Urinary Crystals in Cats
Urinary crystals are a relatively common disorder in cats, they are found in both males and females. Crystals are made up of minerals (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, etc) that normally would be dissolved in the urine. However, in certain cats these substances do not dissolve and crystals are allowed to precipitate out.
There are different types of crystals that can be excreted in your cat’s urine, however the most common are struvites (made up of magnesium, ammonium, phosphate).
Because urinary crystals are formed from an excess of minerals, they are treated with special diets with controlled levels of minerals to prevent the formation of crystals. Urinary prescription diets can be found below. These diets also aim to acidify the pH of the urine to help dissolve the crystals. We also recommend increasing water intake to help flush out the bladder. This can be done by adding water to their kibble or using a water fountain to encourage your cat to drink more and empty the bladder more regularly.
Symptoms of crystalluria include frequent urination, straining to urinate, urinating outside the litter box, or crying while urinating. These crystals can cause blockages in the urethra of male cats which is an emergency situation, so if your male cat is ever straining to urinate or crying in the litter box bring them down right away.
There are different types of crystals that can be excreted in your cat’s urine, however the most common are struvites (made up of magnesium, ammonium, phosphate).
Because urinary crystals are formed from an excess of minerals, they are treated with special diets with controlled levels of minerals to prevent the formation of crystals. Urinary prescription diets can be found below. These diets also aim to acidify the pH of the urine to help dissolve the crystals. We also recommend increasing water intake to help flush out the bladder. This can be done by adding water to their kibble or using a water fountain to encourage your cat to drink more and empty the bladder more regularly.
Symptoms of crystalluria include frequent urination, straining to urinate, urinating outside the litter box, or crying while urinating. These crystals can cause blockages in the urethra of male cats which is an emergency situation, so if your male cat is ever straining to urinate or crying in the litter box bring them down right away.
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Urinary Diets:
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