Prescription Diet Multi-care Urinary Cat Food Review

When my FIV cat named Sam had some health concerns the veterinarian recommended that I feed him Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multi-care Urinary Care food. I could feed him both variety’s; canned or the kibble and I was told that Sam would need to eat this food for the rest of his life. 

I was warned to not give Sam treats, or any other food that he could only eat prescription food, that other food would make him sick.

I loved my cat and wanted his health to improve so I bought the Hills prescription C/D food with the written prescription from my veterinarian at Pet Smart and from my veterinarian. I figured the cat food was a prescription and that there must be medicine in it to heal my cat of his urinary/cystic condition.

Normally all of my cats eat out of the same bowl, but with this prescription food, I had to feed Sam in another room. Know that it was difficult to separate my cats and one day my other cat who did not have the same urinary condition as Sam ate the prescription food. I was so upset that my cat ate this veterinarian prescription food and called my veterinarian office immediately.

My veterinarian told me that the cat would be fine that I could feed all my cats the C/D cat food and it would be preventative so the other cats would not have the urinary condition.   So from that day forward, I was buying a case of 48 cans(2 cases) and a 15 lb of kibble twice a month.  I did this because I wanted my cats to live a long healthy life without developing the condition that caused them to have blood in their urine, and cysts. The Prescription Diet c/d Multi-care Urinary Care Food would prevent all of my cats from getting the urinary disease.

"I did have concerns about the medication in the food, but my veterinarian assured me that the food would not harm my cats, that it was good for them"

After two weeks of feeding Sam the prescription food, I did not see significant improvement in Sam's health.  He was still nervous, straining to pee and there was cloudy pink tint in his urine. When I called the veterinarian I was told that I needed to continue feeding Sam the cat food and in about a month I would see improvement.

Two months came and went and Sam's urinary condition showed some improvement but his litterbox usage was hit or miss, and he would still strain occasionally to pee and there was slight pink cast to his urine.

I was doing everything my veterinarian recommended and thought the medicated food was not doing what it was intended to do, cure my cat.

Along with the canned and kibble prescription food my veterinarian suggested buying more litter boxes, keeping them very clean, and adding the Feliway diffusers to keep Sam calm.  I was told that stress was bringing on my cat's condition.

My cat was not stressed before he got sick, he was the sweetest Siamese cat, that loved to go to the office with me and play with his toys or sit in the window to watch the birds.  But when Sam got sick with the urinary condition he was nervous, pacing in the house, and no longer wanted to lie on my lap or play with his toys.

So at that point, I was curious as to what medicine was added to the ingredients to warrant a prescription and I wanted to know why I needed a prescription to buy this cat food.

I researched the product and there is no medicine in Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multi-care Urinary Care cat food.  In comparison to other urinary cat food that you buy off the shelf at your local pet store, the ingredients in the prescription food are of poor quality because it has grains and corn. GMO foods that I never feed my cats.

Here are the ingredients in Hills Perscription Diet C/D Multicare Urinary Cat Food

Pork By-Products, Water, Pork Liver, Chicken, Rice, Corn Starch, Oat Fiber, Chicken Fat, Fish Meal, Corn Gluten Meal, Chicken Liver Flavor, Calcium Sulfate, Guar Gum, Fish Oil, Brewers Dried Yeast, Dextrose, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Vitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Niacin Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Folic Acid, Vitamin D3 Supplement), Potassium Chloride, Taurine, Cysteine, Dried Egg Yolk, Minerals (Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Calcium Iodate), Glycine, Iodized Salt, Potassium Citrate, Calcium Carbonate, Beta-Carotene.

Know that this prescription cat food is expensive, $56.00 for 5.5-ounce cans/case of 24.  Since there is no medicine in this prescription cat food I decided to see if there were comparable foods available to the consumer that was formulated to promote a desirable urine PH and did not require a prescription from a veterinarian to buy cat food.  I found a food that was the same but did not have the filler foods, corn, and grains. I found that Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Classic Urinary Tract Health Formula Turkey and Giblets Entree Canned Cat Food has better ingredients, no prescription is needed and it costs less.

Ingredients

1. Meat By-Products, Water Sufficient for Processing, Turkey, Poultry By-Products, Poultry Giblets, Rice, Salt, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Added Color, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K Activity), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Potassium Iodide.
   

