Hermione Hates Prescription Food. Options?

Our Hermione is 14 and had a UTI back in May. It took a couple rounds of antibiotic to clear up, and the vet put her on prescription food because her PH was low. We checked her urine after a week of being on the prescription food, and her PH was normal, but still a trace of blood. So vet said to keep her on the prescription food for a month and then retest her urine to see how she’s doing.

The problem is she HATES the food. She hated the Purina UR both wet and dry. She seems to like the Hill’s better, but it’s a chore to get her to eat it. She wants to eat what our other cats are eating and doesn’t like being in the bathroom to eat this weird food. Last night she woke me up in the middle of the night twice and reluctantly ate the prescription food. I think she was famished.

Because she’s 14 and already lost half a pound from when she had a food allergy (it’s amazing this weird food hasn’t tripped off her allergies), so we want her to EAT and not lose more weight.

Any advice? Are there other ways to balance PH? We really don’t want her on this food forever, anyway!

Can you mix the prescription food with a little of her regular food? It might be enough to get her started eating the prescriptions food.

GoldyCat said:

Can you mix the prescription food with a little of her regular food? It might be enough to get her started eating the prescriptions food.

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We tried that at first, and then moved her to just prescription. Now she HATES both the wet and dry prescription food. To test it, I offered her Prescription dry food, and she didn't want it. Then I let her eat a few regular pieces of dry food, and she loves it.

We haven't tried Royal Canin brand yet so maybe that's our next option. I'll see if our vet has samples.

I would ask the vet if you can just switch to regular canned food, no dry food.

Prescription food isn't needed for most urinary issues. You can read this for more info:

Cat Urinary Tract Diseases: Cystitis, Urethral Obstruction, Urinary Tract Infection
Feeding Your Cat: Know the Basics of Feline Nutrition – Common Sense. Healthy Cats.

There are commercial cat foods that are for urinary issues. Ask the vet if any of these would be suitable but don't be surprised if the vet keeps insisting on prescription food. Vets have very little knowledge of nutrition. It's ok to disagree with the vet about food and feed something else

If you can feed only canned food, with extra water if your cat will tolerate it, that would help keep the urine well diluted and the urinary system working optimally.