Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common health concern for cats and cause discomfort and potentially serious complications if left untreated. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) have been reported to affect 1-2% of cats throughout their lifetime, with older cats (over 10 years old) more prone to UTIs.
When cats do develop UTIs, it could be a signal that they are also suffering from endocrine diseases, such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus which is why early detection and prevention is important for your cat’s health. UTIs normally manifest in an array of symptoms, the most common being difficulty to urinate and pain or discomfort whenever they do. Habits like peeing outside their litter box or in unusual spots in the house is also a subtle sign that suggests a cat has contracted a UTI.
While it may be worrying and stressful for you as a cat owner, you can help prevent or alleviate your cat’s UTIs with the right dietary changes. Read on for our nifty diet tips!
Diet Change #1: Increase water intake
Consuming sufficient liquids is the most important component for your cat’s urinary health. However, felines evolved from desert dwellers, resulting in them having a lower thirst drive. Most carnivorous cats are sufficiently hydrated from the food they eat, but indoor house cats who eat dry cat food don’t always get enough hydration from their food alone.
Therefore, ensuring that your cat gets enough hydration is important – here are some ways in which you can get your cat to drink more water:
More water bowls in convenient locations
Making more water points available can help improve their water intake and alleviate UTIs. Refresh the water daily to prevent a stale taste.
Water Fountains
Water fountains provide a constant water source. Not only that, cats are attracted to moving water. Water fountains mimic the flow of a stream, which helps to encourage them to drink more water on their own.
Flavored Water
You can try making plain water tastier by adding some bone broth to get them to drink more liquids. Sodium-free bone broth is a good addition to any cat’s meal.
Add Water to Dry Food
If your cat is used to a dry food diet, you can consider adding some warm water to soften the dry food and increase their hydration levels.
Wet Food
Wet food, either canned or fresh, has higher moisture content which gives cats extra hydration. If you feed an all-dry diet, you might want to consider making things more balanced and varied by going for a mixed (wet food and dry food) feeding approach.
Diet Change #2: Move away from dry cat food
Dry food like kibble, with its low moisture content (typically below 10%), can lead to cats inadvertently becoming slightly dehydrated. This means that cats need to drink more water to make up for their diet.
Aside from the low water content, certain ingredients in dry cat food can also contribute to urinary issues. Added minerals commonly found in dry food, such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus can potentially contribute to irritation or crystal and urinary stone formation.
Feeding your cat with fresh cat food, such as The Grateful Pet’s raw cat food which is a great option to consider for your cat. Raw cat food is minimally processed, so, when compared to heat-processed foods like kibble, it retains the highest level of moisture from the fresh ingredients.
The Grateful Pet is made with premium whole-muscle meat, organs, and superfood ingredients like New Zealand green-lipped mussels and prebiotic seaweed for an added health boost. Choose from a variety of flavours such as raw beef and chicken, to duck and beef – you’ll be sure to find a flavour that they enjoy!
Overall, adequate hydration is often the most important component in keeping UTIs at bay for cats. Feeding your cat with wet, fresh cat food can keep your feline adequately hydrated in the hot weather of Singapore even if they do not drink a lot from their water bowl.
Diet Change #3: Try cranberry supplements or unsweetened diluted cranberry juice
Studies have shown that cranberry supplements may be beneficial in preventing urinary tract infections in cats. This is because cranberries contain proanthocyanidins, which can help prevent bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract walls, leading to the flushing of harmful bacteria during urination and reducing the risk of infection. Additionally, the normal pH range for cat urine is between 6.0 to 6.5. This slightly acidic range helps to keep your cat’s urinary tract healthy and makes it less hospitable for urine stones or crystals to develop. Cranberries can help acidify urine, lowering the chances of developing blockages or infections.
Avoid sweetened cranberry sauces and juices since they contain high amounts of sugar and other additives that could be harmful to your cat. Instead, you can give your cats raw, cooked, or dried cranberries without any additives, a cat-formulated cranberry supplement, or dilute the unsweetened cranberry juice with water before pouring it over their food.
The Grateful Pet is here to help!
Though it can be stressful to manage your cat’s UTI, prevention and early dietary support can make a meaningful difference. Improving hydration and transitioning to a moisture-rich, biologically appropriate diet remain foundational steps in protecting your cat’s urinary health.
At The Grateful Pet, we go a step further with our Support+ range — a targeted line of gently cooked, condition-specific diets formulated right here in Singapore to provide proactive nutritional support for pets with specific health concerns.