Description
Purina Pro Plan Focus targets kitty-specific health issues with Adult Classic Urinary Tract Health Formula Turkey & Giblets Entree Canned Cat Food. Made with real turkey, this specialized formula helps maintain your cat’s urinary tract health by reducing urinary pH and providing low dietary magnesium. Feeding Purina’s Urinary Tract Health Formula canned food will also help increase water intake, a crucial step when it comes to keeping her urinary system healthy.
Key Benefits

• Specialized formula made with real turkey and giblets provides exceptional taste and balanced nutrition for your cat
  
• Extra-care nutrition to help maintain urinary tract health by reducing urinary pH while providing low dietary magnesium
  
• High-quality protein helps promote ideal body composition optimized for lean muscle, strength, and the energy needed for your adult cat to thrive
  
• Omega-6 fatty acids are included for healthy skin and a beautiful shiny coat
  
• Manufactured in Purina-owned U.S.A facilities and does not contain any added artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives
  

So there you have it my product review of Hill's Prescription Diet c/d Multi-care cat food. I am not a fan of this overpriced food with the GMO foods of corn, and grain ingredients and I feel that the written veterinarian prescription food is misrepresented as I was told this medicated cat food would improve my cat's urinary condition as long as I fed him the prescription food, nothing else for the rest of his life.

The prescription is misleading because cat food has no medicine, no healing herbs nothing to warrant a prescription from your veterinarian. 

 Prescription pet food is a consumer rip-off, pet owners have been scammed by veterinarians and pet food companies and I am not happy about this because of my cat's pain and suffering.

Read another article about Prescription Cat food here 
Article relating to Sam's Kidney Failure and Prescription K/D Food 
Article about Sam, he will not eat the Prescription food
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About Sam when we rescued him, his first urinary / bladder infection 

Ways to Keep Cat Calm in a Car

Unlike dogs who enjoy going for a ride in the car, a cat does not feel the same way. Granted there are a few cats that enjoy riding in a car but most felines find it stressful.

Today I had to take my cat Sam to the veterinarian for his annual checkup and one of the things we must do is keep Sam from stressful situations. Sam has FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and his condition now is healthy but stress is a factor that can bring on illness. Sam gets stressed out riding in the car so I will do the following things to keep him calm.

If your cat gets stressed out when riding in the car then you may want to try the following helpful tips.

1. If you find that you must take your cat for a ride in the car then make sure you have a pet carrier that is large enough for a cat to be comfortable. They need room to lie down without a tight feeling.
2. Make the carrier more comfortable with a small crate mat. Spray this mat with the Feliway mood and behavior modifier before adding the mat to the carrier. The Feliway spray mimics the cat's pheromones and this aids in keeping the cat calm. Shop and save at Walmart.com for Feliway spray
3. Buy Kong treat dispensing toy to distract your cat while riding in the car. Fill the toy with temptation cat treats and put it in the cat carrier. The toy will divert your cat's attention and they will feel less stressed. (food is a friend to a cat)
4. Set the cat carrier on the car seat and wrap the seat belt around it. Secure the cat in the carrier so that it stays put and does not move around when the car turns or stops. Any sudden movement while the cat is in the car is very stressful and the cat will suffer.
5. Cover the cat carrier with a towel or small blanket. Blocking out the view of cars passing while the cat is riding in the car will help to keep the feline calm.
6. Refrain from turning the radio on loudly. It is best to have soft background music and that you talk to your cat while riding in the car. A familiar voice that is calm and projects positive energy will keep your cat calm while in the car.

L-Lysine for FIV Cats

My FIV cat got an upper respiratory infection last month and the treatment was antibiotics plus the supplement L-Lysine oral gel by Viralys. This gel supports the cat's immune system and is very good in the treatment of feline herpes virus (FHV) because it lessens the signs of the infection, eye infection, sinus nose issues; drainage or congestion. 

My FIV cat was rescued in 2008 and when we brought him in he had eye drainage and was diagnosed with feline herpes an upper respiratory infection. 

Know that Sam is doing much better since I started supplementing his diet with Lysine. There is no cure for feline herpes but you can reduce the flair-ups with the amino acid L-Lysine.

Normally when you give your cat medicine it can be difficult. But my cat likes this gel. What I do is squeeze ¼ teaspoon amount onto my finger then I put the gel on my cat's paw. Sam licks his paw. I give him 2 doses like this daily and will continue this supplement for the rest of my cat's life.

