Natural Support for Urinary Crystals in Cats: Hydration, Diet, and Care

Apple Cider Vinegar for Bladder Stones/Crystals

I have 3 stray cats whom I'm taking care of for the past 11 years. Only 3 years ago one of them had urinary trouble. I noticed him because in my free time I try to spend as much time as possible to get to understand them better to see where and how do they pass their time outside. I sort of foster them. I bought them those plastic houses and put them in my yard and porch and placed towels inside and I change them often and clean their homes as well. They always jump out when I'm not at home. They are strays and they love to explore their outside world, you cannot force a stray to live indoors. But regarding food I try to feed them the best I can. In fact nowadays they gained a lot of weight but they will need it especially for when they get stuck somewhere outside especially during winter. Usually they always come home so when they don't I start panicking and thinking that something might have happened. Anyway, as I was saying that one of them has this bladder problem it occurred again and I read about this Apple Cider Vinegar and introduced it to all of them now. The one that suffers from this condition I had to have a VET prescription for some antibiotics but I couldn't take him as he knows what happened 3 years ago. He still remembers. They had to flush his bladder. But now I just couldn't catch him. For the first 3 days he was so much in pain. Then the VET gave me an oral injection which I only could give it to him by mixing it into as little as possible of wet food and I started to give him a crushed pill daily called Marbocyl and also another called Cystophan which comes in capsules which I open and again I mix it with a very small amount of wet food. It is better for when you are giving certain medications to use wet sticky food so you can literally mix in the middle of it with the hope that they would swallow it before they taste it with their tongue. And you have to mix it literally with just as little as possible. You should know techniques if you have already got experience with pets and they will trust you believe me. A bit of sacrifice but in the end it's worth it. Now it has been 4 days already since I started the medications and in between I am giving him wet food with gravy and I add some water and a syringe of Apple cider vinegar. He is still not cured 100% but I can see the difference because now he is coming every day home and he looks more rested and not in pain all the time and restless. He is mostly calm and seems that all in all everything is working because otherwise he wouldn't have survived for over a 8 days now. I also mix Apple cider vinegar with their water. If you see that they are not drinking it leave another bowl with water only just in case. I wish I could send you pictures of this beautiful cute stray cat - you wouldn't believe he's stray. I hope I have been of comfort and help to all those who are facing certain medical problems with their cats. I have long time experience as I've always had cats in my life and I'm 48 years and believe me I understand them very well. Every cat has his character same as humans. Good luck xxxxxx

Apple Cider Vinegar for Urinary crystals

I give my cat one quarter of an Apple Cider Vinegar pill orally every day to control strovite crystals in his pee…. It really works. ( dosage = 80mg)

One of my males was doing this. It's basically bile. I've gotten my 3 cats OFF dry food completely, because it's all starches, and cats can only digest meat as "obligate carnivores." I've gradually converted them over to a raw diet, with a tiny bit of canned mixed in (for flavor/aroma). No more vomiting. My other male was howling @ 4 - 5 am, due to urinary tract crystals. A raw diet has eliminated this problem, tho he's reacting (again) to the starches in canned food, so I'm getting him off that too! Apple cider vinegar is recommended (very diluted) for urinary issues, so a few drops in their water and (his) food should rectify the problem. Also, I normally use a few drops of olive oil in my cats' food to help curb hairballs, but I've added castor oil to it in hopes it will heal the urinary tract issues in my 2 1/2 yr old and perhaps mitigate my 4 1/2 yr old (long-hair) kitty's tendency for constipation and (these days) rare hairballs. NEVER feed a cat dry food! It causes dental problems, overweight, and major health issues. My 5 yr old female lost 4 - 5 lbs in several weeks, just getting her off dry food.

Researching everything related to healing cat urinary crystals, & came across an old veterinarian who said that they had always used Methionine Amino Acid. It is sometimes listed as DL-Methionine. It can be purchased from Amazon /online /OTC. Both powder & gel forms. It ACIDIFIES the urine, preventing formation of Struvite Crystals. Most cats appear to have this type, as ACV is helping many. This is even better. Cats remain on it & have remission of problems. The powder is a much better price. If this information saves my kitty, & yours, I will be pleased. This, from an old vet who put old wisdom ahead of modern costly methods. I would add, read all ingredients labels. It would be smart to avoid any additives that say Phosphorous, Magnesium Stearate, Magnesium or Calcium anything. These only add to the problem. Having a good water filter that removes Fluoride from water is also important. There's little doubt in my mind that this problem is from additives to food, water, clumping & crystal litter, & harsh ingredients in medicine. Also~~ AVOID Bone Broth. AVOID clumping & crystal litter. AVOID dry cat food. The special diet foods for cats does not include the additives of phosphorous, magnesium, & calcium, & it DOES include METHIONINE in small amounts. That's why it works at all.

Replied by Tracy
(California)
03/19/2026

Replied by Tracy
(California)
03/19/2026