The vet says my cat needs prescription cat food?

You have many different options, and you're quite right to question this.

The following information is from my blog. It *should* answer most of your questions. If anything needs clarification feel free to contact me.

And also note that I'm not necessarily suggesting a course of action for you - but I am strongly recommending that you learn more about this subject so that you can make an informed decision. If I were in this situation this is what I'd do.

I'm lucky though - I have a very good vet who really knows her stuff! You won't find a single bag or can of prescription food on the premises. Well, maybe you would but they're not out there for resale and are probably only pulled out as a last resort LOL

CATS AND URINARY ISSUES Sep 6, '07 12:39 PM

for everyone

This is not my area of expertise, but this has been my experience: As a kitten, Poppy developed both a weight problem and a UTI. My vet told me to start feeding her special food which he happily sold me *gulp*. Poppy refused to eat it. Back then I was less aware of how to get cats to eat new foods, so I just said the hell with it and bought Purina One's urinary health food, mixed with weight management. She ate that from then until she was 2 years old. She never had another UTI. Does this mean that this food is as good as the overpriced prescription food, or did I just get lucky? I don't know the answer, although I suspect the former statement is probably true.

For various reasons, I soon thereafter began researching cat nutrition. I learned about the benefits of wet food, and found that in many cases, that's all that's required to prevent future UTI's. Even the crappy brands like Friskies would be better than dry food!

I don't claim to be a vet, vet tech, vet student or anything like that. But I know how to research and examine results. I've read a bit on this topic which is how I've reached the conclusions I have.

At the very least, were I to have another cat with urinary problems, I'd sooner try them on a GOOD QUALITY canned food (or properly balanced raw meat diet) before shelling out the dough for a "prescription" dry food (or even their canned varieties). That's because I believe that good nutrition and species appropriate food is much more likely to keep a cat healthy than inferior ingredients which have been tweaked to change their chemical composition.

What should YOU do? If your vet recommends a prescription diet, I can safely recommend that at the very least you get the canned version of that food. That way your cat will get the extra hydration it needs. And don't feel bad about giving your cat this food - temporarily. It will do what it's designed to do, so you can be sure that your cat will do well while you do more research. And I would encourage you to do so. Don't take my word for it - read up on these things for yourself. Stabilize your cat with the prescription food while you look for something better. If canned food (or raw) alone is not helping enough, there are other supplements you could research. I have not done so, but I know that Wysong makes a supplement for urinary issues. "Biotic pH- is designed for cats or dogs needing assistance generating and maintaining an acidic urine to help prevent struvite crystal formulation."

I can't endorse this particular product, but know that it's out there. And if it is, there are sure to be others. Again, I would sooner feed good food, with a supplement such as this, than the crappy prescription foods.

UPDATE: I wanted to quote some info I ran across this morning (3.8.08). This info is taken from discussions in WholeCatHealth. While in and of itself it may not answer any questions, it can at least demonstrate that this group would be an excellent resource for anyone whose cat has a urinary problem.

"S/D and C/D are acidifying diets - meant for short-term use to bring down the urinary pH. There are risks associated with long-term use of these diets....." (see the last paragraph for more info on this).

"Feeding a high-quality, low-carbohydrate, meat-based, high-moisture diet reduces risk of urinary problems, incl crystals. Meat proteins provide the amino acids that naturally keep the urine slightly acidic (desirable for cats is 6.0-6.5 pH)...and the moisture (about 78%

for canned and 68% for the premade raw) helps promote urine volume and pee

frequency, which reduces risk of crystal formation. But some cats, even on a species-appropriate diet, can't maintain pH...so it's important to monitor the urine, which you can do at home with pH paper or urine dipsticks. If the pH consistently stays about 7.0, then you can add an acidifier such as L-methionine or ammonium chloride to the meat-based

food...and then still monitor to see how the pH is doing."

This last bit is from http://vetsites.vin.com/Kidney/FLUTD.doc:

"Chronic use of acidifying diets leads to metabolic acidosis, which can lead

to decreased bone formation and detrimental effects

There may be other prescription foods out there, but realize that an urinary problem in a male cat can be a vet emergency, especially if it is a blockage. One positive for you is that he at least likes it. Often, that is not the case with special dietary foods.

Corn gets a bad rap, but it is a source of proteins and is normally very digestible for cats. Of course, one normally doesn't want it as ingredient #1, but it seems that dietary foods for urinary health don't have meat as ingredient #1. Pet food companies have invested considerable research into their prescription pet foods.

If it is crystals, and they are struvite, then a dietary approach to lower the urine pH will work, and you have more flexibility. If oxalate, then you really are restricted to special dietary foods.

A couple of suggestions. You can add Cosequin to his diet, which is really glucosamine and chondroitin, which will help strengthen his bladder wall. You can then try other foods, but also realize that an emergency vet trip could wipe out any savings.

It is not clear whether he had a urinary infection, or a blockage. The blockage often requires a special diet. An infection is more often a precautionary diet change.

What you said "your cat has had no problems since" should speak for it's self. yes it does work my cat was put on the same food and he hasn't had any problems either. It helps to keep the urinal track clear. But if you want to give your cat a change white fish perhaps cooked in NON fat milk would be the answer, but make sure there are no bones in the fish. Or ask your vet for other suggestions. If you are buying HILLS cat food you should get a HILLs card from the vet, which gives you a discount when you use it all the time.

Not to be mean but I would take your vets advice, try to find some cat food that has exactly what the Science Diet CD has in it. But if it doesnt work you have a very expensive cat and if you cant afford it buy cheaper litter and cut down on toys or something. theres always ways around. You also want your cat to be its healthiest too. Vets arent dummies - they did go to like 6-8 years of school for this kind of stuff and they do know what they are talking about.

Charlie had UTI - he's on Royal Canin for Urinary (which is better then Science Diet foods). I also give him certain canned foods (Wellness chicken, Natural Balance venison/duck, Max Cat lamb, chicken, Iams Beef/Lamb).

He has not had any more problems on this special diet.

The RC is prescription and has to be thru the vet tho.

My cat had kidney stones a few years ago, and was prescribed the same Science Diet. Ever since then I keep him on some form of Urinary Tract Health. He was eating 9 lives Urinary Care for about 2 years. It has worked great! Its about $4 for a little bag. Now he eats Purina One Urinary Health Tract Formula, its about $10 for a big bag. Good luck !!!!!

Given that your boy has had urinary issues in the past, I would not change his food without first consulting with my vet.

Any savings you have can quickly be lost to an emergency trip to the vet for a urinary issue and think of how your boy will suffer.

So do your homework, consult your vet and hopefully you'll find a good solution.

good luck!

I agree with Spike & Co. You need to talk to your vet first.

Oh, and I think that if you feed canned food your cat will do a lot better. Or at least feed a half canned half dry diet.

I give my cats cranberry pills... this changes the PH of the urine.

I also use 9 lives cat food that is good for urinary health. I have had no problem since I started these things.

good luck

What ingredient specifically is supposed to be the contributing factor?

I think your Vet may own shares in that company.. yikes!

Ask him point blank what it is in the food that is responsible as there are cat foods out there that are better imho than that one.