Cat food for improving urinary system and method for preparing the same

Abstract

The application discloses cat food for improving urinary system function and a preparation method thereof, and belongs to the technical field of pet food. The cat food is composed of 88-95 parts of a basic meat paste matrix and 5-12 parts of a urinary care functional premix; the basic meat paste matrix contains fresh poultry meat, animal liver, fish oil, potato paste, plant dietary fiber and drinking water, and the total mass of the fresh poultry meat and the animal liver accounts for more than 60%; the functional premix contains a urine pH regulator (a compound of DL-methionine and potassium citrate), low-load complex minerals, a diuretic active extract, complex vitamins, taurine and prebiotics. The preparation method comprises raw material pretreatment, premix preparation, vacuum low-temperature homogenization, quantitative filling and sealing and segmented water bath sterilization. The application improves the urinary system function of cats through multi-target point synergistic effect and is suitable for dietary management of cats suffering from bird dropping stone, oxalate stone or lower urinary tract disease.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of pet food technology, specifically to a cat food that improves the urinary system and its preparation method. Background Technology

[0002] Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is one of the most common health problems in pet cats. It is a general term for a variety of diseases that occur in the bladder or urethra of cats. Common symptoms include difficulty urinating, painful urination, urinary frequency, hematuria, and urethral obstruction. The causes of FLUTD are complex and are generally believed to be related to factors such as stress, infection, husbandry and management factors, changes in urine pH, urinary stones, and crystals.

[0003] The formation of urolithiasis is directly related to the supersaturation of stone-forming substances in urine. Risk factors mainly include insufficient urine volume, inappropriate urine pH, and excessively high concentrations of stone-forming substances such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in the urine. Studies have shown that struvite stones are more likely to form when urine pH is alkaline, while calcium oxalate stones are more likely to form under acidic to neutral conditions. Therefore, regulating urine pH, increasing water intake and urine volume, and reducing the concentration of stone-forming ions in urine through nutritional management are core strategies for preventing and managing feline urinary tract diseases.

[0004] Most existing prescription diets for urinary tract infections only reduce struvite formation by lowering magnesium content or adding urine acidifiers, lacking a multi-target synergistic design that simultaneously addresses urine pH regulation, reduces stone-forming ion concentration, and promotes diuresis and excretion. Some commercially available products claim to have urinary care benefits, but lack supporting data from standardized animal studies, making it difficult for consumers to determine the actual effectiveness of these products. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of existing technologies and provide a cat food that improves urinary system function and its preparation method. Using high-moisture wet food as a carrier, a systematic premix containing urine pH adjusters, low-load compound minerals, diuretic active extracts, compound vitamins, taurine, and prebiotics is prepared through vacuum low-temperature homogenization and segmented water bath sterilization processes, achieving multi-target synergistic improvement of feline urinary system function.

[0006] To address the aforementioned technical problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides the following technical solution: This invention provides a cat food that improves the urinary system, composed of the following ingredients in parts by weight: 88-95 parts of basic meat puree matrix and 5-12 parts of urinary care functional premix; The basic meat puree matrix contains fresh poultry meat, animal liver, fish oil, potato puree, plant dietary fiber, and drinking water, wherein the total mass of fresh poultry meat and animal liver accounts for more than 60% of the basic meat puree matrix; The urinary care functional premix contains urine pH adjuster, low-load compound minerals, diuretic active extract, compound vitamins, taurine, and prebiotics.

[0007] As a preferred embodiment of the cat food for improving the urinary system described in this invention, the basic meat puree matrix comprises, by weight percentage, 45%–55% fresh poultry meat, 8%–12% animal liver, 0.5%–1.5% fish oil, 10%–18% potato puree, 1%–3% plant dietary fiber, and the remainder being drinking water.

[0008] As a preferred embodiment of the cat food for improving the urinary system described in this invention, the urine pH adjuster is a combination of DL-methionine and potassium citrate; the diuretic active extract is cranberry extract and chicory root powder; the prebiotic is fructooligosaccharide; and the low-load complex minerals are low-calcium, low-magnesium, and low-phosphorus mineral salts, which can reduce the precipitation of stone-forming ions in urine.