I bought the tube of oral L-Lysine from my veterinarian and it was expensive. When I need a refill I will buy from amazon.com or Walmart.com because these stores offer the same product for less.Walmart.com

What to Do When FIV Cat is Sick

 I noticed that my FIV cat named Sam had fluid buildup in his left eye and this was a sign of sickness, cat cold, or upper respiratory. My cat has a weakened immune system and this cold or whatever it is could progress quickly into a major illness so I immediately called the veterinarian and scheduled an appointment.

Last Monday I took Sam to the veterinarians and they ran tests on him, and his blood, and checked his urine. They told me he had an upper respiratory infection and gave him an antibiotic shot and a prescription for Viralys L-Lysine supplement.

I was told to clean the entire house with bleach and to keep Sam away from other cats.  It was also recommended that after I handle other cats or come in contact with feral or stray cats I remove those clothes and shoes, shower  or spray myself with Lysol disinfectant before I come in contact with Sam.

Know that Sam has lost weight due to this infection,  He cannot smell his food so he is not eating. Normally Sam eats C/D prescription diet food but he has stopped eating.  So I mixed his wet food with water and put it in a syringe, this is how I am feeding him and keeping him hydrated.

Even though I responded immediately when I noticed my cat was sick, his infection has progressed quickly from playing with his toys one day to signs of a cold and now he is not eating.  An FIV cat has a hard time getting over a simple cold, It is best to call the veterinarian as soon as your cat show signs of sickness.

Treatment for Cat Urinary Infection

My rescued FIV cat came to us in 2009 as an adult unaltered tomcat.  When we rescued Sam he was suffering from urinary and bladder infections. After several trips to the veterinarians, my cat, Sam was diagnosed with a urinary condition that required him to eat a special prescription diet.

We were told that it was common for unaltered tomcats to suffer stress when they are rescued and from this stress develops urinary/bladder infections.

The veterinarian prescribed Hills CD for urinary care and we were told that we could not feed our cat any other food for the rest of his life.

The veterinarian said "Hills CD for urinary care is formulated with the right balance of nutrients which enables your cat's bladder to be healthy. " We were told that Sam would be feeling better and back to using his litter box within a month's time. 

Our veterinarian assured us that feeding our cat this special diet would remove harmful minerals and this meant that the formation of urinary crystals and bladder inflammation would cease.

 So when Sam was feeling better we did neuter him.  Know that it was a long road to recovery.  I needed to watch Sam's bathroom habits to make sure he was urinating, as we were told if he strains to pee and cannot pee that he may have a blockage and that was a serious condition. 

We feared that we would have to put him down if he could not urinate due to a blockage. 

It is important that your cat is hydrated and this was a problem because Sam is not a fan of water we tried everything to keep him hydrated, and even got him a waterfall.He was not impressed with the waterfall for drinking, for playing with the water with his paws, yes...the waterfall was entertainment. 

We mixed his prescription canned food with water and this was the best way to keep him hydrated. 

Sam has been eating this special diet for three weeks now and he is back to his happy self, his energy has improved, and he is using his litter box, (sometimes) and playing with his toys.  Even though we had him neutered he is occasionally marking the sofa and noticed his pee is a little cloudy. Okay, Sam is not 100% his old self, but he is now playing with his toys and he wasn't before. The veterinarian said to keep feeding him the prescription food and in a month it will be in his system and we will see an improvement.

I feed Sam a half can of Hills CD in the morning mixed with the dry kibble and the same portion at night. I also give him purified bottled water. A fresh bowl of water twice a day.

Know that this special urinary prescription diet will prevent the reoccurrence of urinary crystals and stones and as long as we keep feeding our cat the diet food as it is the only food that will manage our cat's conditions so that he will not suffer and there will be no need for urinary / bladder surgery.

Other information about Hills Prescription cat food

Note I kept our other cats away from Sam due to this special prescription food.  I thought the medication in the food would not be good for my other cats.  

My one cat Lucy got into the room and was eating the prescription food with Sam.  I went into a panic I thought his food would harm her.

We have two other FIV cats and now they are all eating the Hills CD urinary diet food. My veterinarian said to not worry about my other cats eating the prescription food because it would prevent the cats from getting a urinary / bladder infection.

The veterinarian said the Hills prescription C/D food is good preventative food for multiple cat homes, it is not recommended for kittens.

** UPDATE Sam refused to eat the prescription food. We tried everything even other brands for prescription food but Sam would rather lose weight than eat it.   Due to his refusal to eat the food I was told to feed him whatever he likes and that the weight loss was a problem for an FIV cat.