Does your cat suffer from urinary tract issues? Choosing the right food for your cat will have a massive impact on his or her health. The best C/D cat food alternative is formulated with the right nutrients to decrease the formation of stones.
If your cat is showing the annoying symptoms of Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease, you will have to make a few changes to their diet while following the vet’s orders. In this article, we’ll suggest some of the best C/D cat food alternatives to keep your kitty in perfect health.
Table of Contents
Here’s a Quick Summary of Our Top Picks:
| Image | Product | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Urinary Tract Health Dry Cat Food | Best Overall | Check Price |
 | Wysong Uretic – Dry Natural Food for Cats | Runner-Up | Check Price |
 | Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health Formula Adult Cat Food | Best Budget Choice | Check Price |
Reviews of the Best c/d Cat Food Alternatives
Feline lower urinary tract disease or FLUTD can infect your cat at any age and has several annoying symptoms. Choosing the right cat food can protect your kitty from future infections. Here are some of the best C/D cat food alternatives.
1. IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Urinary Tract Health Dry Cat Food – Best Overall
Pros
- Made of real chicken with no additives
- Contains vitamin E to boost immunity
- Reduces the PH level to protect your cat from stones
- Reduces the buildup of plaque for dental health
- Suitable for kittens, adult cats, and senior cats
Cons
- Can make your cat gassy and change the smell of poop
The first ingredient in this dry formula is real chicken with low magnesium, so your cat will be tempted to try this food. It lowers the PH level to maintain the urinary tract’s health and protect your furry baby from FLUTD.
When your cat eats this food, you will notice an improvement in the immune system because it contains vitamin E that boosts immunity and keeps your kitty in excellent health. It also includes other healthy nutrients like potassium and calcium to protect the cat’s heart and bones.
Because of the texture of the dry cat kibble, your cat’s teeth will be in perfect shape as this food reduces the buildup of plaque. The formula doesn’t contain any artificial dyes or fillers that add no nutritional value.
Whether you have a kitten, an adult, or a senior cat, you can use this formula because it’s rich in nutrients that keep your kitty healthy. It helps with digestion and hairball control to meet all your cat’s needs. In some cases, this food might make your cat gassy and change the smell of poop.
2. Wysong Uretic – Dry Natural Food for Cats – Runner Up
Pros
- Suitable for all breeds at different life stages
- Rich in enzymes, fatty acids, vitamins, and probiotics
- Prevents the formation of crystals and promotes better urinary tract health
- Contains fresh ingredients with no additives
Cons
- Some cats won’t like the texture of the crumbs
If you have multiple cats in the house, you need to get this dry food. The formula contains whole fresh ingredients and complemented with healthy enzymes, vitamins, and probiotics that keep your cat in perfect health.
This formula contains 42% and 15% fat to promote healthy digestion with a mixture of frozen, fresh, and dry meat and healthy fatty acids to keep the coat and skin in excellent condition. Unlike other formulas, this one doesn’t contain any additives, fillers, or artificial ingredients that add no value.
Excess minerals are removed to protect your kitty from stones. At the same time, the natural sourced urinary-important methionine is added to prevent the formation of crystals and the growth of certain types of bacteria that worsen the symptoms of FLUTD.
Whether you have a kitten or a senior cat, you can depend on this dry food because it’s suitable for all cat breeds and all life stages. Some cats might not be fond of the texture of the crumbs.
Related: control your cat’s food allergy by using one of those top z/d food alternatives for cats or our picks for alternatives to hydrolyzed cat food.
3. Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health Formula Adult Cat Food – Best Budget Choice
Pros
- Dry food with real chicken
- Easy to digest and rich in Omega – 6 fatty acids
- Maintains the right PH level in the urinary tract
- Your cat will show an improvement in 28 days
Cons
- Some cats won’t like this food
- You might need to supplement it with extra vitamins and minerals
This dry food is made of real chicken and is easy to digest to protect your kitty from health issues. The formula is infused with Omega – 6 fatty acids to promote better health of the coat and skin, so your furry baby will look and feel good. It also has a low magnesium content to prevent the formation of stones.
Formulated by real vets, this dry food formula maintains the right PH level to keep the urinary tract in perfect health. It lowers the PH level to protect your cat from painful symptoms.
