Cats are prone to various urinary tract problems, which is why it’s important to know what to feed them. There’s no reason to spend any more than necessary, which is why it’s critical to find a urinary cat food non prescription substitute that your cat will enjoy.
A variety of foods are on the market that can be both affordable and holistic. Both wet and dry foods are available, making it easy for you to feed your feline based on what they like to eat.
From there, you can find popular ingredients that your cat will enjoy eating so that you don’t have to worry about them turning their nose up at their dish on a daily basis.
Especially if you have already been to the vet with your cat, you may know exactly what health problems your pet is dealing with.
By reducing the crystals through dieting, you can likely address many problems so that your cat is healthier for it. Knowing what to look for can ensure you’re taking care of the dietary needs while also addressing urinary issues.
Is Prescription Urinary Cat Food Necessary?
Prescription urinary cat food isn’t necessary if you know what is plaguing your cat.
A vet would be able to provide a check-up and offer recommendations to ensure that your cat is getting the necessary components in its diet to prevent and/or eliminate various health issues.
However, you can find alternatives to help you be proactive with offering a healthy, pH-balanced diet to your cat so that they get their various urinary tract issues under control without requiring expensive surgeries or procedures.
One of the top reasons why you may not want to go with prescription urinary cat food is because of the cost.
Although a prescription diet doesn’t contain prescription drugs, it can be quite costly. Much of this is because of the high-end ingredients that are used as well as the frequent visits that the vet will want in order to check up on how your cat is adjusting to the new food.
While you should always talk to your vet about what you’re feeding your cat, there’s nothing wrong with being upfront about the fact that you don’t want a prescription cat food.
Instead, talk to your vet about what’s best and find a solution on the market that helps your cat’s health without hurting your wallet in the process.
Why Do I Need a Urinary Cat Food Non-Prescription Substitute?
Finding a non-prescription substitute for your urinary cat food can provide you with quite the cost savings.
You can buy the food that is convenient for you without having to go through a veterinary office. It can ensure you get what you want when you want it, especially if your cat isn’t already set up with a veterinarian.
There may be times when you don’t have the time or ability to make an appointment with a vet. Especially if your cat has dealt with crystals or urinary tract issues in the past, you may already know that they are in need of a special diet.
A non-prescription substitute allows you to buy what you need while bypassing the veterinarian’s office entirely.
It’s also important that you focus on what your cat likes to eat. Your veterinarian may make recommendations based on pH rather than what a cat prefers.
Since you feed your cat daily, you already know their likes and dislikes so you can find food that they are more likely to consume.
What Makes a Good Urinary Non-Prescription Cat Food?
A good urinary non-prescription cat food is one that will help to reduce the number of compounds that create the stones. A variety of minerals should be reduced or eliminated from the cat food, including magnesium and phosphorous.
Your goal should be to work on keeping your cat as hydrated as possible, which includes choosing wet food as well as ingredients that will actively help your cat to drink more water.
A low-magnesium food should be what you search for in your effort to improve your cat’s urinary system and eliminate too many compounds.
A number of companies offer low-magnesium foods, so you can find ones that offer the various ingredients that your cat enjoys, such as chicken and tuna.
Some cat food brands will even identify that they have a good formula that will help to reduce crystals and improve urinary function.
You will want to get in the habit of reading the back of the cat food products before you buy them to see what they contain. Look at three metrics to see if it is a good diet: the level of magnesium, phosphorous, and calcium.
The lower these numbers are, the better they will be for helping your cat, all without requiring a prescription. It’s also important to look at the source of fat for your cat, which should be animal-based, but sunflower seed oil can still be a great (and affordable) option.
The Best Wet Urinary Cat Food Non-Prescription Substitute
Wet cat food is a popular non-prescription substitute because it offers a higher level of hydration for your cat so that you don’t have to worry about crystals forming.
Tiki Cat Luau Wet Food with Poultry or Fish in Consommé is a great solution for your cat because it is affordable, and it can be given to cats and kittens alike.
You can find an array of flavors that are all going to help your cat achieve proper urinary health simply by eating the right food.
One of the reasons why Tiki Cat Luau Grain-Free, Low-Carbohydrate Wet Food with Poultry or Fish in Consomme for Adult Cats & Kittens, 6oz, 8pk, Chickenis a popular non-prescription substitute is because it is grain and potato-free, which can cause dehydration in some cats.
The canned food is high in moisture to offer higher levels of hydration while also being completely pH balanced at the same time. Further, there’s real fish, real meat, and real protein in every can, so your cat will enjoy their protein-rich diet.
The first few ingredients should tell you everything you need to know – chicken, chicken broth, and sunflower seeds – they’re all ingredients that you’ll recognize.
When you look at the label of what Tiki Cat offers, they have 100% non-GMO ingredients and there are no fillers, guns, or artificial flavors.
Since the ingredients are healthier, they’re going to cause fewer problems in terms of creating compounds that could end up becoming stones.
