Mineral balance is a key factor in maintaining the urinary health of cats—excessive amounts of certain minerals could result in serious problems like stones and blockages. A healthy cat food for mineral balance can provide the right amount of minerals to prevent imbalances. 

In addition to prescription urinary diets, there are non-prescription foods. These are perfect for pet parents who want to explore more options, and for cats who don’t need to be on a prescription diet. 

Reading food labels and navigating confusing urinary health claims can be a daunting task. So, we’ve compiled a list of mineral-balanced foods, starting with the new Tiki Cat® Solutions™ Mineral Balance, to help you make smarter feeding decisions.

All featured products are chosen at the discretion of the Vetstreet editorial team and do not reflect a direct endorsement by the author. However, Vetstreet may make a small affiliate commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Mineral-Balanced Cat Food: What Is It? 

With reduced amounts of minerals like magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus, mineral-balanced food is a good option for cats who have a history of urinary tract problems. 

Mineral-balanced foods may help prevent the formation of calcium oxalate stones or struvite crystals. They may also help bring your cat’s urine pH into the proper range of 6.3 to 6.6 to help prevent urinary issues. 

Consult your veterinarian to discuss your cat’s needs and get advice when it comes to a diet for urinary health.  

Vetstreet’s Top Healthy Cat Food Choices for Mineral Balance 

Vetstreet’s Top Cat Food Picks for Mineral Balance 

It can be hard to choose a urinary health cat food, so we searched for the top options available without a prescription. Remember to carefully consider your unique cat’s needs and preferences, and consult your veterinarian for guidance. 

Best Overall for Mineral Balance

Our Pick: Tiki Cat Solutions Urinary/Mineral Balance 

Mineral balance from Tiki Cat Solutions chicken recipe
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Tiki Cat makes healthy cat food with natural ingredients like shredded chicken, egg, lamb, and fish. Their latest offering is Tiki Cat Solutions, a full line of baked kibble, complete and balanced wet food and toppers that provide functional nutrition to manage cats’ most common conditions. 

Notably, it is the only line that includes toppers in the portfolio, because hydration is a critical component to cats’ overall health and wellbeing. What’s more, the toppers come in a mousse texture for superior palatability. 

All together, there are eight different types of specialized-support formulations: 

  • Mineral Balance
  • Dental (this is the only line with a complete and balanced wet dental option)
  • Skin & Coat
  • Mobility (this is the only line with all three formats; dry, wet and toppers)
  • Digestion
  • Light
  • Fussy, and 
  • Liquid Meal Replacer (a unique offering for cats who won’t eat)

The Tiki Cats Solutions Mineral Balance Baked Kibble Chicken Recipe is oven baked to help retain nutrients. It contains a max of .15% magnesium, and provides vitamins A and E and omegas 3 and 6. 

To provide moisture, there’s Tiki Cat Solutions Mineral Balance Mousse, which can be fed on its own or on top of kibble. It’s also low in magnesium (.02% max).  

These foods are complete and balanced for adult cats, minimally processed, grain-free, and rich in protein. They’re a great option if you’re looking for non-prescription food for your cat’s urinary health.
 

Tiki Cat Solutions mousse
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Highlights: 

  • Reviewed by veterinary nutritionists.
  • Scientifically balanced minerals.
  • High in animal protein.
  • Healthy fats for skin and coat.
  • Available in wet and dry forms.

Things to Consider: 

  • Higher price point. 
  • Limited flavor options. 
  • May not suit cats with specific dietary restrictions.

Best Wet Mineral Balance Cat Food

Our Pick: Royal Canin Urinary Care Thin Slices In Gravy Canned Cat Food

Royal Canin Urinary formula for cats
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In addition to feeding a food that’s properly formulated, ensure your cat maintains proper hydration for urinary health. Because cats typically don’t drink a lot of water, an easy way to give them more moisture is by feeding them wet foods like Royal Canin Urinary Care Thin Slices In Gravy. 

This food has pieces of meat in a tasty gravy, so it’s a good option for cats who don’t like pate or just prefer variety. Most importantly, it supports urinary health with the right balance of minerals, and you don’t need a prescription to buy it. 

Highlights:

  • Supports healthy weight and proper balance of minerals in urinary tract.
  • Proven to promote urinary health in 10 days.
  • Complete and balanced for adult cats.
  • Also available in dry food form. 