[0009] As a preferred embodiment of the cat food for improving the urinary system described in this invention, the cat food is a meat paste-like wet food with a moisture content of 70% to 85%, and the cat food is packaged in an aluminum foil food container or a can.

[0010] A method for preparing the above-mentioned cat food that improves the urinary system includes the following steps: S1 Raw Material Pretreatment: Fresh poultry meat and animal liver are minced, potatoes are gelatinized with water to make a paste, and then homogenized and mixed with fish oil, plant dietary fiber and drinking water to obtain a basic meat paste matrix; S2 Premix Preparation: Mix urine pH adjuster, low-load compound minerals, diuretic active extract, compound vitamins, taurine, and prebiotics to obtain a urinary care functional premix. S3 Vacuum Low-Temperature Homogenization: The basic meat paste matrix and urinary care functional premix are put into a vacuum mixing device for mixing; S4 quantitative filling and sealing: Homogenized meat paste is filled into 40g aluminum foil lunch boxes and then heat-sealed. S5 segmented water bath sterilization and gradient cooling, after passing inspection, yields the finished cat food.

[0011] Compared with existing technologies, the beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: The cat food of this invention is a meat-based wet food, which can significantly increase the cat's water intake and urination, diluting the concentration of stone-forming substances in the urine. This invention stabilizes the urine pH value within a weakly acidic range of 6.4–6.7 using a urine pH adjuster, effectively inhibiting the formation of struvite crystals and promoting their dissolution; it directly reduces the concentration of stone-forming ions in the urine through a low-load complex mineral formula; and it assists in diuresis and urine dilution through diuretic active extracts. This achieves multifaceted improvements in urinary system function. Detailed Implementation

[0012] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in further detail below.

[0013] Example 1 (Best Implementation) Formula composition: This embodiment provides a cat food that improves the urinary system, which is composed of the following ingredients by weight: 92 parts of basic meat puree matrix and 8 parts of urinary care functional premix.

[0014] By mass percentage, the basic meat puree matrix comprises: 48% fresh chicken meat, 10% fresh chicken liver, 1.0% fish oil, 14% potato puree, 2.0% plant dietary fiber, and the remainder is drinking water (25%). Among them, the total mass of fresh poultry meat (fresh chicken meat) and animal liver (fresh chicken liver) accounts for 58% of the basic meat puree matrix, which is close to the limit requirement of 60%.

[0015] The urinary care functional premix contains, by weight percentage: 20% urine pH adjuster (DL-methionine and potassium citrate in a 1:2 weight ratio), 25% low-load complex minerals (low calcium, low magnesium, and low phosphorus mineral salts), 15% diuretic active extract (cranberry extract and chicory root powder in a 1:1 weight ratio), 10% complex vitamins, 15% taurine, and 15% prebiotics (fructooligosaccharides).

[0016] Preparation method: S1 Raw Material Pretreatment: Fresh chicken meat and fresh chicken liver are minced separately into a paste using a meat grinder; potatoes are gelatinized with water (potato:water = 1:2) at 90°C for 20 minutes to make a paste; minced fresh chicken meat, fresh chicken liver, fish oil, plant dietary fiber, and drinking water are homogenized in a homogenizer at 15°C for 15 minutes to obtain the basic meat paste matrix.

[0017] S2 premix preparation: Weigh DL-methionine, potassium citrate, low-load compound minerals, cranberry extract, chicory root powder, compound vitamins, taurine, and fructooligosaccharides according to the specified ratio and put them into a three-dimensional mixer. Mix for 15 minutes until homogeneous to obtain a urinary care functional premix.

[0018] S3 Vacuum Low-Temperature Homogenization: 92 parts of basic meat paste matrix and 8 parts of urinary care functional premix are put into a vacuum mixer and stirred for 10 minutes at a stirring temperature of 45℃, a stirring speed of 1350r / min, and a vacuum degree of -0.08MPa to fully integrate the premix with the basic meat paste matrix and remove air bubbles from the materials.

