Kitten on a person's hand

Cat Urine Crystals: What Every Cat-Owner Should Know

Cat urinary crystals can be totally harmless or indicative of potential issues in your furry friend. Learn the in's and out's of these crystals and other cat health concerns with PrettyLitter

Keep Your Kitty
in Good Health

Crystals under a microscope

What Are Cat Urine Crystals?

Cat urine (struvite) crystals are microscopic minerals made of ammonium, phosphate, and magnesium. On their own, these three substances are harmless and completely normal to find in your pet’s urine. In high concentrations, however, they’ll bind together to form struvite crystals.

Still, in small amounts, these crystals are nothing to worry about. The real issues arise when they fuse with mucus from the urinary bladder to create a blockage or urinary obstruction. Alternatively, they may merge as larger and larger crystals forming bladder stones —this is where your careful care and attention become vital to your cat’s health and safety.

How to Identify
Cat Urine Crystals?

Grey and white kitten on a bed

You know the meaning of your cat's every gesture and every look. But when it comes to telling you that something's wrong, cats may struggle to get the message across. That's why keeping an eye out for symptoms of cat urine crystals can help you listen to your cat's needs before emergency care is necessary.

Signs of excessive crystal formation include:


  • Difficulty or Pain When Urinating
  • Urinating Outside the Litter Box or Inappropriate Urination
  • Bloody Urine
  • Frequent Urination in Small Amounts
  • Lethargy or Depression

The symptoms of cat urine crystals overlap significantly with signs of lower urinary tract disease. Without more in-depth veterinary testing, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to differentiate between struvite urinary crystals, uroliths, and other urinary infections or issues. Bring your kitty to a doctor as soon as they exhibit these signs of cat urine crystals.

What Causes Urine
Crystals in a Cat?

Man petting a tabby cat indoors

Senior cats and kittens alike can develop struvite stones and crystals—an unfortunate trait that has no age limit

Any pH-altering medical condition can cause crystals, such as cat kidney disease or a urinary tract infection. The infectious bacteria of a UTI produces urease, which alters the pH balance of their urine and can contribute to the crystal and stone formation in the bladder.

Additionally, dietary and metabolic factors can cause these tiny crystalline structures, including:

  • High Levels of Dietary Magnesium, Phosphorous, Calcium Oxalate, Sodium, and Fiber
  • Highly Concentrated Urine that is Supersaturated with Struvites and an Increased pH Level
  • Dehydration, Which Contributes to Urine Supersaturation

How to Prevent
Urine Crystals in Cats?

Cat drinking water from a bowl

Proper hydration is key to preventing the formation of cat urine crystals. Diluted urine is less likely to accumulate the dangerous minerals that eventually form crystals—regardless of the urine's pH balance. Although you can't force your cat to drink, there are a few ways you can lead them to the water (so to speak):


  • Maintain a Full, Clean Water Bowl
  • Purchase a Pet Water Fountain
  • Feed Your Feline a Balanced Diet of Wet Canned
  • Cat food that Creates Properly pH-Balanced Urine

Check your cat's litter box regularly for signs of alkaline urine. Need an even clearer sign of alkaline urine? PrettyLitter turns blue when your cat's urine pH is alkaline.

Frequently Asked
Questions

PrettyLitter package and bowl of litter with paw prints and scooper

PrettyLitter Helps Make Urine Issues Crystal Clear

Without PrettyLitter, it can take way too long to discover your cat’s urinary issues. Struvite crystals are no exception. The litter’s color-changing technology can alrt you to your cat’s serious health conditions. Even the best parents need a leg up – PrettyLitter can be yours.

Staying On Top Of Your
Cat’s Health

We know how cats can be masters of illusion when it comes to hiding their illnesses. But with PrettyLitter, we’ve got your back. By monitoring for potential cat health problems early, PrettyLitter can help prevent costly vet visits down the line. Look for these color-changes in the health-monitoring cat litter.

Information

PrettyLitter health monitoring bowl

Click on a color see what it means

Typical

Dark yellow / olive green indicates urine within a typical range.

Blue / Dark Green

Alkalinity outside of the average range may be present if your cat has certain types of urinary tract infections. Highly alkaline urine can increase the risk of struvite crystal/stone formation.

Orange

Acidity outside the average range, which may be a sign of metabolic acidosis or kidney tubular acidosis. Calcium oxalate crystals can be more likely to form in acidic urine.

Red

Visible presence of blood, which may indicate Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD), bladder stones/crystals, kidney stones, bladder inflammation, certain types of kidney disease and clotting disorders.