Myself and the neighbors have been feeding 2 outdoor cats. One male, one female. The neighbors put out dry food. I told them about the possibility of urinary tract obstruction in male cats, but they still put out dry food, so I put out canned food. I always try to make sure the male gets first crack at it. He usually does, but a lot of times he doesn't finish it, then the female finishes it. She's getting fat. Suggestions?
Hi @Mrrandb,
Firstly, I'm so sorry it has taken us so long to get back to you. We are reviewing our protocols to ensure it doesn't happen again.
As to your question - dry food doesn't cause urinary obstruction. Although water intake does have an impact, cats eating dry food are able to have an adequate water intake, and an outdoor cat is likely to be supplementing his diet with high-moisture foods anyway. So, I wouldn't worry too much about the dry food.
If you really want to continue feeding the canned, you'll have to reduce the amount you're putting out. It can be hard to feed strays like this without knowing what else they're eating, but if the cats are gaining weight you should stop feeding them or significantly reduce their intake. Obesity is a far bigger risk factor for FLUTD and urethral obstruction than dry food is!
Lastly, I'm sure you've checked but it would be a good idea to get these guys checked for a microchip and make sure they're neutered. I'm hoping she's fat, not pregnant, but a hands-on check up would be a good idea. Hopefully somebody can help you trap them. If the cats are chipped, you might find they are much-loved runaways or even that they have a home just around the corner - in which case, the owners will be very happy to learn where they've been hanging out all this time!
I hope that helps,
Dr Woodnutt
