Wet cat food contains a lot more moisture than dry kibble; wet food contains about 70% moisture, whereas dry kibble contains about 10% moisture. Vets believe that feeding your cat a diet that contains wet cat food can help prevent a number of urinary tract diseases and problems, since it helps to provide the moisture your cat needs to maintain urinary tract health. Here's how you can keep your cat's urinary tract healthy by feeding a wet cat food diet.
Follow the Guidelines for Feline Urinary Tract Health
You can help maintain your cat's urinary tract health by meeting his dietary and water consumption needs. Most cats will never drink all the water that they need to maintain a healthy urinary tract, but that doesn't mean your cat shouldn't have a constant supply of clean, fresh water always available to him. Your cat should also have at least two litter boxes, and you should keep them as clean as possible; this helps to prevent urinary tract infection. Feed your cat one or two meals of wet cat food per day, and allow him to feed freely from dry food whenever he likes.
If you're feeding a commercial cat food diet, then your cat is already getting the nutrition he needs to maintain urinary health. If you make your own cat food, consult your vet to make sure your cat is getting the right balance of vitamins, minerals and nutrients to maintain his urinary health. If your cat has already developed urinary problems, like bladder or kidney stones, take advantage of one of the many commercially marketed urinary diets for cats. These diets are low in magnesium to prevent the development of bladder and kidney stones.
How Wet Food Helps Maintain Your Cat's Urinary Tract Health
Wet food has a high moisture content, so it helps your cat stay hydrated. This is important because cats are desert creatures, and they've evolved to absorb moisture more efficiently through their small intestines than they do by drinking water. That's why most cats on a dry food diet will remain chronically dehydrated no matter how much water they drink.
Your cat's urinary tract needs moisture to remain healthy. When cats become chronically dehydrated, their urine thickens, which increases the chance of infection and leads to the formation of bladder and kidney stones. Keeping your cat well hydrated helps the urinary tract to flush itself of bacteria and of the struvite crystals in urine, which, if allowed to accumulate, can form bladder and kidney stones.
Choosing the Best Wet Food for Your Cat
The best feline diet for urinary tract health is a raw meat diet. If you decided to put your cat on a raw meat diet, consult your vet to make sure you understand your cat's nutritional requirements and how to meet them.
A diet consisting mostly of wet canned food is a convenient option for most cat owners. Commercial wet cat foods are nutritionally balanced and contain the moisture your cat needs. Choose a high quality cat food that's free of dyes, fillers and chemical additives, since these can irritate your cat's urinary tract.