Once you add this food to your cat’s diet, you will witness the change as your cat will have more energy and brighter eyes. In 28 days, you will see that your kitty has healthier teeth, gums, and the symptoms of urinary tract infections will decrease. This formula is designed for adult cats.
You don’t need a prescription to get this food, and it’s cheaper than other alternatives. However, some cats might not like the taste and won’t try this food. Moreover, in some cases, you will need to supplement it with extra minerals and vitamins to ensure that your kitty is getting all the nutrients they need.
How to Choose the Best c/d Cat Food Alternative
C/D cat food is formulated to improve bladder health and protect your cat from urinary tract infections. Here are a few factors to consider when you’re picking the right food for your furry baby.
Main Ingredient
You need to make sure that the first ingredient is a natural protein source that provides your kitty with the required nutrients. Whether your cat prefers dry or wet food, you need to make sure that it’s naturally sourced and doesn’t contain any additives or fillers that add no nutritional value.
Cat food shouldn’t contain a high amount of grains that cause constipation and can make your cat uncomfortable. Cats still need carbohydrates and fats for energy, so you need to make sure that the formula is well-balanced. Pay attention to the list of ingredients, and make sure that your vet approves it.
Extra Nutrients
In addition to the nutrients found in the natural ingredients, your cat might still need some supplements to promote better overall health. Cats need probiotics and enzymes that promote better digestion and prevent constipation. At the same time, they need to have several vitamins and minerals that keep their teeth, coat, and skin in top condition.
Vitamin A improves your cat’s vision and keeps the skin in perfect state. B vitamins protect your cat from poor digestion problems and are also crucial for the health of the nervous system. Vitamins E and C contain antioxidants that improve the immune system.
Your cat food should also contain several minerals like calcium and phosphorus. These are essential for bone and joints health and will keep their teeth healthy.
Low Magnesium
When you’re picking food for a cat with urinary tract problems, you need to make sure that the formula is designed to address this problem. The diet should work to lower the urinary tract’s PH level, thus improving current symptoms and protecting your cat from future infections. Make sure that the diet contains low levels of magnesium, the main culprit in the formation of bladder stones.
Age
Before you pick a formula for your cat, make sure that it’s suitable for your cat’s breed and age. Some formulas are designed to meet the needs of kittens, while others will only work for senior cats.
Nevertheless, there are multiple options on the market that suit cats of different breeds and at different life stages. These are the most versatile brands and will work for you, especially if you have multiple cats in the house.
FAQs
What causes FLUTD?
There are many factors that can cause FLUTD, including environmental stress, and eating a diet that has a high content of magnesium which causes the formation of crystals or stones. Overweight and middle-age cats are at a higher risk.
What are the symptoms of FLUTD?
The symptoms of urinary tract infections in cats are similar to the ones that humans suffer from. These include frequent attempts to urinate, passing a small amount of urine every time, crying because of pain during urination, and seeing blood in the urine. If your cat is experiencing some or all of these symptoms, you need to take him or her to the vet.
Is magnesium harmful to cats?
Magnesium is an essential nutrient but should be consumed in moderation. High levels of magnesium can be life-threatening as it affects the heart and nervous system, causing some symptoms like overall fatigue, laziness, cardiac arrest, and even death. Moreover, high levels of magnesium cause the formation of bladder stones, which lead to infections in the urinary tract.
Wrap Up
Before you pick the right food for your pet, you need to make sure that it’s specifically designed to address any current or potential medical issues. We chose the IAMS PROACTIVE HEALTH Adult Urinary Tract Health Dry Cat Food as the best C/D cat food alternative because it’s made of natural ingredients that appeal to your kitty. The formula contains natural ingredients that improve the overall health of your cat while maintaining the natural PH level of the urinary tract to prevent the formation of stones.
Finding the right type of food that meets the needs of your cat at different stages is one of the best things that can be done to guarantee a healthy happy life. You will find other options on the list that might appeal to your cat, so you should consider giving each one of them a try.
I’ve been living with cats since 2008 and I can confidently say I have more feline friends than humans lol. I currently live with 5 cats in different life stages; two of them are less than one year old, one is 2-ish years old and the oldest two are 9-ish years old. I’ve developed a strong bond with cats over the years and I’m eager to share my experience through this blog. You can learn more about my cats here.