Quick answer
Wet food can be better for cats with urinary issues because it has higher moisture content, which can help dilute urine and prevent crystal formation. The extra water in wet food also encourages cats to drink more, further helping to flush out the urinary tract. However, wet food alone is not a complete solution – vets may also recommend prescription urinary diets, more frequent litter changes, environmental enrichment and additional water sources to promote optimal urinary health.
Urinary issues in cats
Cats are prone to developing a number of urinary tract conditions including:
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Bladder stones
- Bladder inflammation (cystitis)
- Urethral obstructions
- Kidney stones
- Kidney disease
These conditions can be painful and dangerous if left untreated. Bladder stones and urethral obstructions in particular can become life-threatening emergencies if a cat is unable to urinate.
Some signs that a cat may have a urinary tract problem include:
- Increased urinary frequency/urgency
- Painful urination
- Blood in the urine
- Excessive licking around the genital area
- Frequent attempts to urinate with little production
- Crying out while trying to urinate
- Straining to urinate
If a cat is displaying any of these symptoms, it is important to take them to the vet as soon as possible for an examination and urinalysis. Quick treatment can help resolve many urinary issues and prevent them from worsening.
How wet food helps
Feeding wet food can help cats with urinary problems in the following ways:
Increased water intake
Wet foods have much higher moisture contents than dry foods – generally around 75-85% water, compared to only 5-10% in kibble. This extra fluid intake provides more water to help dilute the urine and increase urination frequency. More frequent urination can help flush out bacteria, crystals and other debris from the urinary tract.
The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends feeding wet foods to cats prone to urinary problems, in order to increase their water intake. They advise feeding only canned or homemade cooked diets if possible.
Lower urine concentration
The more concentrated the urine, the more likely crystals and stones may form. Diluted urine makes it more difficult for these minerals to clump together and cause obstructions or irritation.
Studies show cats fed canned diets had urine that was more dilute, acidic and less saturated with minerals – all factors that can decrease crystal formation. Wet foods help create this more optimal urine environment.
Increased urination frequency
In addition to a more diluted urine, the extra fluids from wet food typically cause cats to urinate more often. This increased frequency, along with larger volume, helps flush the urinary tract and prevent bacterial overgrowth or crystal formation.
Higher moisture content in stool
Wet foods also create more moist stools, which contain higher percentages of water. This helps compensate for the increased fluid intake, allowing more water to pass through the urinary rather than digestive tract.
| Food Type | Moisture Content |
|---|---|
| Dry kibble | 5-10% |
| Canned food | 75-85% |
Potential drawbacks of wet food
While wet foods have many benefits for cats with urinary issues, there are some potential downsides to be aware of:
- Possible lower carb content – Some vets recommend foods with increased carbs to help acidify urine. Many wet foods are lower in carbs than dry foods.
- Short shelf life – Opened cans must be refrigerated and used within a few days to prevent spoilage.
- Messier – Wet foods can leave residue in bowls and on whiskers.
- More expensive – Canned foods usually cost more than kibble.
- Picky eating – Some cats may reject food changes or resist wet textures.
- Dental health – Dry foods may help scrape plaque from teeth better.
These factors don’t necessarily outweigh the benefits of increased moisture, but they are important to keep in mind when considering a diet change.
Tips for transitioning to wet food
To help your cat with urinary issues transition to wet food, follow these tips:
- Gradually mix in increasing amounts of wet food over 7-10 days
- Try different textures – minced, pates, gravies, chunky
- Warm to room or body temperature to increase palatability
- Feed on a set schedule rather than free-feeding
- Offer flavored broths or tuna juice to increase interest
- Try different brand or protein flavors until you find one your cat likes
It make take some time and patience to get your cat used to wet food. But the health benefits make it well worth the effort.
Other tips for urinary health
While diet is important, other factors also play a key role in feline urinary health. Additional recommendations include:
- Increase overall water intake – Provide multiple fresh water bowlers around the home. Consider adding water fountains.
- Reduce stress – Minimize changes to home environment and routine.
- Increase exercise and play time.
- Provide an adequate number of litter boxes – One per cat, plus an extra.
- Keep litter boxes clean – Scoop daily and fully change litter weekly.
- Use unscented clumping litter.
- Consider prescription urinary diets recommended by your vet.
- Give supplements if advised by vet, like glucosamine and probiotics.
- Follow up regularly with veterinary visits to monitor condition.
A multi-pronged approach combining wet food, increased hydration, reduced stressors and veterinary care provides the best results for optimal urinary tract health.
Key takeaways
- Wet foods can help cats with urinary issues due to higher moisture content and increased hydration.
- Benefits include diluted urine, more frequent urination, lower mineral saturation and increased fluid intake.
- Drawbacks may include reduced carbs, shorter shelf life, messier eating and increased cost.
- Gradually transition to wet food over 7-10 days, trying different textures and flavors.
- Also focus on increasing water intake, reducing stress, improving litter habits and routine veterinary care.
Conclusion
Feeding wet food can provide important benefits for cats prone to urinary problems like UTIs, crystals and stones. The higher moisture content helps increase water consumption and dilute urine to allow for improved elimination of waste and debris from the urinary tract. While some downsides exist, most experts recommend including wet foods as part of a comprehensive strategy to support urinary health in cats. Monitoring your cat’s condition, sticking to a vet-advised treatment plan, and providing plenty of fresh water and proper litter habits are also key. With a thorough approach, many cats can go on to live happy, healthy lives even after a bout of urinary issues.