A cat urinary tract infection also known as UTI can be common and may be influenced by the cat’s diet and lifestyle. If your cat has recurrent urinary tract infections, your vet will recommend a change in diet. Wet food is typically more recommended to prevent UTI, but the quality of food and the nutrients are also important.
Cat Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections in cats are painful and can also lead to complications and affect the kidneys in the long run, if left untreated. Recurrent urinary infections can be dangerous.
When affected by UTI, a cat will urinate more and drink an increased amount of water, which can flush out the infectious agents. However, if the cat has a poor diet, the infections can be recurrent.
Diet and UTI
The cat’s diet influences the pH of the urine, which should be more acidic in healthy cats. The foods that the cat consumes will have a great impact on the pH of the urine, plus if the cat consumes food that contains bacteria, these can cause UTI.
Cats need a diet that is rich in nutrients, but the amount of water consumed is also important. If your cat fails to consume enough water, this can facilitate the buildup of bacteria in the urinary tract and will result in an infection.
Also, a diet that is full of carbohydrates may facilitate the occurrence of UTI. Some commercial foods contain as much as 45% of carbs, which cannot be properly assimilated and will also make the urine less acidic.
Urinary Tract Infection Food Recommendations
Cats are carnivores and they will require a healthy amount of meats/ proteins in their diet. Make sure that your pet gets at least 25% proteins in his diet. If you get canned food, the amount of proteins listed on the label may not coincide with the actual amount of proteins. It will be lower, as during processing and while the food is deposited, some nutrients may be lost. About 10% of the proteins may be lost.
Fats are easily processed by the cats system, so these should also be included in the diet.
Your cat may also receive vegetables, grains or fruits. However, these should be in a lower percentage and make sure that the cat doesn’t get too many carbohydrates or sugars, as he simply doesn’t need these and these can facilitate the development of bacteria in the urinary tract.
The ideal diet for the cat should be as close as possible to what felines used to eat when in the wild (fat and animal protein). Grains, cereals and preservatives were not part of their original diet.
Water Intake
A cat will require between 400 and 600 ml of water per day, depending on his size.
If your cat gets wet food, this will contain some water, but he will still need to drink some fresh water as well. Change the water daily, as bacteria can gather in the water as well.