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Senior cat with urinary stones won't eat. What food should I try?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Hi. I have an 11 yr old cat who had stones 2 years ago. I've been feeding him hills science diet but he's not eating it. What should I put him on? I'm scared of what is in hills non-prescription food because I read it wasn't safe. Please help. I'm going crazy trying to find an alternative. He is so skinny from not eating much. :(

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on January 13th, 2017

Hill's non-prescription food is safe, and it's a highly recommend food by vets. There is absolutely no scientific research saying it isn't safe, everything you are reading is anecdotal with no evidence to back it up. It's important that your cat stays on a urinary diet to keep him from getting stones again, so I'd recommend giving him Royal Canin cat urinary SO. It's a high quality food, and he may like eating it. I would have him checked out by a vet about this weight loss, however. In old cats, the weight loss could be due to a medical illness, such as hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes, or even cancer. He could also have teeth problems making it painful for him to eat. He could not be feeling well from those, causing him to not eat, so it may not be the food, it could be an illness. I recommend having a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis to check his teeth and to see how his organs are functioning to determine if there is a medical cause behind this weight loss and anorexia. Should one be found, the vet can treat him for it. I would have him seen by a vet today or tomorrow.

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