If you’ve ever found yourself confused about what the labels mean, you’re not alone. There are so many varieties—and they all seem to promise so many different health benefits. 

For instance, some foods are labeled as “urinary support” or “mineral balance”, but did you know that both can actually help to support feline urinary health?

As a lifelong pet owner, I’ve learned just how important food choices are for my four-legged friends. In an era where we’re hearing so much about food being medicine, the same goes for our pets. What our cats eat has such a huge bearing on how healthy they are, especially when it comes to common health concerns like urinary tract health. If your cat is prone to issues like urinary tract infections, you can put them on a prescription diet from a veterinarian. But those aren’t always made with the cleanest ingredients. 

I recently learned that Tiki Cat®, a natural prey-diet inspired line of cat food, has recently entered the science diet food space with their Tiki Cat® Solutions™ line.

Tiki Cat Solutions offers a full line of baked kibble, complete and balanced wet food and toppers that provide functional nutrition to manage cats’ most common conditions. This functional cat food is touted for having real ingredients, being made without fillers, and serving to tackle a variety of health issues in cats.

Eight different types of specialized-support formulations are offered in the Tiki Cat Solutions line: 

  • Mineral Balance
  • Dental
  • Skin & Coat
  • Mobility
  • Digestion
  • Light
  • Fussy and 
  • Liquid Meal Replacer

Having pets prone to urinary issues in the past—we’ve had our share of urinary crystals in this house—I was especially excited to hear about the mineral balance line, as having an essential balance of minerals, which has been shown to help cats ward off conditions like urinary crystals. 

Thus, I was excited when I had the chance to try the Tiki Cat Solutions line, the mineral balance formulation, specifically.. 

Stay tuned for an overview of Tiki Cat Solutions and a look at how my cats reacted when they tried it. 

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.

Who Is Tiki Cat Solutions?

Tiki Pets is a pet food brand that was founded in 2005 with the mission of bringing real, natural ingredients into the dog and cat food space. They pride themselves on making food that is high-quality, protein-packed, and full of superfoods. The brand also strives to leave out unhealthy ingredients like fillers, animal by-products, artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives. 

Tiki Cat, the brand’s cat food line, mirrors these guidelines. And in 2020, the brand launched into the science-based diet space with their line of Tiki Cat Solutions , which centers around their mission of bringing “carnivore nutrition enhanced by science” to the cat food market. 

It is the only cat centric line of minimally-processed diets with a complete range of functional products to address cats’ most common health issues. 

The majority of the categories in this line contain a dry food recipe and a wet mousse topper that are ideally meant to be used together to lock in optimal nutrition and hydration—which is unique to Tiki Cat. 

There are a few other innovations that can only be found with this line as well. Tiki Cat Solutions is the only line that offers: 

  • Mousse as a texture for superior palatability.
  • Offers Mobility options for cats in all three formats: dry, wet and toppers.
  • A complete and balanced wet dental option, which is beneficial (contrary to popular belief).
  • A complete and balanced liquid meal replacer for challenging situations when cats won’t eat.

There has been a lot of excitement from pet parents around this line of food, as Tiki Cat Solutions is reviewed and recommended  by Tiki Cat board-certified veterinary nutritionists. 

Tiki Cat Solutions: Mineral Balance Products

Lately, I’ve been extra focused on making sure that my cats have the nutrients they need to live their healthiest lives. I’ve also been hearing so much about how a balanced mineral content is important for urinary health. Thus, I was excited to give these two Tiki Cat Solutions foods a try.

We also tried a few others from their line…

Here’s a breakdown on my impressions for each: 

Tiki Cat Solutions Mineral Balance Baked Kibble: Chicken Recipe

Mineral balance from Tiki Cat Solutions chicken recipe
Buy Tiki Cat Solutions at PetSmart

I thought the packaging was gorgeous. Design aside, it was sleek and reflected how high-end the product is.

A few other things that stood out from the Tiki Cat Solution Mineral Balance Dry Cat Food:

  • The food contains 34% protein and is made from real chicken
  • I loved that the food is reviewed and recommended by Tiki Cat veterinary nutritionists, which builds trust that a qualified veterinarian has reviewed the recipe.
  • Supports balanced mineral levels, with health-supporting nutrients like magnesium
  • Gently oven-baked and minimally processed
  • Free of wheat, corn and soy and processed plant proteins
  • No artificial colors or flavors
  • Non-GMO

Tiki Cat Solutions Mineral Balance Mousse: Tuna & Salmon Recipe

Tiki Cat Solutions mousse
Buy Tiki Cat Solutions at PetSmart

Same upscale packaging as the other products in the Tiki Cat Solutions line;I also love that this pouch contains a preview of what the Tiki Cat Solutions Mineral Balance Mousse Wet Cat Food looks like. It’s such a clear photo that you can really envision the texture perfectly. 

