This is a specific conversation about Cat urinary problems — diet and products that help — ask about yours and get one honest answer for your exact situation.
inparticular.ai
Urinary issues in cats need to be taken seriously — particularly in male cats, where a blockage can become life-threatening within hours. Diet plays a huge role in both preventing and managing these problems, and a vet check is essential if your cat is showing active symptoms right now. To point you in the right direction, it would help to know: is your cat male or female, what symptoms are you seeing, has he been to the vet recently, and what are you currently feeding him?
He's a 14-year-old male Domestic Shorthair. He's been going to his litter tray a lot but only passing small amounts each time. He saw the vet last month — they ruled out a blockage and said it's likely age-related lower urinary tract inflammation. He's on dry food mostly, a mid-range supermarket brand.
inparticular.ai
Good that the vet has already ruled out a blockage — that's the most urgent concern with a male cat showing those signs. At 14, what you're describing sounds consistent with feline idiopathic cystitis or age-related FLUTD, and the single biggest change you can make at home is switching him off dry food. Dry food keeps cats in a chronic state of mild dehydration, which concentrates the urine and irritates the bladder lining. Has he ever been on wet food, or is he a committed dry food cat?
He's always been on dry food. He does drink from his water bowl but I'm not sure he drinks enough. Would he actually take to wet food at his age?
inparticular.ai
Many cats do switch successfully even at 14, though it can take a week or two of patience — mixing a little wet in with the dry and gradually shifting the ratio helps. The water he gets from wet food is far more effective than drinking from a bowl because cats evolved to get most of their moisture from prey. For a senior male with recurring urinary symptoms, I'd recommend Royal Canin Urinary Care in Gravy wet pouches. It's formulated specifically to dilute urine, reduce crystal formation, and support bladder health — and the gravy format tends to be more appealing to cats making the switch from dry. It's widely available on Amazon UK. Is he on any other medication or supplements from the vet, or just the dietary advice?
Just dietary advice so far. The vet mentioned a urinary diet but didn't specify a brand. Would this Royal Canin one count as a proper urinary diet?
inparticular.ai
Royal Canin Urinary Care is a good fit for ongoing management and daily feeding in a cat like yours — it's designed to maintain a healthy urinary environment long-term rather than treat an acute blockage. If the vet was referring to a prescription urinary diet like Royal Canin Urinary S/O, that's a step up and requires a vet prescription, but it's typically used for cats with recurring crystals or stones confirmed on tests. The Urinary Care range is available over the counter and is a solid starting point given what the vet found. I'd go with that, transition him gradually over 7–10 days, and report back to the vet if the frequent small urinations don't improve within two to three weeks.
That's really helpful. I'll pick up the Royal Canin Urinary Care pouches and try the gradual switch. Should I do anything else in the meantime?
inparticular.ai
A few simple things can make a real difference alongside the diet change. Add a second water bowl in a different room — cats drink more when water isn't right next to their food. A pet water fountain can also encourage a reluctant drinker, and many older cats respond well to them. Keep the litter tray very clean since cats with bladder sensitivity often hold on if the tray isn't fresh, which worsens symptoms. And keep a rough note of how often he's visiting the tray — if frequency increases or he seems distressed, that warrants a same-day vet call. Otherwise the wet food transition is the most impactful thing you can do right now.
