Homemade cat food recipe for urinary crystals! This is a common issue for cats with struvite crystals caused by their urine pH being too high.
I consulted my vet before making the homemade food recipe below, and they told me this would be an excellent diet to feed him to lower his urine pH levels. I’m not sure what’s in it yet, but here goes!
My cat was diagnosed with urinary stones about three months ago and has been on prescription wet food ever since to keep his urine at the right level of acidity, so he doesn’t get more stones.
After consulting my vet again yesterday, they said it’s okay for me to start feeding him homemade food again because it can help lower the levels of struvite crystals in his urine.
My vet also told me to get his urine back to the right level. I should start by feeding him Hills U/D Food, specially made for cats with urinary issues.
Table of Contents
How To Make Homemade Cat Food Recipe For Urinary Crystals
Here is my recipe for homemade cat food that you can use to help with urinary tract issues.
I used chicken, turkey, and salmon as flavors
Ingredients
- Turkey necks (boneless) 2 pounds
- Rice flour 2 tablespoons
- Organic Chicken Broth 1 tablespoon (I just boiled some water with organic chicken broth powder in it)
- Organic Turkey Broth 1 tablespoon (I just boiled some water with organic turkey broth powder in it)
- Sea Salt, fine grind 1/2 teaspoon
- Ground Black Pepper 1/4 teaspoon
Note: I was told that multiple factors could cause crystals to form in cats’ urine, including struvite, calcium oxalate, and uric acid.
My vet said that in most cases, struvite crystals are the main cause of issues for cats with urinary problems, so I chose to make my cat food using foods rich in B vitamins.
Directions
1. preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cover turkey necks in foil and bake for 45 minutes.
2. Once the necks are cool enough to touch, debone them and discard bones. Put 2 cups of turkey meat aside, and place the rest into a blender/food processor with 1 cup of water. Blend until there are no more chunks. Add this blended mixture into a pot.
3. Now blend the turkey necks until there are no more chunks, then add them to the pot as well.
4. Add in all broth powders and rice flour, and stir together over medium heat for 5 minutes or so, adding water if it is too thick.
5. Place all of this homemade cat food recipe into a small bowl and let it cool down to room temperature (about an hour) before refrigerating it.
I leave mine in the refrigerator for up to three days, then I take out what I need and warm it up in the microwave for 30 seconds or so before serving it to my cat.
Homemade Cat Food Recipe For Urinary Crystals – Serving Suggestions
I usually add a teaspoon or two of water on top of his cat food serving and mix it in before giving it to him. I hope this helps!
Also Read: Homemade High-Calorie Cat Food
Homemade Cat Food For Urinary Problems
The Benefits Of A Homemade Diet For Cats With Urinary Crystals
It should be noted that a healthy and natural homemade cat food may prove to be one of your best bets when it comes to urinary crystals in cats.
With its low ash content and high moisture content, you may find that this diet can help reduce the stones/crystals in your pet’s urine, helping them with their condition sooner than if you used commercial food.
Here are some common benefits:
1. Reduced risk of disease – Reduced problems with urinary crystals and stones/crystals in your pet’s urine. This is also known to help reduce the risk of any cancer (such as bladder, uterus, etc.).
2. Increased life span – A healthy homemade diet for cats with urinary problems may help your pet live longer (some claim much longer).
3. Increased appetite – A healthy homemade diet may make it easier for your cat to eat for themselves, which can reduce vomiting and other issues.
4. Improved appearance of coat/skin – A healthy homemade food is known to help with a shiny and soft coat/skin.
Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Cat Food, Veterinary Diet
5. Improved energy levels – A healthy homemade diet can provide your pet with improved energy levels due to a better overall diet and more vitamins/minerals for them to absorb from their food.
6. Reduced vet bills – You will likely incur fewer costs when it comes time for your cat to visit the vet (and wait for appointments) due to a healthier and happier pet that doesn’t need as much attention.
7. Improved overall health – A healthy homemade diet can give your pet an improved immune system, better organ function, and other benefits.
8. Dental hygiene issues – This diet being so dry can help reduce dental issues such as tartar build-up and gingivitis.
9. Healthy weight control – With all of the benefits above, your cat is likely to maintain a healthier weight on this diet than many commercial foods.
Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health Formula Adult Cat Food
What Can I Feed My Cat With Urinary Crystals?
You have to be careful when choosing what you feed your cat to help them with their urinary crystals. Canned foods are usually recommended for cats with urinary problems.
Still, they are higher in ash content than this homemade recipe is, so they must get something lower in ash/magnesium.
What Ingredient In Cat Food Causes Urinary Problems?
This is a question that many cat owners have asked, and it is one that many pet food companies are struggling to answer.
The problem with the ingredients in veterinary diets can be traced back to the manufacturing process. It’s well known that some ingredient in the veterinary diet causes urinary problems.
But once a preservative approved for human consumption is used, it becomes impossible for vets to know what ingredient in vet food causes urinary problems.
The ingredient in vet food causing urinary problems is similar to the one in human food that can cause UTIs in humans.
The FDA needs to re-examine the preservative used in veterinary diets.
