Last Updated: 17/06/2025
Best Urinary Cat Food
Does your cat suffer from urinary issues? Or are you looking to prevent them? View the best options.
Author: Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 52 minutes - long read
As many cat owners will know, urinary problems are a common and concerning issue for our feline friends. From frequent litter box visits to straining during urination, these symptoms usually indicate an underlying issue, such as a urinary tract infection, bladder crystals or stones, urethral obstruction or cystitis. It is critical that if your cat is showing symptoms of urinary issues, that you visit your vet as soon as possible, as these conditions can be potentially life threatening.
Dietary management is one of the cornerstones of treatment for urinary issues in cats. In this guide, we'll discuss the different urinary diets available, and how to go about choosing the most appropriate food to help support your cat's urinary tract and reduce the risk of urinary tract disease.
To find out more about the causes of urinary issues in cats, check out our guide on Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.
Why is choosing the right urinary cat food important?
Choosing the correct diet, particularly in cats with urinary issues, is critical in ensure that the risk of further urinary issues is minimised. For cats with bladder crstals or stones, cystitis or mucous plugs, a prescription urinary diet is usually necessary. These diets are designed with the right balance of nutrients to promote a healthy bladder in cats. They contain ingredients to control urine pH, minerals and protein to decrease, and in some cases, even dissolve crystal formation. For cats whose urinary issues are a result of, or exacerbated by, stress and anxiety (a common scenario), then a prescription calming diet, or prescription urinary diet which includes stress-relieving ingredients, may be recommended by your vet. It's important to note that if your vet has recommended a prescription diet for your cat, that these foods should be fed exclusively, with no other food, snacks or treats offered.
For cats with no history of urinary issues, but where you want to minimise the risk of urinary issues developing, then non-prescription/retail urinary diets can help to mitigate this risk.
Cats are notorious for their low thirst-drive, and increasing the water intake in cats can also help to decrease the incidence of urinary issues, by 'flushing out' the bladder more frequently. So, offering a wet food (either prescription urinary food or non-prescription, depending on your cat's needs) can help them to consume more water each day. The addition of a water fountain can also help to increase water consumption as cats often prefer running water over still.
For more tips, take a read through our guide on How to Increase Your Cat's Water Intake.
Four factors to consider when choosing a urinary food for cats:
- Your vet's recommendation: Your treating veterinarian should be your first port of call when it comes to dietary advice is your cat has any underlying diagnosed urinary conditions. In most cases, a prescription diet will be the best option to help manage your cat's condition. In the absence of any diagnosed urinary issues, for health support, there are a range of non-prescription, therapeutic options to help reduce the risk of urinary conditions.
- Complete and balanced: In choosing a food, the most important consideration after any health factors is that the diet is complete and balanced for your cat's stage of life. Ensuring that it meets AAFCO or FEDIAF pet food control guidelines is crucial to ensure that your cat receives all the nutrients they require in the correct ratios.
- Wet vs dry: As mentioned above, increasing your cat's water consumption by offering wet food as part or all of the diet helps to flush out the bladder more frequently, and reduce the concentration of the urine, decreasing the risk of urinary issues.
- Quality: The quality of the ingredients and the digestibility of the nutrients they provide should be a key factor in choosing a food. Premium cat foods are designed to be highly digestible (which means smaller, firmer stools) and do not change ingredients batch to batch like grocery type brands, which means less tummy upsets. They also tend to contain higher levels of added beneficial nutrients, such as omega fatty acids for joint and skin health, and some are backed by testing to ensure they deliver the results they promise. Learning how to read pet food labels and knowing the ingredients in your cat's food is a crucial part of knowing what is the best food for them.
How We Review Our Products
Our Vet team use their health and husbandry knowledge, along with their own personal and clinical experiences to evaluate each product and provide detailed, informative reviews, free of any commercial bias. We then collate this information into our 'best of' recommendations.
Top Cat Urinary Foods in Australia [Vet Reviewed]
Best non-prescription urinary dry food
Pro Plan Adult Urinary Care
Pros
- Made in Australia
- Reduced magnesium levels, and ingredients to reduce urine pH help to reduce the risk of urinary issues.
- On the cheaper end of the premium non-prescription urinary care foods.
- Added omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, and probiotics for digestive health.
Cons
- Contains chicken as the main ingredient, so may not be suitable for cats with sensitivities to chicken.
- Not a suitable alternative for cats with existing urinary issues.
Formulated to support the urinary health of cats with reduced dietary magnesium and by lowering urine pH, Pro Plan Urinary is a premium choice for cats to reduce the risk of urinary problems.
Pro Plan foods are backed by nearly 100 years of pet food research, and all apart from the wet cat foods are made in Australia. Real meat is the first ingredient in the recipes, satisfying the carnivorous needs of cats. All the adult dry cat food formulas are fortified with probiotics to support immune and digestive health.
Non-prescription urinary foods like the Pro Plan Urinary are not designed to manage existing urinary issues, or for cats with a history of urinary issues - the prescription urinary foods are more suitable in these situations, but must only be used under the direct recommendation of your vet.
