My cat is about 4 years old and I noticed out of the blue he was having some trouble urinating. He would go in the litter pan over 6 times in an hour and only go a few drops at a time. He was also urinating in random places (small small amounts) for no apparent reason which was really out of the norm for him. I was worried he developed a urinary block or at least a urinary track infection so I brought him to the vet asap. Fortunately, it was just a urinary track infection and not a full block. The vet prescribed an antibiotic and an antispasmodic as well as a single dose muscle relaxant. He also prescribed this cat food. He told me most cats who develop urinary track infections will have issues for life and it was a lifelong food to stay on. The food actually works by breaking up crystals, stones, etc that can develop in the cats bladder and prevents them from forming in the first place. I immediately placed my cat on the food and after a few days he was 100% symptom free and hasn't had any urinary issues since. He also likes the food just as much as the previous food we were feeding him. Though my cat's always had dry food, it was nice that it comes in a can food variety as well for a treat every now and then. I will say, as for as the health of m cat, this food was more than 100% perfect. The few downsides, the food does NOT smell good at all. I've always been put off by the smell of dry cat and dog food but this is worse than any other food I've given my pets in the last 20 years. I have to turn my head when I open and close the bag just to bear it. It's also rather pricey compared to the normal cat foods out there which is a bummer. If your cat really has frequent issues with bladder infections though it is well worth it because the expensive price far outweighs the cost of having to bring the cat to the vet multiple times a year for infections or possible surgeries if it develops a full urinary block.

michellekport

null

I am not sure why viewpoints says this food is being discontinued or has been because it is not. I am still buying it unless just the certain size of the bag is being discontinued. This food is great stuff. My male cat ended up blocked a few years ago and almost died. After a week in the animal hospital his life was saved we transitioned him over to the urinary so diet to try to avoid any other blockages. It is common for male cats to block again after it has happened once so I was very nervous. I initially had to mix in some of his old food with the urinary so because he was being a pain about the switch. Initially he was picking around the urinary so kibble but eventually he started to eat it (I didn't really give him much choice) Since he has been on this food he has not had any issues. Beware though, this food is high in calories so my male cat blew up on this food and gained a bunch of weight. I ended up having to switch him to the moderate calorie version which of course is more expensive.

princessnicky4e

Oxford, CT

After my cat had a second visit to the vet in three months for urinary problems, the vet recommended this cat food. I was hesitant, because he's a very finicky eater. But he did like it, and so does my other cat who has had no urinary tract infections. The vet said that it would be a good preventative food for my other cat because indoor cats are often prone to urinary tract infections. Royal Canin is a good brand - my dog has eaten their dog food since he was a puppy and is very healthy. Royal Canin also offers a get one free bag of cat or dog food coupon after you buy and send in proofs of purchase for 10 bags. The price of their food is high, but it's cheaper than monthly vet visits. I recommend that you try this, or get a sample, if your cat has recurrent urinary tract infections.

MomTwoThree

North Tonawanda, NY

My now-8-year-old Siamese had a nasty urinary tract infection a few years ago, and afterward, to try to prevent further occurrences, I tried Purina One formula for urinary tract health. While it gave me peace of mind and seemed like an okay food, my cat didn't seem to like it very much. He tolerated it, but didn't relish it. Then my vet recommended Royal Canin Urinary SO as a better quality food, so I gave it a try. And my cat absolutely loved it. He put on a little bit of weight on it, which I hear is not uncommon. Aside from the weight gain, however, I feel the food is good for my cat's health, and I am glad he enjoys it so much. The only downside, other than cost, is the fact that it isn't good for kittens under nine months. So, I can't feed it to my new kitten (6 months). I have had to take the SO out of the mix for the next several months (I had been mixing it with Hill's T/D for dental health and Iams hairball/weight control formula... I left these in the mix for both cats). I hope my cat's health doesn't suffer during these several months. I look forward to putting the SO back into the mix.

purrrplej

Scottsdale, AZ

After a sudden attack of urinary crystals and a VERY expensive trip to the emergency vet over a holiday weekend, we switched our cat to a specialized prescription food and have not fed him anything else since.  We started out with the Science Diet, and switched to Royal Canin when our vet changed suppliers.  So far, so good.  We've had no reoccurance of crystals and no issues with the food. According to our vet, uriniary crystals are a common problem with older male cats like ours, and a specialized diet can help tremendously.  So while we pay far more than we would feeding him Purina or another brand available in a big box or grocery store, we haven't had to shell out for any more emergency vet visits, or put our cat through what I am sure is a painful, terrifying process of unblocking the urethra. I'd like to be able to purchase this food in a regular store, but since it is prescription, it is generally only available through vets.

Jennifer417

Pottstown, PA