The most effective way of dealing with this problem is feeding an all-natural, grain-free diet or canned food.
However, feeding an all-natural, grain-free diet is not practical for many cat owners as it is costly and requires effort.
What Ingredient In Cat Food Causes Crystals In Urine?
Crystals in your cat’s urine are a common and benign phenomenon. They’re not harmful to your pet or you and may be caused by a feline diet, too much water intake, or simply due to the crystals being created.
Choosing a high-quality, natural diet for your feline is important to prevent urinary tract problems that commonly occur due to poor nutrition.
When we see crystals in a cat’s urine or stools, we tend to think of a kidney stone or an infection, neither of which is true.
If there are no clinical symptoms (such as pain or fever), your cat’s urine crystals are not kidney stones.
A kidney stone can cause blood and pus in the urine and other symptoms, but the presence of crystals does not mean you have a renal problem in your cat.
Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help Cats With Crystals?
Yes, in fact, homemade cat food with apple cider vinegar has been known to help cure urinary crystals in cats. It is usually recommended that you add 1 teaspoon for every 5 pounds of body weight into their daily intake.
Get Naked Urinary Health Crunchy Treats For Cats
Can Cats With Urinary Crystals Eat Tuna?
It depends on the type of urinary crystals your cat has. As long as it is not struvite crystals, it would be best if you fed your cat tuna once in a while without any problems.
How Can I Treat My Cat’s Crystals At Home?
You can use several safe and natural treatments at home to help your cat with its urinary crystals. Some of these remedies include:
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Cranberry Extract Capsules (can be given when mixed into food or in water)
- Alterative herbal supplements (from the health store)
You must avoid trying to use human remedies as they may not be safe for your cat. You should also consult with a vet before starting any homemade treatment, as some of these treatments can be unsafe and ineffective for certain types of crystals.
- Pumpkin (canned or cooked) -Beet greens (raw) -Spinach (cooked) -Carrot (raw) -Lettuce (but not iceberg as it has little/no nutritional value)
- Yogurt with live cultures
- Banana
Note: The amount of pumpkin you feed your cat should be limited to 1 tablespoon a day. You can also mix all of these treats into their food or add them to water and feed it to your cat that way.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve been struggling to find a homemade cat food recipe that your kitty can eat, I’m here to tell you there is hope. After reading this article about urinary crystals in cats and how an improper diet causes them, it’s time to start cooking!
When switching from commercial pet foods to home-cooked recipes, be sure not to put any table salt or onion powder into the mix. Cats don’t need much sodium, so use spices like garlic instead of adding things like soy sauce.
One last thing – make sure your furry friend has ample water available at all times during their new healthy eating journey!
FAQ
What is the recommended homemade diet for cats?
Many people recommend a homemade diet to cats with urinary issues, including urinary crystals. I have found that many canned foods are lower in ash than this recipe is, so it’s not recommended to feed these homemade recipes all of the time.
Is canned cat food better for cats with urinary issues?
Canned foods are very low in ash (and usually moisture), but they can be high in other things that may cause problems (such as protein levels). When feeding your cat a homemade diet or a commercial/canned food for urinary issues, you have to consider everything.
Why is this recipe so low in ash?
I choose to use low ash ingredients because cats with renal problems are often recommended a lower ash diet (due to the higher risk of forming crystals). Another reason is that it helps reduce tartar build-up and gingivitis.
What brand of cat food should I feed my cat if they have urinary issues?
You can choose to use any cat food that you think will work best for your pet, but some specific diets are recommended for cats with urinary problems. The following brands of cat food are low in ash and moisture: Fancy Feast (particularly the “Gravy Lovers” varieties) Friskies (particularly the varieties with gravy/sauce) Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets UR/Feline (G/U formula) Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Renal LP 33/22 Hill’s u/d and c/d
Are all dry cat foods bad for cats with urinary issues?
No, not at all. You may need to feed your cat a low moisture/low ash diet to help reduce the risk of urinary crystals forming. To avoid the formation of struvite crystals, you should look for food with at least 14% magnesium and less than 0.5% phosphorus (UNC Balances Cat Food Calculator).
Hi there! My name is Koushik; I am a cat lover. I specialize in writing about pet care & food. I have a wealth of knowledge on cat food niches and related subjects. I have worked in the pet industry for over 5 years and am passionate about helping cat owners provide the best care for their furry friends. With knowledge of cat food and nutrition, I aim to share their insights and help cat owners navigate the world of cat food niches. I enjoy playing with my two cats, reading, and exploring new cat food brands in my free time.
I can not find any treats for my cat they are all out of stock. he eats Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary Feline Cat Treats. Is there any other treats i can buy or make?
Firstly, Thank you for asking the question
For you, we have a blog of Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Urinary Feline Cat. You can watch it if you want, or you can buy it from royalcanin.com & amazon.com.
Do NOT add onion or garlic powder to a cats food, it’s toxic to cats! Also, cats need taurine so be sure to use a supplement powder like the Missing Link to add to the homemade cat food
Thanks for your suggestion. I will update it ASAP