Case Report: Application and Limitations of a Plant-Based Diet Formulated for a Cat With Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease

Abstract

A 2-year-old male castrated domestic shorthair cat was presented for recommendations for dietary management of chronic FLUTD using a strictly plant-based diet as per the stipulations of the cat's owner. The cat had a history of urethral obstruction of unknown etiology, persistent marked struvite crystalluria, and persistent inappropriate elimination. Commercial plant-based products meeting the nutritional recommendations for maintenance of adult cats with the lowest concentration of struvite precursors were identified, but the cat would not eat them. At the request of the client, a homemade plant-based diet was formulated with the intention of increasing water intake and promoting acidic, dilute urine. Urine concentration was able to be decreased somewhat and struvite crystalluria resolved, but the urine remained more alkaline than intended. The cat clinically improved and no further FLUTD episodes were reported by the client.

Evaluation of Torula yeast as a protein source in extruded feline diets

“…Additionally, CM, PP, and SM had pH values above that recommended for the prevention of struvite uroliths (6.0–6.5; Kopecny et al, 2021 ). Plant-based diets have been suspected to be a potential cause of urinary alkalinization, possibly attributed to lower proportions of acidic amino acids; however, further supporting research is needed ( Knight and Leitsberger, 2016 ; Dodd et al, 2021 ). Additionally, this would not explain the elevated urine pH observed in CM, which was composed only of animal proteins.…”

“…Additionally, this would not explain the elevated urine pH observed in CM, which was composed only of animal proteins. One explanation for the lower urinary pH of cats fed TY is the slightly higher methionine inclusion, which is considered an acidifying agent of urine ( Knight and Leitsberger, 2016 ; Queau, 2019 ; Dodd et al, 2021 ).…”