We have a 14-month-old cat named Pookey. After he turned one-year-old, we started feeding...

This is an extremely complicated question. I always recommend you follow your veterinarian's recommendations as he or she knows your cat's health best but unless your cat is currently experiencing a medical issue Naturals from Purina® Cat Chow® brand Cat Food is not contraindicated and is a complete and balanced diet for adult cats, including the males.

Over the years, diet has been implicated as the cause of lower urinary tract disease. Some cat owners and veterinarians are concerned that "ash" may contribute to the development of feline lower urinary tract diseases. Research has shown that this is not true and some diets high in ash may even be helpful in preventing some types of urinary tract disease. Ash is not an ingredient. Ash is a general term that refers to the non-combustible residue that is left after burning a sample of the food for at least two hours at 600 degrees C (1112 degrees F). This ash contains calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and other minerals that are essential to a complete and balanced diet. The total amount of ash does not reflect the proportion of individual minerals.

Some researchers have determined that the magnesium portion of the ash may be important. Magnesium is an essential nutrient. While the magnesium levels found in our cat food products meet the cat's nutritional requirement for this mineral, we do not supplement our diets with additional magnesium. We are aware of no evidence that
magnesium at the levels found in our cat foods contributes to lower urinary tract problems.

Feline lower urinary tract disease is multi-faceted and very complex. We don't understand completely why it happens. We do know that many things play a role in it. Making sure your cat always has fresh water and encouraging him to drink are important. This keeps his urine less concentrated and causes him to urinate more frequently. Keeping your litter boxes clean and accessible is also important. Cats that tend to hold their urine (for example if they don't want to go in a dirty box) are more susceptible to lower urinary tract disease.

Hope this information helps. You can check the website and the Purina® Cat Chow® brand Cat Food Cat Care Library for more information or drop us another note, if you need anything else.

Source: http://www.catchow.com