Urinary stones form when minerals in the urine become too concentrated and collect into crystals or stones. In cats, the two most common types are struvite and calcium oxalate.
What are the main types of urinary stones?
- Struvite stones are commonly associated with a less acidic urinary environment and, in many cats, can often be managed with nutritional dissolution.
- Calcium oxalate stones are more difficult to manage because they cannot be dissolved once formed and may require removal.
This is why good urinary nutrition should not focus on making the urine “as acidic as possible.” The goal is to support a balanced urinary environment.
What should urinary nutrition focus on?
Urinary support in cats should focus on two priorities:
- Diluting the urine
- Maintaining a balanced urine pH
1. Diluting the urine
Water is one of the most important factors in urinary care. When cats drink more, urine becomes more dilute, which helps lower the concentration of stone-forming minerals. High-moisture feeding can be especially helpful for cats prone to urinary problems.
Helpful strategies include:
- Feeding wet food or high-moisture diets
- Encouraging cats to drink more water
- Using a urinary-support formula designed to help promote a more dilute urine
2. Maintaining a balanced urine pH
Urine pH plays an important role in stone risk.
- More alkaline urine can favor struvite
- Overly acidic urine can increase the risk of calcium oxalate
- Veterinary references commonly describe an ideal urine pH in cats at around 6.3 to 6.6, which supports balance rather than extremes.
The objective is a mildly acidic, balanced urinary environment that helps reduce the risk of both major stone types.
Urinary-support feeds in the EU are subject to specific nutritional criteria for struvite-related claims.
- Urine acidifying properties (calculated from Food base Exces)
- Magnesium <1.8g/kg are mandatory.
Where Keos+ Urinary Care fits in
Keos+ Urinary Care is designed to support daily urinary wellness by helping maintain a healthier urinary environment through:
- Balanced mineral control
- Targeted amino acids and organic acids
- Support for a balanced urinary pH <= 6.5 pH
- Support for everyday urinary care in cats
A simple way to explain it
Keos+ Urinary Care is not about pushing urine to an extreme. It is about supporting the right nutritional conditions for urinary health: more balanced urine, better mineral control, and better daily urinary support.