A few other things that stood out from the Tiki Cat Solution Mineral Balance Wet Cat Food:

  • The tuna and salmon recipe makes a great addition to pair with other foods, like the dry version of this food’s chicken recipe—especially if you have a kitty like mine who loves variety.
  • Same notes on the above food with the veterinarian approved information. That’s super reassuring as a pet owner to know.
  • Supports balanced mineral levels with low ash and magnesium
  • Minimally processed. Made from real tuna and salmon.
  • No grains, plants, GMOs or artificial ingredients
  • High protein content
  • Its high moisture content encourages cats to drink. The packaging states that this wet food can help to compensate for a cat’s low thirst drive so if you have a poor water drinker, this is a great addition to their food.
  • There’s a nice chart that shows you how much water, carbs and fiber, fats and protein are in a carnivore diet versus all wet or mixed food. 

Tiki Cat Solutions Dental Mousse: Chicken Recipe in Broth

Tiki Cat Solutions dental mouse for cats
Buy Tiki Cat Solutions at PetSmart

In addition to sleek and playful packaging, picking up this pouch made me feel hopeful that this could help my cats up their oral hygiene game. The packaging says it’s vet-approved and that it is formulated with real peppermint and parsley for fresher breath. In addition, it’s packed with some health benefits for cats, such as omegas 3 and 6.

A few other things that stood out from the Tiki Cat Solution Mineral Balance Wet Cat Food:

  • The food’s extra soft texture seemed perfect for my oldest cat who seems to have a hard time chewing on harder food.
  • The pouch makes it easy to open and squeeze this food out.
  • It smelled a little minty, which made me feel like my cats would walk around without that typical tuna breath they tend to have after eating a meal.
  • The packaging boasts that this one has non-GMO ingredients.
  • The flavor is chicken recipe in broth and it’s a high-protein formulation made with real chicken
  • High moisture content 
  • No grains, plants or artificial ingredients
  • Non-GMO

Tiki Cat Solutions Mobility Baked Kibble: Chicken and Turkey Recipe

Tiki Cat Solutions carnivore nutrition cat food
Buy Tiki Cat Solutions at PetSmart

I loved that this food guarantees up to 4000 mc/kg of glucosamine in every serving, as this is an important nutrient in helping to support joint health—a concern I have with a cat that’s not so young and spry anymore. It also has up to 2,500 mg/kg of chondroitin, another important joint nutrient. 

I used to supplement with those and it’s great to find them packed right into a cat food. This food had a great creamy consistency but wasn’t too watery, so it sits nicely on top of dry food. It also smelled like Thanksgiving dinner.

A few other things that stood out from the Tiki Cat Solution Mobility Baked Kibble: Chicken and Turkey Recipe:

  • This is a higher protein food, coming in at 40% protein
  • Tested by Tiki Cat veterinarians
  • Contains gentle fiber
  • Supports joint health
  • Packed with Omegas 3 and 6
  • Oven-baked and minimally processed
  • Non-GMO
  • No corn, wheat, or soy
  • Free of artificial flavors and colors

What Does Mineral Balance Do for Cats?

When it comes to our pet’s health, mineral balance plays a big role. Too many or too little minerals can throw a cat’s health off balance. For instance, cats need the right mix of calcium and phosphorus to help them maintain healthy teeth and bones. Meanwhile, ample levels of iodine help to ensure hormones are regulating correctly. 

Low potassium levels are often seen in cats with conditions like chronic kidney disease. And having minerals that are out of balance or too concentrated in a cat’s urine can lead to urinary stones. 

For instance, struvites are composed of magnesium, phosphorus and ammonium and calcium oxalates may form if calcium levels are high or in the event that a cat’s urine becomes overly acidic. Thus, it’s important to ensure that your cat is getting a proper diet that centers around keeping minerals like calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in balance. 

Proper hydration is also crucial for a cat’s urinary and overall health. Veterinarians often recommend increasing a cat’s hydration as a means of helping to reduce stony concentrations in the bladder or in the urinary tract. 

This is why combining Tiki Cat Solutions Mineral dry and wet food together can really help your pet to maintain proper hydration levels so that they end up with a fully balanced diet that also prioritizes balanced mineral levels. 

Our Experience: Testing the Tiki Cat Solutions Products

To put these foods to the test, I fed them to all three cats. Each of them is so unique in their personalities so it was fun to see who gravitated to which food. And I noticed an array of benefits after giving Tiki Cat Solutions a try.

Tiki Cat Solutions Mineral Balance Dry Cat Food + Tiki Cat Solutions Mineral Balance Mousse: Tuna & Salmon Recipe

First up was Tiki Cat Solutions: Mineral Balance Dry Cat Food. 

Upon opening the bag, this food smelled like fresh chicken. You could tell it contained real ingredients. The dry food comes in small pellets that are easy for adult cats to chew—especially those who like a little crunch with their meals. It was very easy to pour into a bowl and I added a tiny splash of water on top to soften it up, as one of the three cats likes a little softer dining experience. I tried it that way, giving my cats to try the dry food by itself, which they enjoyed. They sniffed it for a bit and then ate a few pellets before I moved on to making it even more enticing.

