Catfood for bladder stones;

Question
QUESTION: Hi! My female Maine Coon developed large bladder stones about a week after a death in the family and was in a lot of pain.  The vet thought the stones were probably struvite but I couldn't afford the additional testing to make sure.  The cat was started on canned food (Hill's Prescription Diet c/d) to control the pH level (she had been getting Petgard canned food before).  She also had treatments from a nonveterinary acupuncturist friend, some other energy-healing treatments, and herbal treatment with corn silk and gravelroot.  She recovered well.  The problem is that she hates the c/d food  (also Royal Canin Urinary SO) and eats very little of it, even though I put a small amount of Petgard food on top to entice her to eat.  Also, I prefer her to have a "natural" catfood without by-products and additives.  Although I give her and my male Maine Coon fresh food (e.g., natural chicken tenders) once or twice a week, I can neither afford nor have the time to do extensive fresh-food cooking for them.  So my questions are:  Is there a way that I can adjust the pH of a natural catfood like Petgard to be protective for her so that we can stop using the c/d, most of which is wasted?  Or are there other natural canned petfoods that I might use successfully (unfortunately, my cats won't eat canned Wellness, Wysong, or some other catfood varieties).  Since severe emotional stress appears to have been such a big factor in her developing the stones (she was about 5 years old) and she has never had those symptoms at any other time, do I need to continue a diet program designed to avoid them?  Thank you very much for your help with this question.

ANSWER: Hi Steph, I am sorry to say but your only choice is home-cooking for this cat.  There are no other products on the market that are safe for her kidney health.

I would be glad to provide you with some home-cooing recipes for this cat.
You can cook up 1 x per week and freeze the food.
LET me know.
Marie Peppers of Ask the Pet Nurse

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks so much, Marie.  I would like to have those recipes.  Please e-mail them to me.  A follow-up question: would they be safe for my big male Maine Coon to eat also?  He's about 6 years old and she's about 7.  They are not related and came from two different shelters; we got him when he was 1 and her when she was 2.  He has no major health problems that I know of.  However,since he was a youngster, he routinely wanders around howling after pooping.  His vet didn't find any basic problems, however.  There is likely to be significant tension in the house if he smells the female getting food that he, the lord and master, is not partaking of!  He's quite sweet-tempered and affectionate but can be both aggressive and passive-aggressive if he feels he's being thwarted, which could create unpleasantness for the female.  Sorry -- this is beginning to sound like a feline Jane Austen novel!  Thanks for your help.

Answer
No worries!  Yes, this recipe is fine for the Man of the house, too.

SEE here:

A low-grain food for UTI and crystal/stone control in cats:

WE have had great luck with this diet:


Cats with Kidney Problems
( Stops The UTI and stones)

4 parts carbohydrate:   
Pureed barley flakes and /or "baby food" creamed corn
( baby food - about 4 small jars of creamed corn)
or
Barley flakes - 1 cup ( cooked )


2 parts protein:   
Lightly broiled chicken or beef or  you can also use baby food chicken.
Look for lean ground beef - cook lightly all meats
1/2 lb of chicken or beef

~~~~~~~~OPTIONAL~~~~~~~~
veggie:
1 part vegetable:
Chopped of finely grated raw vegetable or vegetable juice-carrots, zucchini, and alfalfa sprouts are best.  ( Use a blender or grinder)  ( must be ground well)
   ~~~~CATS are not too fond of veggies...
1/2 cup of veggies - ground up

2 teaspoons soft butter

Cook at 350 for 15 minutes .  ( cook meat, veggies in skillet) - *add in the cooked barley from another pot.  ( always do barley or creamed corn)-
You can skip veggies if you cat doesn't like them.  ( give a little x-tra "NuVET" if you always skip the veggies )

You can also serve raw.  ( ONLY if you have already been feeding raw *****)
I cook all my meats.

Please add 1/2 teaspoon per day - per cat, Of the NuVET feline powder/ this is a vitamin and much needed for cats when home cooking.  
NuVET ordering link below:
Otherwise, they will not get the vitamins and minerals they need to stay healthy.


Order:
NuVET for cats:
NuVET is Excellent: (* Holisic and not in pet stores )

see here for ordering NuVET Feline Formula:
**CALL in all First orders - talk to the NuVET gals - tell them about your cats.
1-800-474-7044 ~~~~~ Tell them Pet Nurse Marie Peppers sent you and you are to Only Use 1/2 teaspoon per day on each cat.

http://www.nuvet.com/81098
Look for NuVET feline powder


**********************************************************************************
Cooking for you cats is very easy - You can feeze up some for 1 week at a time.
You can keep the food cold and use it within 3 days.
YOU don't have to cook every day...JUST heat up from the freezer what you need.
Some folks use Freezer bags and make individual meals.
**********************************************************************************

This diet is PH balanced and Phosphate balanced for you cats.

YES both cats can eat this diet.

Marie Peppers LPN MA

Pass the diet by your vet if you have concerns.

~~~~ Sorry to say : Most vets have very little knowledge of cat nutrition.

Good Luck
Marie Peppers LPN MA
Of ASK the Pet Nurse
mtnmom@gci.net