Things to Consider:

  • Only available in one flavor. 
  • Higher price point. 
  • Some cats might not like the texture. 

Best Dry Cat Food for Urinary Health

Our Pick: Farmina N&D Quinoa Urinary

best dry cat food for urinary cat health
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Farmina is an Italian pet food brand offering wet and dry foods that are free of GMOs and artificial preservatives. Their N&D Quinoa Urinary dry food is formulated for urinary health. It’s low in magnesium at 0.08% minimum, and can help maintain urine pH at 6.0 to 6.3. 

The ingredients in this food include duck, chicken fat, quinoa seed, whole eggs, herring, cranberry, and chamomile. Also, 94% of the protein is from animal sources, which is ideal for your carnivorous cat. 

Highlights:

  • Formulated for healthy urine pH, with lower magnesium. 
  • Natural, easy-to-recognize ingredients.
  • No cereals or artificial preservatives. 

Things to Consider:

  • Low in protein, so might not be suitable for all cats. 
  • Not available at all pet retailers. 
  • Higher price point. 

Best High-Moisture Urinary Care

Our Pick: Purina Pro Plan Urinary Tract Health Formula Chicken Entrée In Gravy

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If you’re on the hunt for the best wet food for urinary health and hydration, consider the Urinary Tract Health Formula from Purina Pro Plan. It’s formulated to reduce urine pH, contains low magnesium (0.022% max), and is easy to digest. 

This food is high in protein with real chicken. The chunks of meat can be appetizing for kitties who don’t like the texture of pate, and the gravy makes it simple to ensure your cat is getting plenty of moisture with their meal.   

Highlights:

  • Can help lower urinary pH. 
  • Provides moisture in the form of a tasty gravy. 
  • Also available in dry food form. 

Things to Consider:

  • Available in other flavors and pate options for variety.
  • Affordably priced. 

Best Vet-Recommended Non-Prescription Formula

Our Pick: Hill’s Science Diet Adult Urinary Hairball Control Vegetables & Salmon Stew Cat Food  

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Hill’s Science Diet is often recommended by veterinarians, especially when cats have specific dietary needs. The Adult Urinary Hairball Control line can be purchased without a prescription, and provides a range of options, including multiple flavors and a dry food formula, to suit every cat’s preferences. 

This stew provides plenty of moisture and is clinically shown to promote the health of your cat’s urinary tract. It contains 0.052% magnesium, and supports the right balance of minerals in the urine. Plus, it can help control hairballs with natural fiber, and it contains healthy fats for skin and coat.  

Highlights:

  • Supports the health of the urinary tract.
  • Helps reduce hairballs. 
  • Available in dry food form and other flavors, including a pate option.
  • This is the #1 vet-recommended brand.  

Things to Consider:

  • Made for adult cats between 1 to 6 years old. 
  • Higher price point. 

Best Urinary Care for Picky Eaters

Our Pick: Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health Beef & Liver Recipe Wet Cat Food

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A lot of cat foods feature poultry and fish, so if your cat prefers variety or is a bit picky, you might need to incorporate some novel flavors. In that case, consider the Purina ONE Urinary Tract Health Beef and Liver Recipe. 

This food is moisture-rich, low in magnesium (0.024% max), and high in protein. It can help lower the pH of your cat’s urine to support urinary tract health, and doesn’t contain any fillers. 

Highlights:

  • Recommended by veterinarians. 
  • Helps lower urinary pH.
  • Also available in dry food form. 

Things to Consider:

  • Not available in other flavors or textures. 
  • Manufacturer recommends feeding this only with other cat foods for urinary health. 
  • Not available at all pet retailers. 

Best Natural Urinary Cat Food

Our Pick: Wysong Uretic

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Wysong is a family-owned-and-operated brand founded by Dr. Wysong. They make holistic, premium, natural food for cats, including options for specific health concerns, like their Uretic dry food. 

This food was formulated to avoid excess minerals. Ingredients include chicken, cranberry extract, and probiotics. It also contains methionine to support a proper urine pH. 

Highlights:

  • Doesn’t contain any fillers. 
  • Provides methionine for urinary health. 
  • Also available in wet food form.

Things to Consider:

  • Only available in one flavor. 
  • Not available at all pet retailers. 