For optimal results, Tiki Cat Solutions recommends mixing the dry kibble with a topper, which can help to further enhance the flavor and add moisture to the food. Thus, I topped off the dry food with some of the Tiki Cat Solutions Mineral Balance Mousse: Tuna & Salmon Recipe.

The Tiki Cat Solutions recommended feeding guide instructions made it easy to figure out the right serving sizes for doing this feeding combo. When I tried the dry food combined with the topper, my cats were even more enthusiastic about their dining experience! My older cats devoured this like it was pudding. It’s so soft that mixed in with dry food it makes it easier for them to consume the kibble. Even my pickier eater was scarfing this down. 

My cats loved the wet food so much that now when I take it out, they have the same reaction

that they normally have with treats. Thus, it allowed me to skip out on treats which I know is ultimately healthier for them. I started affectionately referring to the mouse as “Mousse Magic,” since it got my cats to actually finish their food.

At first, I mixed a little of this dry food in with my cat’s regular food. I noticed some of them picked out the new kibble pellets and left the old and then were quickly boycotting their regular dry food! I put in a little mousse at a time, building up gradually over the course of a week to the full serving dosage. 

With having cats in the past who have developed crystals, which was stressful as a pet owner, this formula gave me a huge peace of mind. It allowed me to feel that there actually is something preventative that I can give them. And my cats, like most, have a hard time drinking water so it was great to be able to add this topper to the food to pack in extra hydration. 

Tiki Cat Solutions Dental Mousse: Chicken Recipe in Broth

The Tiki Cat Solutions Dental Mousse: Chicken Recipe in Broth made a great topper to my cat’s traditional food and even got my pickiest eater to dive into his bowl. 

I had experimented with other types of toppers in the past but was so excited about how much they liked this one. The consistency was great too, as in the past some toppers were too watery and got lost within the bowl. This one sat nicely on top and once the cats got used to it – the first few rounds they just ate the topper and skimped on their kibble – I started mixing it in with the food more to entice them to eat more of their regular food as well. 

My cats loved crunching on this food, and it seemed to still go down easier. I’ve been leaving this one in their large communal food bowl and I notice they go through it quicker than our old dry food, which means they like it. I have to admit, I was hopeful—but a bit skeptical—going in, but I did notice a difference in better breath! I’ve tried dental chews in the past with my cats and they just haven’t gotten into them. I’m thankful I found this food because they liked it, and it has the added dental benefits. 

Tiki Cat Solutions Mobility Baked Kibble: Chicken and Turkey Recipe

I introduced the Tiki Cat Solutions Mobility Baked Kibble: Chicken and Turkey Recipe to my cats in a similar manner, mixing it in with their old cat food and going slow on the transition upwards. 

I have two cats getting up there in age and I’ve noticed they’ve been getting a bit more sluggish as the years go by. After trying this food, my older cat seemed to have more energy—the older boy cat in particular! He started playing more with his little brother. 

I noticed he actually took fewer naps and it seemed like he had more overall energy. Lately, he’s been jumping up more on higher objects, including my bed, which means I haven’t been sleeping as well at night myself!

Overall thoughts on the foods we tried:

Things We Liked

  • Ingredient transparency and quality 
  • High protein content
  • Balanced mineral formulation
  • Backed by veterinarians
  • Consistency and moisture content of mousse

Things to Consider

  • Some cats may take longer to transition from one food to the next. Go slow and consult your veterinarian for a guide. 
  • Results may take time to address conditions like chronic urinary issues, bad breath, or mobility limitations

Tiki Cat Solutions Products: Our Verdict

I’ve tried a lot of cat foods throughout the years and am surprised at how much I liked this line. 

Sometimes brands that make all these promises make you wonder if the food will really do everything that it says it will do but I noticed some real benefits from the Tiki Cat Solutions foods that I tried. I consider my biggest wins with this brand to be the minty breath that I now smell as my cats plopped down inches from my face at night. I also loved that they seemed to have a renewed sense of energy. 

I didn’t notice an immediate physical effect from the Mineral Solution, but it feels comforting to know that it’s formulated with minerals to support their overall health, including their urinary health—thus, I know it’s doing some good things behind the scenes.

This cat food line has many solutions and has formulas that are targeted towards:

  • Mineral balance
  • Dental 
  • Skin + coat
  • Mobility
  • Digestion

It also has liquid meal replacers, which are great for cats with bad teeth or who just don’t have as big of an appetite. 

I love that Tiki Cat Solutions prioritizes real ingredients and that it’s non-GMO without fillers— and that it’s also science-backed. If you’re looking for a more natural alternative to vet-prescribed urinary diets—especially if hydration and ingredient quality are things on your radar– Tiki Cat Solutions is a great option to consider. 

My three feline taste testers certainly give it their stamp of approval!


Feature photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash