. There is a Yahoo! Group for FLUTD cats that I've found very helpful, and it includes a list of many canned foods and their pH ranges.

Originally Posted by scoobiedo

Hi everyone, I've been reading with interest the information in this forum regarding cystitis, UTIs, and food. I have 3 cats, and just recently my 5-year old Birman had his first bout of cystitis - no blockage, thankfully. My 14-year old calico has battled UTIs in the past, and my 4-year old Siamese has been on Eukanuba Veterinary Diet low ph/s for about 6 months also due to cystitis. I have just very recently switched all 3 to the above Eukanuba Vet brand and am adding water to the food, which they seem to like.

I noticed in the various threads about cystits and food that it is recommended to go to canned, but I am unclear as to what brand of canned?

Any recommendations for specific brands of canned food for cats with cystitis? If the expensive dry Eukanuba and adding water is the best way to go, I'm willing to pay the price but am curious to know what others have purchased for their cats with cystitis.

Thanks in advance for any help.

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With my Lyra, my vet said any canned food would do, plus he had me giving her glucosamine daily, mixed into the food. I would suggest it be the best quality canned food - but since your cat was prescribed the Eukanuba low ph - ask your vet if can switch to the same formula but in the canned version (it comes in a dry or a canned version).

Thanks for the replies. None of the my cats have crystals, but my vet is still encouraging me to purchase the food sold in their practice. I'll do further research per your suggestions and again thanks.

I hate to say it, but it's an easy way for a vet to make extra money. Is there any way you can run the idea past another vet to see what they think?

Hey all! I haven't posted here in over a year, I don't think.... but I'm in need of some advice and I figured you all could help.

Dante (my 3 year old siamese mix) was reciently hospitalized for two weeks for crystals in his urine. He was badly blocked, and kept pulling out his catheter, and kept becomeing blocked again and again. Finally, we seem to have him unblocked and he's been home for the past 3 weeks with no problems. (thank goodness!!!)

However... the vet has him on Eukanuba Low PH/S and the price is killing me!! Dante weighs 18 lbs, and as you can imagine, eats a lot. And I have to feed it to both cats since I can't keep them from eating each others food. This stuff is costing me $45 of a 20 lb bag from the vet... I used to pay $9 for a 20 lb bag of his old purina. (I pay $39.99 for a FORTY pound bag of Nutro dog food for my two dogs!)

Now obviously I will do whatever it takes to keep him healthy.... so if this is it, then I'll just eat more ramen noodles myself to have the money for it. However, I was hoping there might be a similar product that is more affordable that would still have the same health benefits for Dante. (He wont eat Science diet, and it's not cheaper anyway.)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! I asked the vet, but as expected, since their office only sells Eukanuba and Sci. diet, that is all she recommended.

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dantesmom - ask your vet about Royal Canins SO - it is also for prevention of struvite *and* calcium oxalte crytals.

Originally Posted by Pat & Alix

With my Lyra, my vet said any canned food would do, plus he had me giving her glucosamine daily, mixed into the food. I would suggest it be the best quality canned food - but since your cat was prescribed the Eukanuba low ph - ask your vet if can switch to the same formula but in the canned version (it comes in a dry or a canned version).

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that is what my vet said too. although, she said i could discontinue the glucosamine (raven was refusing to eat the supplement anymore). raven has feline interstitial cystitis (he is stable right now--knock on wood). i had the problem that my cats wouldn't completely transition to an all canned diet. but they are eating a high quality (non-prescription) kibble. we have come to a compromise with our feeding (mostly canned, with some kibble). raven was also on amitriptylene for a while last year.