How to Help Kidney and Bladder Stones in Cats Naturally

By :Becki Baumgartner, PhD 0 comments

Dealing with your cat's kidney and bladder stones can be tricky! You know your cat is uncomfortable, but you don't know what to do.

However, the good news is there are many things you can do at home to help your cat feel better, support the management of stones, and help reduce the likelihood of them coming back in the future.

We're sharing the cat kidney stone protocol that TCVM veterinarians Dr. Marc Smith and Dr. Casey Damron recommend in their Tennessee clinics.

Key Takeaways

Understand the stone: Stone type and location help guide your cat’s individualized care plan.
Hydration first: Fresh water, food with added moisture, and wet diets help support diluted urine and healthy flow.
Food therapy: A cooling diet and stone-specific nutrition can be tailored to your cat with your veterinarian.
Natural support: Urinary supplements, kidney treats, and TCVM herbal formulas offer options to discuss as part of a personalized plan.
Timely care: Contact your veterinarian promptly for suspected stones. If your cat is unable to pass urine, seek immediate emergency veterinary care.

What Are Kidney and Bladder Stones in Cats?

Cat kidney and bladder stones are similar mineral formations. The main difference is where they occur. Bladder stones are in the bladder, and kidney stones are in the kidneys.

Treatment and prevention share goals for kidney and bladder stones, and care varies depending on what material forms the stone. Your veterinarian also considers the location of the stone and whether it is affecting urine flow.

The most common types of stones are struvite, calcium oxalate, urate, cystine, and silica.

Stones form when your cat's urine contains more crystal-forming substances than their urine can dilute.

At the same time, your cat's urine might lack substances that prevent crystals from sticking together.

Combining the two creates an ideal environment for forming kidney and bladder stones.

Signs of Kidney and Bladder Stones

Your cat may have stones yet show no symptoms at all.

Sometimes stones remain unnoticed until your vet runs tests for other medical conditions.

Symptoms may vary depending on the type of stone and its location.

The most common signs of stones are:

Abdominal discomfort
Appetite loss
Blood in urine
Decreased volume of urine
Difficulty urinating
Fever
Lethargy
Recurring UTIs
Vomiting
Weight loss

Kidney and bladder stones can cause frequent urinary tract infections, discomfort, and blockages.

Stones are potentially fatal if untreated. Please contact your vet immediately if you think your cat may have stones. A cat that cannot pass urine needs immediate emergency veterinary care.

Your vet will tell you if your cat needs surgery or if the stone will pass on its own.

Make Your Cat Drink More Water

Getting your cat to drink enough water is super important in preventing stones.

If your cat drinks enough water to dilute their urine and it flows well, it helps prevent crystals from forming into stones that cause problems.

But you may have trouble getting your cat to drink enough. If so, try mixing low-sodium chicken broth into your cat's water.

Or, you can also run a little meat or tuna (something your cat loves) through the blender with water to make soup you can give as a "treat" to encourage your cat to drink more fluids.

You can also dilute your cat's food with water, making every meal a "soup".

Anything you can do to get more water into your cat will help.

Appealing water: Try low-sodium chicken broth in water to encourage drinking.
Moisture-rich treats: Blend a little meat or tuna with water to make a soup-style treat.
Meal moisture: Add water to food to increase fluid intake.

Switch to Wet Food, Preferably a Cooling Diet

Another change you can easily make at home is switching to wet food.

Both Dr. Smith and Dr. Damron feel kibble is the worst food you can feed a cat suffering from stones.

The reason is that a lot of your cat's body moisture is used in rehydrating kibble to allow your cat to digest it.

The process causes many cats to be chronically dehydrated, which is the opposite of what you want for a cat suffering from stones.

Our vets recommend a cooling diet for cats with kidney and bladder stones.

A cooling diet soothes or "cools" the inflammation caused by irritation.

And feeding wet food will help keep your cat hydrated, helping to dilute the urine and improve flow.

Special Diets for Cats With Calcium Oxalate or Silica Stones and Crystals

If your vet sends your cat's stones or crystals to a lab for analysis, you will know what type of stone your cat has.

You can help prevent certain types of stones by feeding your cat a special home-cooked diet.

For example, if your cat has calcium oxalate stones, you can feed a special low-oxalate diet to help prevent the stones and crystals from forming in the first place.

Another example is silica stones and crystals. Certain supplements, medicines, and foods contribute to forming silica stones and crystals.

Most likely, you will need to home-cook to make sure the proper ingredients are omitted.

