09/03/2025
How I Helped a Cat with FLUTD Through Nutrition
(an anonymous case by a veterinary nutritionist) 🐱⚕️
Too often, owners come to me in panic: "My cat is crying in the litter box, urinating outside it, and the lab results show crystals… What do I do?"
One such case stands out in my memory — and it’s a powerful example of how the right nutrition can change everything.
This is the story of Luna, a 3-year-old spayed, indoor cat. Her first episode of FLUTD (feline lower urinary tract disease) happened in winter: microcrystals (mostly struvite), pain, stress, and a real risk of urethral blockage. The owners were shocked — after all, "she had never had any problems before."
But as it turned out, she did have problems.
We just hadn’t been listening.
What her diet looked like before:
Budget dry food (the main component of her diet)
Occasional supermarket-brand canned food
Water from a bowl that was rarely changed
No supplements, no pH monitoring, no regular ultrasounds
She barely drank water, and her urine was highly concentrated — the perfect environment for crystal formation.
Here’s what we changed (under veterinary supervision):
🔹 Switched completely to prescription diet
We introduced a therapeutic food formulated to dissolve struvite crystals. Yes, it’s not cheap — but it:
— reduces magnesium and phosphorus levels
— helps maintain a slightly acidic urine pH (6.0–6.5)
— increases urine volume thanks to higher moisture content
🔹 Increased hydration — this is key!
We eliminated dry food entirely. The base of her diet became high-quality wet food (therapeutic and premium). We added a water fountain — cats tend to drink more when water is moving. Within just 6 weeks, her urine became clearer, and crystals began to disappear.
🔹 Gradual transition to a controlled homemade diet
After 4 months, once her lab results stabilized, we started introducing a home-prepared diet — following a strict protocol:
Base: lean meats (rabbit, turkey)
Organ meats no more than 5% (liver only once a week)
Essential: potassium supplementation (to prevent hypokalemia)
Regular monitoring of urine pH (2–3 times per week)
Excluded: fish, dairy, plant-based proteins
🔹 Ongoing monitoring
Every 3 months: bladder ultrasound, urinalysis, urine specific gravity, and pH checks. This isn’t a luxury — it’s essential prevention.
Results after 1.5 years:
Zero recurrences
No crystals in urine
Stable lab results
Cat is active and uses the litter box without stress
What owners need to understand:
FLUTD in cats is primarily a disease of diet and lifestyle, especially in spayed/neutered cats.
Dry food = low water intake = concentrated urine = high crystal risk.
Prescription diets are not a lifelong sentence — but they are a critical part of recovery.
Homemade diets without proper planning and monitoring aren’t a solution — they’re a risk. Even "healthy" food can make things worse.
💡 My rule as a nutritionist:
Don’t wait until a blockage occurs.
Don’t treat based on internet forums.
Don’t cut corners on diet quality.
Proper nutrition isn’t about what’s cheaper — it’s about what’s safer.
If your cat shows even one warning sign — frequent trips to the litter box, straining, blood in urine — consult your vet and a veterinary nutritionist. The earlier we act, the better the chance to avoid catheterization or surgery.
Take care of your pets. Sometimes, all they need is a bowl that won’t fail them.
With care,
a veterinary nutritionist with 8 years of experience 🐾