Our Urinary Support+for cats is scientifically formulated with fresh, moisture-rich ingredients to support feline urinary tract health. Made with a palatable blend of grass-fed beef and wild sardines, this high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet supports optimal mineral metabolism while maintaining reduced phosphorus and magnesium levels — nutrients closely linked to urinary crystal formation.
Beyond hydration, Urinary Support+ incorporates functional ingredients chosen for their evidence-based benefits:
Cranberries to help regulate urinary pH and reduce bacterial adhesion
Marshmallow root to soothe and support the bladder lining
Wheatgrass, rich in antioxidants, to reduce oxidative stress
Fermented prebiotic seaweed and chicory root to nourish gut health and support short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production
Importantly, this diet can be used proactively to support urinary health or as a supportive nutritional approach for cats prone to recurrent cystitis or urinary tract infections.
To validate its efficacy, we conducted a 60-day feeding study involving six cats with urinary concerns. The results were encouraging:
By Day 30, all cats showed a consistent decrease in UTI symptom scores, improving from severe to moderate, and eventually to mild symptom levels.
80% of cats demonstrated improvements in protein degradation markers — an essential process for maintaining cellular function and overall metabolic health.
66% of cats showed increased levels of beneficial short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate), which play key roles in regulating inflammation, supporting nutrient absorption, and strengthening immune function.
These findings reinforce the role of purposeful, moisture-rich nutrition in supporting urinary health from the inside out. With The Grateful Pet’s Urinary Support+, you can provide your cat with a complete and balanced, gently cooked diet that supports hydration, mineral balance, and bladder health — without artificial preservatives or unnecessary fillers.
If your cat is prone to urinary issues or you’re looking to take a more preventive approach, explore our Urinary Support+ diet and support their long-term wellbeing today.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common health concern for cats and cause discomfort and potentially serious complications if left untreated. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) have been reported to affect 1-2% of cats throughout their lifetime, with older cats (over 10 years old) more prone to UTIs.
When cats do develop UTIs, it could be a signal that they are also suffering from endocrine diseases, such as hyperthyroidism and diabetes mellitus which is why early detection and prevention is important for your cat’s health. UTIs normally manifest in an array of symptoms, the most common being difficulty to urinate and pain or discomfort whenever they do. Habits like peeing outside their litter box or in unusual spots in the house is also a subtle sign that suggests a cat has contracted a UTI.
While it may be worrying and stressful for you as a cat owner, you can help prevent or alleviate your cat’s UTIs with the right dietary changes. Read on for our nifty diet tips!
Diet Change #1: Increase water intake
Consuming sufficient liquids is the most important component for your cat’s urinary health. However, felines evolved from desert dwellers, resulting in them having a lower thirst drive. Most carnivorous cats are sufficiently hydrated from the food they eat, but indoor house cats who eat dry cat food don’t always get enough hydration from their food alone.
Therefore, ensuring that your cat gets enough hydration is important – here are some ways in which you can get your cat to drink more water:
More water bowls in convenient locations
Water Fountains
Flavored Water
Add Water to Dry Food
Wet Food
Diet Change #2: Move away from dry cat food
Dry food like kibble, with its low moisture content (typically below 10%), can lead to cats inadvertently becoming slightly dehydrated. This means that cats need to drink more water to make up for their diet.
Aside from the low water content, certain ingredients in dry cat food can also contribute to urinary issues. Added minerals commonly found in dry food, such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus can potentially contribute to irritation or crystal and urinary stone formation.
Feeding your cat with fresh cat food, such as The Grateful Pet’s raw cat food which is a great option to consider for your cat. Raw cat food is minimally processed, so, when compared to heat-processed foods like kibble, it retains the highest level of moisture from the fresh ingredients.
The Grateful Pet is made with premium whole-muscle meat, organs, and superfood ingredients like New Zealand green-lipped mussels and prebiotic seaweed for an added health boost. Choose from a variety of flavours such as raw beef and chicken, to duck and beef – you’ll be sure to find a flavour that they enjoy!
Overall, adequate hydration is often the most important component in keeping UTIs at bay for cats. Feeding your cat with wet, fresh cat food can keep your feline adequately hydrated in the hot weather of Singapore even if they do not drink a lot from their water bowl.