Always discuss any dietary changes you plan to make with your holistic veterinarian. Your veterinarian can help tailor ingredient choices and ensure the diet meets your cat’s nutritional needs.

Use Herbs and Vitamins to Support Urinary Tract Health

You can soothe and strengthen your cat's entire urinary system using the right herbs and vitamins.

Our veterinarians recommend PET | TAO Soothe Bladder Supplement. Soothe Bladder is a supplement to support the bladder and urinary system in dogs and cats.

Soothe Bladder supplies:

Cranberry: Reduces the risk of UTIs.
Juniper berry: Helps the body flush out uric acid and excess crystals.
Marshmallow root: Soothes inflamed tissues and protects tissues while passing stones.
Uva ursi: Eases swelling of the bladder and urinary tract.
Kochia: Soothes inflammation and promotes urination.
Poria: Promotes urination.
Polyporus: Promotes urination and detoxifies.

Feed Your Cat Kidney

According to TCVM philosophy, the kidney controls the kidney, bladder, and urinary tract functions.

And, using the theory of "Like Treats Like", feeding kidney helps strengthen and tonify the kidney meridian.

You can easily make sure your cat gets top-quality kidney every day by feeding PET | TAO Freeze Dried Raw Kidney Treats.

Suggested amount: The protocol recommends as few as 5-6 treats per day to support your cat’s urinary system, or as directed by your veterinarian.

Try a TCVM Herbal Blend

Chinese medicine offers many exceptional natural solutions for feline bladder and urinary health challenges.

Some good examples are:

You need a veterinary authorization to purchase TCVM herbs. The reason is there are several different blends to choose from, depending on your pet's individual patterns and deficiencies.

You'll get the best results if you get an in-person examination or telemedicine consultation with a TCVM-trained veterinarian.

Interested in trying a TCVM herbal formula? Submit Your Authorization Request or Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation

Veterinary Expertise and Personalized TCVM Care

If you ever feel like you need extra help managing your cat's kidney or bladder stones naturally or with TCVM herbal blends, we can help.

TCVM Pet Supply cofounders Dr. Marc Smith and Dr. Casey Damron offer TCVM telemedicine consultations.

If you get a TCVM telemedicine consultation, you'll get personalized TCVM recommendations specific to your pet, including:

Evaluation: TCVM evaluation.
Nutrition: Food therapy recommendations.
Herbal support: TCVM herb recommendations and veterinary authorization.
Supplements: Supplement recommendations.
Additional care: Alternative medicine recommendations.

If you reside in the Middle Tennessee area or would like to commute, you may choose an in-clinic appointment.

You can learn more about each vet and contact the clinic you prefer directly:

We hope this information helps you and wish you the best in helping your cat feel better.

If you have any other questions or if we can help you in any way, just let us know!

Frequently Asked Questions

What signs might indicate kidney or bladder stones in my cat?

Signs can include difficulty urinating, a reduced amount of urine, blood in the urine, abdominal discomfort, recurring UTIs, appetite loss, lethargy, vomiting, fever, or weight loss. Some cats show no symptoms. Contact your veterinarian promptly if you suspect stones, and seek immediate emergency care if your cat cannot pass urine.

How can I encourage my cat to take in more water?

The protocol suggests adding water to meals, offering wet food, mixing low-sodium chicken broth into water, or blending a little meat or tuna with water as a soup-style treat. These options make fluids more appealing and support diluted urine and healthy flow.

Why does my cat’s stone type matter when choosing a diet?

Different stones form from different materials, so nutrition can be tailored to the type identified by your veterinarian. The article discusses low-oxalate diets for calcium oxalate stones and ingredient adjustments for silica stones and crystals. Your holistic veterinarian can guide a suitable, nutritionally complete plan for your cat.

How does a veterinarian choose a TCVM herbal formula for my cat?

A TCVM-trained veterinarian considers your cat’s individual patterns, deficiencies, and overall health needs. The formulas listed here are examples of options discussed in the protocol. An examination or telemedicine consultation helps guide personalized recommendations, and veterinary authorization is required to purchase TCVM herbs.

The Bottom Line

Supporting a cat with kidney or bladder stones begins with understanding the stone type and your cat’s individual needs. Hydration, moisture-rich cooling foods, tailored nutrition, urinary supplements, and TCVM herbal care can all be part of a personalized approach. Work with your veterinarian to coordinate care and build daily habits that support urinary comfort and long-term wellness.

Request a TCVM Telemedicine Consultation for personalized food therapy, supplement, and herbal guidance for your cat.