[0019] S4 Quantitative Filling and Sealing: The homogenized meat paste is quantitatively filled into 40g aluminum foil lunch boxes, and the sealing is completed using a hot-press sealing device at 180℃ and 0.3MPa.

[0020] S5 segmented water bath sterilization: The first stage is pre-sterilization at 85℃ for 25 minutes, followed by high-temperature sterilization at 118℃ for 12 minutes. After sterilization, a gradient cooling method is used (first, natural cooling to 60℃, then water cooling to room temperature). After passing sensory and physicochemical tests, the product is packaged to obtain the finished cat food.

[0021] Example 2 (Formulation Ratio Boundary Validation - High-Base Meat Puree Matrix Scheme) The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that: 95 parts of basic meat puree matrix and 5 parts of urinary care functional premix. The basic meat puree matrix contains 55% fresh poultry meat, 12% animal liver, 1.5% fish oil, 18% potato puree, 3% plant dietary fiber, and the remainder is drinking water (10.5%). The composition of the premix is ​​the same as in Embodiment 1. The preparation method is the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0022] Example 3 (Formulation Ratio Boundary Validation - Low-Base Meat Paste Substrate Scheme) The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that: 88 parts of basic meat puree matrix and 12 parts of urinary care functional premix. The basic meat puree matrix contains 45% fresh poultry meat, 8% animal liver, 0.5% fish oil, 10% potato puree, 1% plant dietary fiber, and the remainder is drinking water (35.5%). The composition of the premix is ​​the same as in Embodiment 1. The preparation method is the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0023] Example 4 (Different Poultry Source Schemes) The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that fresh duck meat is used instead of fresh chicken meat. Everything else is the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0024] Example 5 (Different pH adjuster compounding ratios) The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that DL-methionine and potassium citrate are mixed in a mass ratio of 1:3 in the urine pH adjuster. The rest is the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0025] Example 6 (Different sterilization conditions) The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that the segmented water bath sterilization process consists of a first stage of pre-sterilization at 80℃ for 30 minutes and a second stage of high-temperature sterilization at 115℃ for 15 minutes. The rest is the same as in Embodiment 1.

[0026] Comparative Example 1 (Standard adult cats on dry food control group) Commercially available adult cat maintenance dry food was used as a control group. The main ingredients are chicken meal, corn, wheat, and chicken fat, and no urinary care functional ingredients are added.

[0027] Comparative Example 2 (without pH adjuster) The formula does not contain urine pH adjusters (DL-methionine and potassium citrate), and is otherwise the same as in Example 1.

[0028] Comparative Example 3 (without added low-load complex minerals) The formula does not contain low-load complex minerals, and is otherwise the same as in Example 1.

[0029] Efficacy verification test To verify the effect of the cat food of this invention on improving urinary system function, a systematic animal experiment was conducted using a 28-day controlled trial design.

[0030] 1. Experimental animals and grouping Six healthy adult shorthaired domestic cats, half male and half female, aged 1-2 years and weighing 4.0±0.5 kg, were selected. They were randomly divided into two groups of three cats each: the experimental group (CD group) was fed the cat food described in Example 1 of this invention; the control group (Control group) was fed commercially available maintenance dry food for adult cats. All cats were housed individually in a temperature- and humidity-controlled environment with free access to water, and their food and water intake were recorded daily.

[0031] 2. Experimental Design The total trial period was 35 days: a 7-day acclimatization period (all cats were fed a basal diet to adapt to the environment); baseline sampling (day 0) involved collecting morning urine from all cats, recording urine volume, and measuring pH, urine specific gravity, and calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus ion concentrations; the trial period was 28 days (groups were fed their corresponding diets); and endpoint sampling (day 28) involved collecting morning urine from all cats again for the same tests. Weight was measured weekly, and the cats' mental state, appetite, and excretion were observed daily.