Diet Change #3: Try cranberry supplements or unsweetened diluted cranberry juice
Studies have shown that cranberry supplements may be beneficial in preventing urinary tract infections in cats. This is because cranberries contain proanthocyanidins, which can help prevent bacteria from adhering to the urinary tract walls, leading to the flushing of harmful bacteria during urination and reducing the risk of infection. Additionally, the normal pH range for cat urine is between 6.0 to 6.5. This slightly acidic range helps to keep your cat’s urinary tract healthy and makes it less hospitable for urine stones or crystals to develop. Cranberries can help acidify urine, lowering the chances of developing blockages or infections.
Avoid sweetened cranberry sauces and juices since they contain high amounts of sugar and other additives that could be harmful to your cat. Instead, you can give your cats raw, cooked, or dried cranberries without any additives, a cat-formulated cranberry supplement, or dilute the unsweetened cranberry juice with water before pouring it over their food.
The Grateful Pet is here to help!
Though it can be stressful to manage your cat’s UTI, prevention and early dietary support can make a meaningful difference. Improving hydration and transitioning to a moisture-rich, biologically appropriate diet remain foundational steps in protecting your cat’s urinary health.
At The Grateful Pet, we go a step further with our Support+ range — a targeted line of gently cooked, condition-specific diets formulated right here in Singapore to provide proactive nutritional support for pets with specific health concerns.
Our Urinary Support+ for cats is scientifically formulated with fresh, moisture-rich ingredients to support feline urinary tract health. Made with a palatable blend of grass-fed beef and wild sardines, this high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet supports optimal mineral metabolism while maintaining reduced phosphorus and magnesium levels — nutrients closely linked to urinary crystal formation.
Beyond hydration, Urinary Support+ incorporates functional ingredients chosen for their evidence-based benefits:
Cranberries to help regulate urinary pH and reduce bacterial adhesion
Marshmallow root to soothe and support the bladder lining
Wheatgrass, rich in antioxidants, to reduce oxidative stress
Fermented prebiotic seaweed and chicory root to nourish gut health and support short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production
Importantly, this diet can be used proactively to support urinary health or as a supportive nutritional approach for cats prone to recurrent cystitis or urinary tract infections.
To validate its efficacy, we conducted a 60-day feeding study involving six cats with urinary concerns. The results were encouraging:
By Day 30, all cats showed a consistent decrease in UTI symptom scores, improving from severe to moderate, and eventually to mild symptom levels.
80% of cats demonstrated improvements in protein degradation markers — an essential process for maintaining cellular function and overall metabolic health.
66% of cats showed increased levels of beneficial short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate, and butyrate), which play key roles in regulating inflammation, supporting nutrient absorption, and strengthening immune function.
These findings reinforce the role of purposeful, moisture-rich nutrition in supporting urinary health from the inside out. With The Grateful Pet’s Urinary Support+, you can provide your cat with a complete and balanced, gently cooked diet that supports hydration, mineral balance, and bladder health — without artificial preservatives or unnecessary fillers.
If your cat is prone to urinary issues or you’re looking to take a more preventive approach, explore our Urinary Support+ diet and support their long-term wellbeing today.
Reference
[1] https://www.purinainstitute.com/centresquare/therapeutic-nutrition/feline-urinary-tract-infections#:~:text=Urinary%20tract%20infections%20(UTIs)%20have,of%20lower%20urinary%20tract%20diseases
[2] https://www.nevccc.com/site/blog/2022/03/15/urinary-tract-infection-cat#:~:text=Urinary%20problems%20are%20often%20seen,years%20of%20age%20or%20older
[3] https://www.purina.com/articles/cat/health/nutrition/guide-to-cat-hydration
[4] https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/healthcare/cat-urinary-tract-disease?lightboxfired=true#
[5] https://www.guilfordjamestownvet.com/site/blog-greensboro-vet/2021/05/31/cat-urinary-tract-infection#:~:text=Using%20an%20indoor%20litter%20box,to%20determine%20the%20underlying%20cause.
[6] https://www.catster.com/lifestyle/does-dry-cat-food-cause-urinary-problems/
[7] https://www.thesprucepets.com/food-and-urinary-tract-health-552033
[8] https://wagwalking.com/wellness/can-cats-eat-cranberries
[9] https://untamed.com/blogs/nutrition/best-cat-food-for-cats-with-uti#:~:text=Wet%20vs%20dry%20food%E2%80%94what,the%20need%20for%20separate%20drinking