Best Veterinarian-Formulated Food for Urinary Care

Our Pick: Blue True Solutions Urinary Care Chicken Recipe

Urinary care solutions cat food from Blue Buffalo
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Blue Buffalo has multiple cat food lines, including Blue True Solutions, which are targeted formulas for particular health concerns. The Urinary Care Chicken Recipe is formulated by veterinarians and animal nutritionists. 

This food can help maintain proper pH and contains a low amount of magnesium (0.04% max) to support urinary health. It also provides vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats to promote overall well-being.

Highlights:

  • Contains natural ingredients like real chicken, cranberries, and chicken broth. 
  • Doesn’t contain wheat, soy, corn, by-product meals, or artificial flavors or preservatives. 
  • Also available in dry food form. 

Things to Consider:

  • Not available in other flavors.
  • Pate texture might not appeal to all cats.
  • Affordably priced.

Best Premium Option

Our Pick: Forza10 Nutraceutic Actiwet Urinary Support Icelandic Fish Recipe Wet Cat Food

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Forza10 was founded by veterinarians and offers recipes backed by science. Their Actiwet Urinary is made in Italy and formulated for urinary health support, with methionine and a low amount of magnesium (0.01% minimum). 

This food may help prevent problems like struvite stones, lower urinary tract inflammation, and idiopathic cystitis. Plus, it’s high in moisture, with water as the first ingredient. 

Highlights:

  • Contains natural ingredients like Icelandic salmon, cranberries, dandelion, and dried clover. 
  • Also available in dry food form. 
  • Doesn’t contain by-products, GMOs, soy, wheat, or artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. 

Things to Consider:

  • Some cats might not like the pate texture. 
  • Not available in other flavors.
  • Higher price point. 

Best Budget-Friendly Option

Our Pick: Iams Proactive Health Urinary Tract Health with Chicken

IAMS CAT FOOD BAG
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For cats who prefer dry food, there’s Iams Proactive Health Urinary Tract Health, which has chicken as the first ingredient to provide protein for strong muscles and overall wellness. 

This crunchy kibble is formulated to help lower the pH of your cat’s urine. The maximum amount of magnesium is 0.1%. Plus, it features nutrients to support the heart, immune system, and skin and coat.  

Highlights:

  • Helps lower urine pH. 
  • Contains nutrients like vitamin E, calcium, healthy fats, and potassium. 
  • Real chicken is the first ingredient. 
  • No fillers, artificial flavors, or artificial preservatives. 

Things to Consider:

  • Not available in wet food form. 
  • Not available in other flavors. 

Buyer’s Guide: What to Look for in Mineral-Balanced Cat Food

Not all urinary health foods are created equal. When shopping for healthy food for cats who have urinary ailments, keep the following in mind:

Low magnesium: One of the main things to look for in a urinary cat food is the level of magnesium. If a recipe contains lower amounts of magnesium, this may benefit your kitty if they’ve had crystals. 

Moisture: If your cat is prone to urinary problems, ensuring they stay hydrated with clean water and wet food is imperative. Staying hydrated helps flush out excess minerals. If your cat only eats dry food, consider adding canned food or toppers that provide moisture.  

pH: Certain foods are formulated to affect the pH of your cat’s urine. For example, a food might lower urine pH to help prevent calcium oxalate stones. But if your cat is already prone to having acidic urine, foods that further reduce pH may not be safe.  

Animal protein: Cats are obligate carnivores, so choose foods with high-quality, animal-based proteins like poultry, beef, and fish. 

If your cat has recurring urinary problems, such as infections or stones, first talk to your veterinarian about dietary changes, as not all foods are appropriate for all cats. 

How We Made Our Selections 

To select our list of mineral-balanced cat foods, we considered:

  • Product formulations and transparency, including levels of minerals like magnesium
  • Protein types and ingredient quality (e.g., minimally processed, non-GMO, natural)
  • Foods that are veterinarian-recommended or formulated by veterinarians or nutritionists
  • Customer ratings and reviews
  • Availability, price, and value
     

The Right Food Can Support Your Cat’s Urinary Health 

There are many foods formulated to help maintain a cat’s urinary health, which is a good thing, but because there are a lot of options, selecting one can be difficult. Be sure to check ingredients and guaranteed analyses, and read customer reviews to weigh pros and cons. Most importantly, because the goal is to help bring balance to your pet’s urinary tract, consult a veterinarian to be sure you make the right decision. 


Feature Photo by Kaiwen Sun on Unsplash