Is there a better alternative to Hills Science Diet C/D for cats?

Question

My cat who is just about 1 year old was put on Hill's Science Diet C/D due to crystals in his urine. I've had him on this for a few weeks and he does seem like he has improved and is going more freely. However, looking at the ingredients in this diet, it almost seems like junk-food store brand cat food. With things like Chicken by-product meal and Corn gluten meal, how is this "good" cat food? Is there a better alternative that won't block up my kitty? Also... Should I only be feeding wet food instead of dry?

Answer 1

Hill's science diet is supposed to be the worst one out there.



I am no expert on cat nutrition. But I do know that cats are not designed to eat wheat, corn, or soy. In the wild they eat small rodents and birds, and they eat the whole thing, bones, organs and all.



For me, it just doesn't "feel right" to only feed an animal meat, because my instincts tell me to feed a 'balanced diet,' aka. what we feed humans. But cats have special enzymes that turn protein into energy that we don't have.



Here are two fantastic websites on cat's nutritional needs.

Answer 2

A lot would depend on what type of crystals were formed. Struvite are the easiest to solve, and acidification of the urine works. Oxalate can only be solved through diet. And many cats form mixtures of both.



First, be happy he likes the prescription food, as that is one of the most frustrating things about special diets.



But second, while you are not happy with the ingredients, consider that the best companies that have the resources to come up with special foods for special problems are major pet food companies.



So while you think a different food would be better, apparently it wasn't, since he formed crystals.



And in a male, a blockage is a 4 alarm vet emergency. So what you might save in finding a different food, just one vet emergency trip would wipe out any possible savings.



Your vet knows best.

Answer 3

Raw meat diet cured my cat's crystal issue. But no ground meat. I believe the ground meat does not allow enough time for cat to activate necessary digestive processes. Chunk meat is closer to what a cat catch and eat in nature, and slows down the digestion for happy metabolism.



After switching to raw chunk meat diet, my cat was cured within 2 days and never went back. It's been over 6 years with this diet. I feed raw chicken, raw beef, raw pork, pretty much anything really. The best is a whole chicken with innards. Just chop it up to small chunk pieces, and this way cats get the whole prey including innards and bones, etc. Stay away from feeding large femur bones. Those can break cat's front teeth.



Only shortcoming to raw meat diet is the lack of fiber. Cats may get constipated from just eating meat. So I add chopped vegetables; like sprouts or whatever. Easy option is shredding zucchini using cheese grater.



I encourage people to feed raw meat. If you want to learn more there is a great website with tons of knowledge.

http://rawfedcats.org/

Answer 4

First, your cat is best served by feeding a canned diet, as the extra moisture in it really does help with urinary issues. Better quality than the Hills diet is the one made by Royal Canin. Their diets have better ingredients than the Hills, and most cats seem to like them very much. Once the crystals are gone, you may be able to get away with feeding all canned, premium foods.

Answer 5

Hills C/D is a fine diet for a cat with crystaluria. Other options include Purina UR, Royal canin s/o and iams low pH/S.

As for the by-product meal, and corn gluten meal, I just wish ONCE I would hear it from someone with an actual PhD in ANIMAL nutrition why they hate it so much. Nutritionally, it is fine and more well balanced than half of the crud we eat as humans. This is a bunch of hype from the smaller share pet food market. No, I don't work for a pet food maker.

You should, however, be feeding canned to this cat. Cats get about 80% of their moisture from food so feeding canned, especially with water mixed in, is a great way to decrease the chances that your cat will develop an obstruction.

Answer 6

When a cat is diagnosed with crystals in their urine, this can lead to serious problems such as urinary blockage. Crystals form for many reasons, one of which is the acidity of the urine and another is the balance of minerals in the food. There are other diets specifically for cats with urinary tract problems and you can discuss with your veterinarian if those would be appropriate for your cat. It may not be the right time to switch if he still has crystals in his urine. Keep in mind that cats eat entire animals, that means everything, stomach contents, bones, skin etc. and nutritionists take all that into consideration when they formulate a diet.

Answer 7

I am having the same problem with my cat. I am also unsatisfied with my vet! But here's what I have found... I have been mixing the Hills S/D with Purina One Urinary Tract Health Formula. This makes the food taste better and seems to be as effective. I know other person who's cat had crystals and their vet recommended this food. My plan is to makes to feed the cat the mixture until my cat is doing better (his crystals cause him to have bloody urine) then switch to the Urinary Formula permanently. If you are feeding him S/D then your vet must think his urine is acidic, but in my research I found multiple types of crystals, and this food will not help other types. Hope this helps!!

Answer 8

Cats select food based on its temperature, smell and texture, they strongly disliking chilled foods and responding strongly to moist foods rich in amino acids, which are similar to meat. Cats may reject novel flavors (a response termed neophobia) and learn quickly to avoid foods that have tasted unpleasant in the past. They may also avoid sugary foods and milk; since they are lactose intolerant, these sugars are not easily digested and may cause soft stools or diarrhea. They can also develop odd eating habits. Some cats like to eat or chew on other things, most commonly wool, but also plastic, paper, string, or even coal. This condition is called pica and can threaten their health, depending on the amount and toxicity of the items eaten. It is essential for a cat to eat wet food everyday as it helps to maintain the digestive sistem of the cat. Heating up kan food in the microwave for 30 seconds is a good idea when feeding your cat. Any other good food would be pure tune.

Answer 9

Diet C

Answer 10

my cat spree, a female had 4 stones embedded in her bladder for about a year. she had to have surgery to the tune of $880.00. i have her on royal canin s/o dry and the c/d wet. there is nothing else if you dont want a sick kitty.

Answer 11

mines on the same diet... as long as your cat is drinking water id leave the diet as it is,.. your vet has recommended it and it is formulated for the purpose of cats with crystals... x

Answer 12

My cats are on Wellness Core. The ingredients seem pretty good.

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/product-details.aspx?pet=cat&pid=23



Dry food is fine as long as your cat drinks enough water.