How to Help Kidney and Bladder Stones in Cats Naturally

Dealing with your cat's kidney and bladder stones can be tricky! You know your cat is hurting, 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, alleviate the stones, and prevent them from coming back in the future.

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

What are Kidney and Bladder Stones in Cats?

Cat kidney and bladder stones are pretty much the same. The main difference is where they occur. Bladder stones are in the bladder, and kidney stones are in the kidneys.

Treatment and prevention are the same for kidney and bladder stones, and it varies depending on what material forms the stone.

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.

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 pain
• 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, pain, and blockages.

Unfortunately, stones are potentially fatal if untreated. Please contact your vet immediately if you think your cat may have stones.

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

Learn More About Kidney and Bladder Stones in Cats

If you are new to dealing with stones and are still learning how they affect your cat, you should get a free copy of our ebook Cat Bladder & Kidney Stones: Painfully Easy to Prevent. 

Holistic veterinarians Dr. Casey Damron and Dr. Marc Smith wrote the manual with you in mind. It explains what's going on and how your cat feels. It offers information on things you can do at home to help.

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 flow 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.

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 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, homeopathic 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.

Use Herbs & Vitamins to Boost 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 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.

As few as 5-6 treats per day will make a huge difference in your cat's entire urinary system. 

Try a TCVM Herbal Blend

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

Some good examples are:

• Ba Zheng San
• Crystal Stone Formula
• Dianthus Harmonize Bladder
• Suo Quan Wan

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.

Need Extra Help for Your Special Needs Cat?

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 ($125), you'll get personalized TCVM recommendations specific to your pet, including:

• TCVM Evaluation
• Food Therapy Recommendations 
• TCVM Herb Recommendations & Veterinary Authorization
• Supplement Recommendations
• 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:

• Casey Damron, DVM - White Oak Animal Hospital
• Marc Smith, DVM - Natchez Trace Veterinary Services

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!