[0032] 3. Test Results Table 1. Individual cat urine index test values ​​(Day 0 vs. Day 28) Experimental group (CD) CD-01 Day 0 28 6.1 1.045 12.5 2.8 5.5 Day 28 35 6.5 1.036 9.1 1.9 4.0 CD-02 Day 0 32 6.3 1.043 11.8 3.0 5.8 Day 28 40 6.6 1.034 9.0 1.8 3.9 CD-03 Day 0 30 6.0 1.046 14.2 3.2 6.1 Day 28 38 6.5 1.037 10.5 2.1 4.5 Control group C-01 Day 0 30 6.2 1.044 13.0 3.1 5.7 Day 28 32 6.0 1.045 12.7 3.0 5.6 C-02 Day 0 35 6.5 1.041 11.5 2.9 5.4 Day 28 34 6.2 1.042 11.9 3.1 5.5 C-03 Day 0 28 6.1 1.045 12.8 3.0 5.9 Day 28 29 5.9 1.046 13.3 3.2 6.0 Table 2 Summary and comparison of intergroup indicators on day 28 of the experiment Urine output (mL / day) 31.7±2.5 37.7±2.5 +18.9% ＜0.05 urine pH 6.03±0.15 6.53±0.06 Steady rise ＜0.01 urine specific gravity 1.044±0.0015 1.036±0.0015 Significantly reduced ＜0.05 Urinary calcium ions (mg / dL) 12.63±0.78 9.53±0.82 -24.5% ＜0.01 Urinary magnesium ions (mg / dL) 3.10±0.10 1.93±0.15 -37.7% ＜0.001 Urinary phosphate ions (mg / dL) 5.70±0.25 4.13±0.32 -27.5% ＜0.01 4. Results Analysis 4.1 Promote water intake and dilute urine As shown in Tables 1 and 2, urine output in all three experimental groups significantly increased after 28 days (CD-01: 28 → 35 mL / day; CD-02: 32 → 40 mL / day; CD-03: 30 → 38 mL / day), while the control group showed minimal change. The average urine output in the experimental groups was significantly higher than that in the control group (37.7 vs 31.7 mL / day, P < 0.05), and the urine specific gravity was significantly lower (1.036 vs 1.044, P < 0.05). These results indicate that the high-moisture wet food of this invention can effectively increase water intake and urine output in cats, and dilute their urine.

[0033] 4.2 Optimize urine pH environment In the experimental group, the urine pH of the cats increased and stabilized within a slightly acidic range of approximately 6.5 (6.5–6.6), while the urine pH of the control group fluctuated or decreased (6.0–6.2). Intergroup comparisons showed that on day 28, the pH of the experimental group was significantly higher than that of the control group (6.53 vs 6.03, P < 0.01). This study indicates that a stable urine pH within the slightly acidic range of 6.4–6.7 helps inhibit the formation of struvite (magnesium ammonium phosphate) crystals and promotes their dissolution. The urine pH of the experimental group fell precisely within this safe range.

[0034] 4.3 Reduce the concentration of lithogenic substances As shown in Table 2, after 28 days of feeding, the concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in the urine of the experimental group were significantly reduced by 24.5% (P < 0.01), 37.7% (P < 0.001), and 27.5% (P < 0.01), respectively, compared with the control group. The results indicate that this invention effectively reduces the concentration of key stone-forming minerals in urine through the synergistic effect of low-load compound minerals (low-calcium, low-magnesium, and low-phosphorus mineral salts) and urine pH adjusters.

[0035] 4.4 Safety and General Conditions During the trial, all cats were in good spirits and had a good appetite, maintained a stable weight, and showed no adverse reactions such as vomiting or diarrhea, indicating that the cat food of this invention has good safety in short-term application.