What our customers say: "In 13 years our 4 cats have eaten these biscuits everyday & never looked back. One of our cats needs them & has never had any signs of cystitis return. They are all healthy & happy. It's good it's also meat based rather than grain. It's always a better price through PetCircle & their customer service is the best. Thanks."
What our vets say: "Pro Plan Adult Urinary Care Dry Cat Food is a great choice for adult cats because not only is it formulated to support urinary health by lowering urine pH and magnesium levels, it also supports kidney and joint health. I like to recommend it for cats with sensitive stomachs as it is formulated with live probiotics for digestive health. Along with all of that, it is made right here in Australia." - Dr. Jenny
Royal Canin Urinary
Pros
- Carefully controlled mineral levels, and ingredients to reduce urine pH help to reduce the risk of urinary issues.
- Added omega fatty acids for skin and coat health, and probiotics for digestive health.
- Available in 2kg and 4kg bags
Cons
- Not a suitable alternative for cats with existing urinary issues.
- On the more expensive side for non-prescription urinary food.
- Not made in Australia.
From the premium Royal Canin range, the Urinary dry food helps to maintain a healthy urine concentration by regulating the mineral balance and maintaining a low urinary pH. A Royal Canin study showed that feeding Urinary Care reduced the risk or urinary stone formation by 2 times after 10 days of exclusive feeding.
Non-prescription urinary foods like the Royal Canin Urinary are not designed to manage existing urinary issues - the prescription urinary foods may be more suitable in these situations, but must only be used under the direct recommendation of your vet.
What our customers say: "I mixed it with other royal canin food initially for them to get used to the taste. The boys now love it on its own. First step in preventing urinary problems from happening in the future."
Best non-prescription urinary wet food
Hills Science Diet Adult Urinary Wet Foods
Pros
- Contains controlled levels of minerals and target urinary pH for optimal urinary tract health.
- Also contains natural fibre to help reduce hairball formation
- Hills is a premium, high end brand which conducts laboratory analyses of their foods to ensure that they are meeting optimum levels of nutrients, and ensure consistency across batches.
- Available in a variety of flavours and textures to suit different preferences, including chunky ocean fish, chunky chicken and chicken pate.
- Single-serve portions for ease of feeding.
- Contains vitamin E and omega 6s for healthy skin and coat.
Cons
- Not Australian made
- Not suitable for kittens or pregnant or lactating queens.
- Slightly more expensive than other Hills adult cat wet foods.
- All varieties contain chicken.
The Hills range of urinary wet foods is formulated with highly digestible ingredients and controlled mineral levels to target a specific urinary pH and reduce the risk of crystal and stone formation for urinary tract health. The magnesium and phosphorus levels in the foods are carefully controlled to reduce the risk of struvite crystal formation, and the foods are formulated to target an acidic urinary pH of between 6.2-6.4. This acidic pH acts to inhibit the formation of urinary crystals, as well as creating an inhospitable urinary environment for bacteria to flourish.
As an added extra, these foods contain natural fibres to help hair move through the digestive tract, and thereby reduces the risk of hairball formation.
All the varieties of these wet foods are complete and balanced and can be fed exlusively, however they all contain chicken and pork, so would not be suitable for cats with sensitivities to these proteins.
The Hills urinary range of wet foods come in easy to open, easy to serve portions, and are complemented by a urinary dry food for cats who prefer mixed feeding.
What our customers say: "It helped my cat to stop dry retching. He was continually dry retching with other food and not eliminating the hairball. Once I put him on this food, it stopped completely. Plus, he has had no urinary issues on this food too, and he is prone to bladder crystals. I am extremely satisfied."
What our vets say: "One of the most important strategies in the prevention of urinary issues in cats (apart from diet) is increasing their water intake. The Hills Urinary wet foods are not only specifically formulated with controlled mineral levels and ingredients to target a specific urine pH, but simply by being wet foods, they automatically increase your cat's water consumption - win win! Not only that, they contain natural fibres to reduce the chance of hairball formation." - Dr. Michelle
Best Prescription Urinary Foods
Prescription urinary foods are formulated for cats with urinary issues, and are to be used under the recommendation of your treating veterinarian. The Hills Science diet and Royal Canin brands work differently to manage urinary issues in our feline friends. Therefore it is important that these urinary brands are not mixed together or fed at the same time.
Royal Canin Urinary S/O
Pros
- Contains higher sodium content to encourage cats to drink more water, thereby diluting the urine.
- Creates an acidic urine to help dissolve struvite crystals and stones and precent their recurrence.
- Contains controlled mineral levels to limit the building blocks of crystals and stones.
- The wet formulations help to increase a cat's water consumption.
- Available in dry and wet reduced calorie formulations to help prevent or manage excess body weight (a common contributing factor to urinary issues in cats).
- Dry food is available in a range of sizes including 1.5kg, 3.5kg and 7kg.
Cons
- Not made in Australia.
- Expensive.
- Wet foods are only available in one flavour.
- Prescription only diet.
