It's thought that decreased water intake can lead to a higher concentration of minerals in urine, causing crystals to form. Cats have evolved as a species to get the majority of their water from live prey, but this is unrealistic for domestic cats, especially if they're indoor-only and prefer dry food.
A small amount of crystals in urine is normal. It is when they combine and start to form larger stones that health issues can begin for your cat. Experts aren't exactly sure why crystals increase and form stones.
Different types of crystals may develop if your cat isn't eating a proper, complete and balanced diet. Also, any condition that changes your cat's urine pH, such as kidney disease or long-term medication use, can cause crystals.
Frequently, a strict diet change and increasing water intake can prevent recurrence, but in some cases, crystals/stones will still recur. In males that develop frequent urinary blockages, a surgical procedure called a perineal urethrostomy may be done to widen the urethra.
Most often, the cause of struvite crystals in cats is dry commercial pet foods.
Wet food plays an important role in keeping your cat hydrated and can help prevent the formation of urinary crystals. This water will add volume to the urine, reducing the overall specific gravity.
However, food itself cannot cause crystals. Q: Can wet, canned food treat struvite crystals? A: Hydration is necessary for urinary health. Your vet may recommend incorporating wet food into your cat's diet to increase hydration levels, or may prescribe a special diet to help dissolve struvite stones.
Increasing water intake, regulating urine pH, and encouraging frequent urination can all play a role in decreasing crystalluria in affected cats. Your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet and/or medications to change the chemical composition of your cat's urine and discourage crystal formation.
Believe it or not, stress can cause struvite crystals in cats. When cats are stressed, they tend to urinate more frequently and in small amounts, which can lead to a build-up of crystals because their bodies don't have enough time to flush them out.
Dear Readers: Does your dog or cat drink tap water? This could possibly lead to medical problems for the animal. Tap water can contain high amounts of calcium and magnesium, which can contribute to crystals forming in the urine, urinary tract infections and incontinence, among other issues.
Evanger's EVx Restricted Diet's Urinary Tract Recipe is a great option for cats prone to urinary struvite crystals and urinary pH imbalance. Formulated with nutritionists and experts, they ingredients are simple, recognizable and formulated in compliance with AAFCO standards for all life stages.
Some cats will dissolve their urinary crystals or urinary tract stones within seven days. On average, however, it can take about 6 weeks of a consistent dissolution diet to be rid of them completely. If it takes much longer than that, you should check back in with your vet.
It's not uncommon to see crystals in cat or dog urine. In fact, crystals are so common as to be considered normal in some pets. When the crystals become overly abundant or when abnormal types of crystals present themselves, however, they may cause problems or indicate the presence of disease.
An abundance of certain minerals such as calcium, phosphorus and magnesium --- often found in grocery store brand cat food --- can cause crystals to form in the urine, which sometimes leads to urinary stones.
How much does it cost to treat blocked cats? In general, non-surgical treatment for urinary blockage in a cat that does not re-obstruct when the catheter is removed will cost between $750 and $1,500.
Because crystals can irritate the cat's bladder and cause an infection, the cat may be prescribed an antibiotic in order to prevent an infection from occurring. Pain relievers may also be prescribed if the crystals are causing the cat significant pain.
The most common symptoms of urinary tract infections in cats include straining to urinate, reduced amounts of urine, not urinating at all, pain or discomfort when urinating, passing urine tinged with blood and urinating around the house, outside of the litter box.
Cats with UTIs try to urinate very frequently, they may pass only small amounts of urine, they may strain to urinate, they may cry out or whine when urinating, and there may be blood visible in their urine. Urinating outside of the litterbox is also a red flag that something is wrong in the bladder.
When treated promptly, cats usually recover completely from this condition, but it is prone to reoccurring. Delaying treatment can lead to serious and sometimes permanent damage to your cat. If your cat is showing signs that urinary crystals may have formed, it's imperative to seek treatment as quickly as possible.
Diet has played an important role in struvite dissolution and prevention for over 35 years. Dry and canned therapeutic foods are 100% effective in dissolving feline struvite uroliths in about 1 to 3 weeks.
There are many things that can cause crystals to form in urine. They include: Dehydration (not drinking enough water). Eating large amounts of certain foods, including protein, salt, fruits and vegetables.
So why do some people suspect dry food causes urinary problems? The answer: some cats can develop lower urinary tract inflammation, urinary tract stones and/or age-related chronic kidney disease. These conditions require more water in the diet to promote health, and dry food contains less water than wet food.
Above all, keep a close eye on your cat and if you suspect he is having a urinary problem, take him into his veterinarian. Recommended amounts per day of canned food are: 2-3 cans of the 3oz size, such as Fancy Feast, OR 1 – 1 1/2 cans of the 5.5oz size, such as Friskees or Nine Lives.
With a pH between 6.2 and 6.4, CATWATER offers the ideal conditions to promote urinary health and minimize the risks of urinary problems in your cat.