Shredded, mousse, and pate textures are available so that you can find the type of food that your cat prefers based on their age and their size, too.
The Best Dry Urinary Cat Food Non-Prescription Substitute
The best dry cat food that is a non-prescription substitute is one that helps to promote digestion and has a balanced source of essential oils and minerals.
Farmina N&D Functional Quinoa Urinary Duck Cranberry and Chamomille Dry Cat Food is an excellent option that your cat is sure to love because of the incredible flavors.
The product is both gluten-free and grain-free, so it won’t cause dehydration within your cat, leading to various urinary tract problems.
Science has proven that cats are mostly carnivores, which means that they don’t need a high-carb diet. Farmina N&D, Quinoa Urinary Duck Formula Adult Dry Cat Food, 3.3lb recognizes this by ensuring that the dry cat food is created almost entirely from animal sources with a bit of quinoa that serves as a super-food.
The ingredients that are found in this cat food kibble include fresh boneless duck, dehydrated duck, chicken fat, quinoa seed, and various types of essential oil. It can help to improve hydration levels whereas some cat foods actually work in the opposite direction.
The formula has been identified specifically for cats that have urinary issues, but it can also serve as a preventative for cats to eat regardless of urinary issues.
The phosphorous and sodium levels are extremely low, which also helps to establish a proper pH diet so that crystals don’t form. The small bits of the kibble is small, too, making it ideal for cats of all sizes, though it is specifically marketed for “medium breeds.”
A Close Second Place
A close second for dry cat food that serves as a non-prescription substitute is Dr. Elsey’s CleanProtein dry kibble. As the name implies, it was developed by a veterinarian to ensure that cats get the balanced diet they need.
The high protein is optimized and, with this particular formula, turkey is the protein of choice.
The formula is for active cats of all breeds and sizes with no fillers and a 100% grain-free solution so that it isn’t carb-heavy. Gluten-free Omega 3 fatty acids are found in the dry cat food so that it can help with digestive health.
With the higher protein levels in Dr. Elsey’s cat food, cats are able to stay full for longer so they don’t go in search of anything else that could cause them stomach discomfort or lead to dehydration.
A look at the label of the cat food will tell you that there are a number of ingredients that are human-grade – and all can be pronounced so you don’t have to worry about dangerous chemicals.
Turkey, dried chicken, and dried egg are the first three ingredients. Various vitamin supplements are also found in the formula to help cats get the help they need with their urinary functions so that infections and blockages don’t occur.
The Best Budget Non-Prescription Urinary Cat Food
Particularly when you have multiple cats, buying cat food can get expensive. Finding a budget-friendly non-prescription urinary cat food is important so that you don’t have to spend a lot in order to keep your pets in the best possible health.
The Purina Pro Urinary Tract Health food is specifically formulated to help cats get a premium diet without the need to visit a veterinarian.
The High Protein diet is available in a variety of different flavors including chicken, turkey, whitefish, salmon, and beef – and variety packs are available, too. The 3-ounce cans are designed for adult cats, but smaller cats can simply receive a smaller portion from the cans.
Loaf and gravy options also make it easy for cats to enjoy eating the food regardless of what other health issues they may have.
The formula within the Purina Pro blend is designed to reduce urinary pH while also reducing dietary magnesium. A few other ingredients help to target the nutrition that is needed, complete with linoleic acid and calcium.
The wet food also adds to the hydration levels so that crystals are less likely to form, causing discomfort for your pets. All in all, the formula is effective while also being affordable enough to feed multiple cats in your household regardless of whether they have urinary tract issues or not.
The Community Choice
When it comes to what the community thinks of a non-prescription option for cats that need a diet specific for urinary tract issues, the highest reviews point to a dry cat food from Hill’s Science Diet.
This is a highly recommended pet food brand that is commonly suggested by veterinarians due to the premium natural ingredients and is made in the USA.
The Urinary & Hairball Control recipe is a popular dry cat food that has been proven to support the urinary system partly due to offering optimal levels of magnesium.
The Hill’s Science Diet adult cat food is a dry kibble that is high in protein while also offering a good source of fiber so that it prevents urinary tract issues and reduces hairballs.
Omega 6 fatty acids and Vitamin E are also included in the formula to help with the skin and coat.
Since the Hill’s Science Diet dry cat food has over 8,000 high reviews on Amazon, it has been identified as an Amazon’s choice pet food.
There are various sizes of bags to ensure you can find the one that’s right for your household based on the size of your cat as well as the number of cats that you’re feeding.
It is a #1 Veterinarian Recommended product and pet owners who have purchased it have said that urinary crystals are drastically reduced by getting their cats onto this diet.
Final Thoughts
While it’s important to rely on the advice offered to you by a veterinarian, there are plenty of reasons why a urinary cat food non-prescription substitute should be found. Your cat may encounter urinary crystals or even a lower urinary tract disease if they’re on the wrong diet. Knowing about all of the options that will balance urine pH levels will provide you with guidance so that you can shop for food that doesn’t require a prescription.