The Royal Canin Urinary S/O is formulated specifically for the dissolution and prevention of struvite crystals and stones, and the prevention of calcium oxalate crystals and stones. It achieves this through a higher sodium content to make cats drink more water to dilute out the urine, reduced levels of magnesium (a building block of struvite crystals), and by lowering the concentration of ions contributing to crystal formation. Overall, this creates a urinary environment that is unfavourable for the development of struvite and calcium oxalate uroliths.
Due to it's higher sodium content, it is not suitable for cats with kidney disease, high blood pressure, or heart disease where sodium restriction is necessary. It is also not suitable for use in kittens, or pregnant of lactating cats.
For cats who suffer from idiopathic cystitis (FIC), where no cause for their urinary issues can be found, the Royal Canin S/O pouches are recommended over the dry formulation due to their higher moisture content, to aid in urinary dilution.
For cats who are overweight, or prone to weight gain, one of the benefits of the Royal Canin Urinary diets is that they are available in moderate calorie formulations also. Carrying excess weight can be a contributing factor to urinary issues in cats, so utilising a diet that targets both urinary issues as well as weight control is ideal.
For cats for whom stress is the sole factor in the recurrence of their urinary issues, and there are no other underlying factors, then the Royal Canin Veterinary Calm food may be a more appropriate option. Royal Canin Veterinary Diet Feline Calm uses hydrolysed milk protein, which contains a peptide that regulates stress, and L-tryptophan, which can increase serotonin (the happy hormone) levels. However, the Royal Canin Veterinary Calm does not otherwise help to manage urinary issues, so it's use must be strictly under the guidance of your treating veterinarian.
What our customers say: "My cat was in pain and peeing blood when she was about 3. After the vet recommended this food we have had no problems. She is 11 now and is happy and healthy and will not eat anything else. She seems to know it helps her."
Hills Prescription Diet Multicare Urinary Food for Cats
Pros
- Contains controlled levels of magnesium, calcium and phosphorus to reduce the risk of bladder stones.
- Clinically tested to lower the recurrence rate of the most common urinary signs by 89%.
- Dissolves struvite stones in as little as 7 days.
- Available in weight control formulations, as well as stress-relieving formulations, and weight control AND stress relief together.
- Wet foods are available in a range of flavour and texture varieties.
- Dry foods are available in a range of sizes.
Cons
- Not made in Australia.
- Expensive.
- Prescription only diet.
Dominating the market with their range of prescription urinary foods, Hills manufacture a wide variety of diets to target common issues which often go hand in hand with lower urinary tract disease. It is available in both wet and dry forms to help manage urinary issues, urinary issues plus weight management, urinary issues plus stress, and urinary issues plus stress and weight management.
The Hills Prescription Urinary diets work through controlled mineral levels to limit the building blocks of crystals and stones, added potassium citrate to inhibit calcium oxalate crystals and stones, antioxidants to reduce the inflammation within the urinary tract and via ingredients which target a mildly acidic urinary pH.
For cats where stress is a component of their urinary tract disease, Hills Prescription C/D Stress Multicare is perfect because this diet has the addition of casein and L-tryptophan which decreases the signs of stress and anxiety.
One of the beauty's of the Hills Prescription Urinary diets is that the wet forms come in a variety of flavours and textures, like chicken and vegetable stew, chunky salmon and chicken pate to suit your cat's specific tastes. The range of Hills Prescription urinary wet foods can be mixed and matched as they all work in the same way to manage urinary issues.
What our customers say: "My cat is a carb fiend who helps himself to any human food carelessly left on the kitchen counter, and was diagnosed by the vet as being well on his way to becoming a chonker when he was on his previous Hills diet. Additionally he has a lot of anxiety and is prone to forming urinary crystals. This Metabolic plus Urinary Stress is a good all round solution. He hasn't had a urinary episode while he's been on it and he's close to his ideal weight. Not sure how he feels about the taste as he will eat anything. It's expensive but worth it."
What to look for in urinary cat foods
Prescription vs non-prescription
This is the most important factor to look for when it comes to choosing urinary diets for cats. If your cat has diagnosed urinary issues, then in most cases, a prescription diet will be the most appropriate choice, and your decision should be guided by your cat's treating veterinarian. Prescription diets should be fed exclusively, with no additional foods or treats offered.
If your treating veterinarian has recommended a prescription diet, then it's important to stick with one brand. Different brands should not be mixed or fed concurrently, as this will reduce their effectiveness as they work in different ways. Dry and wet foods from within the same brand may be fed concurrently.
Wet vs dry
In the majority of cases, wet foods are preferred over dry foods to help prevent or reduce the risk of recurrence of urinary issues in cats, due to their higher moisture. The extra moisture helps to flush out the urinary tract, and reduce the urine concentration, making urinary issues less likely. For cats who do not like wet foods, adding some warm water to their dry food and using a water fountain can help to increase water consumption.
Complete and balanced
In choosing a food, the most important consideration after any health factors and veterinary recommendations is that the diet is complete and balanced for your cat's stage of life. Ensuring that it meets AAFCO or FEDIAF pet food control guidelines is crucial to ensure that your cat receives all the nutrients they require in the correct ratios.
Further Reading
Want to read more? Check out our other articles:
Preventing Urinary Issues in Your Cat