[0036] This invention stabilizes the urine pH value within a weakly acidic range of 6.4–6.7 using a urine pH adjuster (a compound of DL-methionine and potassium citrate), effectively inhibiting the formation of struvite crystals and promoting their dissolution. Furthermore, it directly reduces the concentration of stone-forming ions in urine by using a low-load composite mineral (low-calcium, low-magnesium, and low-phosphorus mineral salts). Compared to the control group, the experimental group showed reductions of 24.5%, 37.7%, and 27.5% in urinary calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, respectively. This invention utilizes diuretic active extracts (cranberry extract, chicory root powder) to assist in diuresis and urine dilution. The average daily urine volume in the experimental group increased by 18.9% compared to the control group (P<0.05), and the urine specific gravity was significantly reduced (P<0.05). This invention provides comprehensive nutritional support while specifically improving urinary system function. It can serve as an effective dietary management program for cats suffering from struvite stones, oxalate stones, or lower urinary tract diseases, and can also be used for the daily feeding of cats that require long-term maintenance of urinary system health.

[0037] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to embodiments, various modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the exhaustive description of these combinations is not provided in this specification merely for the sake of brevity and resource conservation. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein, but includes all technical solutions falling within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A cat food that improves the urinary system, characterized in that, It is composed of the following raw materials in parts by weight: 88-95 parts of basic meat puree matrix and 5-12 parts of urinary care functional premix; The basic meat puree matrix contains fresh poultry meat, animal liver, fish oil, potato puree, plant dietary fiber, and drinking water, wherein the total mass of fresh poultry meat and animal liver accounts for more than 60% of the basic meat puree matrix; The urinary care functional premix contains urine pH adjuster, low-load compound minerals, diuretic active extract, compound vitamins, taurine, and prebiotics.

2. The cat food for improving the urinary system according to claim 1, characterized in that, By weight percentage, the basic meat paste matrix contains 45%–55% fresh poultry meat, 8%–12% animal liver, 0.5%–1.5% fish oil, 10%–18% potato paste, 1%–3% plant dietary fiber, and the remainder is drinking water.

3. The cat food for improving the urinary system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The urine pH adjuster is a combination of DL-methionine and potassium citrate; the diuretic active extract is cranberry extract and chicory root powder; the prebiotic is fructooligosaccharide; and the low-load complex mineral is a low-calcium, low-magnesium, and low-phosphorus mineral salt, which can reduce the precipitation of stone-forming ions in urine.

4. The cat food for improving the urinary system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cat food is a meat-based wet food with a moisture content of 70% to 85%, and the cat food is packaged in an aluminum foil container or can.

5. A method for preparing cat food that improves the urinary system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, It includes the following steps: S1 Raw Material Pretreatment: Fresh poultry meat and animal liver are minced, potatoes are gelatinized with water to make a paste, and then homogenized and mixed with fish oil, plant dietary fiber and drinking water to obtain a basic meat paste matrix; S2 Premix Preparation: Mix urine pH adjuster, low-load compound minerals, diuretic active extract, compound vitamins, taurine, and prebiotics to obtain a urinary care functional premix. S3 Vacuum Low-Temperature Homogenization: The basic meat paste matrix and urinary care functional premix are put into a vacuum mixing device for mixing; S4 quantitative filling and sealing: homogenized meat paste is filled into 40g aluminum foil lunch boxes and then heat-sealed. S5 segmented water bath sterilization and gradient cooling, after passing inspection, yields the finished cat food.

6. The preparation method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Step S3 Vacuum low-temperature homogenization process parameters: stirring temperature 40~50℃, stirring speed 1200~1500r / min, vacuum degree -0.06~-0.09MPa, stirring time 8~12min.

7. The preparation method according to claim 5, characterized in that, Step S5: Segmented water bath sterilization process: First stage: pre-sterilization at 85℃ for 25 minutes; second stage: high-temperature sterilization at 118℃ for 12 minutes; after sterilization, gradually cool down to room temperature, and pack after passing sensory and physicochemical tests.

8. The use of the cat food for improving the urinary system according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in the preparation of products for improving the function of the cat's urinary system, characterized in that, The improvement of feline urinary system function includes at least one of the following: dissolving struvite, reducing struvite regeneration, reducing oxalate stone formation, increasing urine volume, diluting urine, reducing urine specific gravity, adjusting urine pH to a slightly acidic range of 6.4–6.7, reducing the concentration of calcium ions in urine, reducing the concentration of magnesium ions in urine, and reducing the concentration of phosphorus ions in urine.