Urinary Cat Food

Urinary cat food is everyday food formulated to support a healthy urinary tract. The recipes here, from Royal Canin, Hill's Science Diet, PRO PLAN and Kit Cat, generally work by controlling mineral levels and encouraging more dilute urine. They are maintenance diets for healthy cats rather than treatments.

See your vet first if something is wrong

A cat that strains in the tray, passes small amounts often, cries while urinating or has blood in its urine needs a vet promptly, and a male cat that cannot pass urine at all is an emergency. A diagnosed condition such as bladder stones or crystals usually calls for a veterinary diet chosen by your vet, not a retail urinary formula, so follow their advice before you switch.

Water matters as much as the food

Moisture is the simplest way to dilute urine. Wet urinary recipes, including Royal Canin Urinary Care in gravy and in jelly, Hill's Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control pouches and cans, and PRO PLAN Urinary Care in gravy, carry far more water than kibble, and many owners feed wet alongside a urinary dry food. A drinking fountain can also tempt a cat to drink more.

Changing over

Mix the new food into the old over about a week. Hill's Science Diet Urinary Hairball Control also targets hairballs, which makes it a practical single choice for a long-haired indoor cat.

• Royal Canin Urinary Care
• Hairball cat food
• Cat water fountains
• Wet cat food
• Dry cat food