Companion Animals

Cat Feline Struvite Bladder Stone Welfare

Struvite bladder stones cause significant urinary pain in cats but can often be dissolved through dietary management without surgery.

Key Facts

Struvite stones form in alkaline urine often associated with urinary tract infection
Prescription dissolution diets create acidic urine that dissolves struvite over 4 to 12 weeks
Cats on dissolution diets must have urine monitored monthly by radiography
Prevention requires acidifying urinary diets and increased water intake
Males are at higher risk of urethral obstruction from stone fragments than females

Welfare Considerations

Cats with struvite stones experience chronic urinary discomfort and risk of obstruction. Dietary dissolution avoids surgical stress when successful, but adherence to dissolution diets requires owner commitment.

What You Can Do

Feed dissolution diet exclusively during treatment with no additional treats or foods
Monitor your cat's urine regularly during dissolution treatment as directed by your vet
Transition to a preventive urinary diet after successful dissolution to reduce recurrence