Yes, I'm worried:
http://adam.about.com/reports/000081_7.htm :
Kidney Stones
- Water. Although water is best, it may vary depending on its source. Variations in water itself may have different impacts. One study reported that drinking hard tap water increased urinary calcium concentration by 50% compared to soft bottled water. On the other hand, mineral water containing both calcium and magnesium may reduce several risk factors for both calcium and uric acid stone formation.
- The most important dietary recommendations for reducing the risk for calcium stones are increasing fluid intake, restricting sodium, and reducing protein intake. A lower risk for calcium stones is also associated with higher potassium intake.
- Fiber may be beneficial for people with kidney stones. In addition, some fiber-rich foods may contain compounds that help protect against kidney stones. A wide variety of high-fiber plant foods contain a compound called phytate (also called inositol hexaphosphate, InsP6, or IP6), which appears to help prevent crystallization of calcium salts, both oxalate and phosphate. Phytate is found in legumes and wheat and rice bran. (Soybeans are also rich in phytate but they are also very high in oxalates, so the overall effects of soy on kidney stones are not clear.)
http://www.catfoodguide.com/long-guide/ :
- Avoid: Soy (along with most legumes and grains) contains large amounts of phytic acid. In fact, soy contains more phytic acid than any other legume or food plant studied. Phytic acid combines with minerals in the cat’s digestive tract, thereby inhibiting their absorption. Again, normal heat processing doesn’t destroy phytic acid.Soy contains phytoestrogens which have been known to cause damage to cheetah livers and reproductive systems. Yes, cheetahs are especially sensitive because they’re notoriously inbred and fragile. However, the soy that caused problems in the studied cheetahs made up a fairly small proportion of their food, and cats in general are pretty sensitive to all sorts of wacky chemicals, up to and including estrogens.
- But try: oats and rice ?
- Didn't found nothing about zucchini (pumpkin, courgette) ?
http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/clerk/sine/index.php :
" pH
The pH of urine can vary depending on an animal’s diet as well as its acid-base status. For example, animals that primarily eat high protein meat-based diets will have acidic urine. On the other hand, animals that eat more vegetable-based diets will have an alkaline urine.1,5
Dipsticks measure pH using methyl red, bromthymol blue or phenolphathalein indicator dyes. These reagents react rapidly and result in a color change. pH can be approximated within 0.5 units using a dipstick. The urine sample should be fresh as urine becomes more alkaline on standing due to the conversion of urea to ammonia by bacteria (if present), and loss of CO2.1
Causes of acidic urine include: meat diet, systemic acidosis, hypochloridemia, and administration of acidifying agents such as d,l-methionine or NH4Cl. 4,5 Urine with high concentrations of glucose may have a lower pH.6 This is due to bacterial metabolism of glucose and and production of ammonia which lowers pH.1
Causes of alkaline urine include: vegetable based diet, bacterial infection of urease-producing bacteria, systemic alkalosis, urine exposed to room air for an extended time (loss of CO2), and administration of alkalinizing agents including citrate or NaHCO3.1,4,5
Urine pH also may provide good predictive assessment of crystal and stone morphology as certain crystals and stones form in either acidic or alkaline environments. Uric acid, cystine, and calcium oxalate crystals are found in acidic urine. On the other hand, struvite, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, ammonium biurate, and amorphous phosphate crystals are found in alkaline urine.5
For a more accurate assessment of urine pH, a pH meter may be used. However, for most routine veterinary analyses a dipstick pH reading is sufficient.5
"
http://www.naturalhealthcarestore.com/phdiet.htm :
High Alkaline: Onions
Alkaline: Zucchini
Low alkaline: Soy beans
Low acid: Spinach, Pumpkin
Acid: Potatoes, Corn
High acid: Blackberries*, Milk
(although the other website says blackberries is good against acid ?)
http://www.balance-ph-diet.com/acid_alkaline_food_chart.html :
Each one is assigned a number which mirrors its approximate relative potential of alkalinity (+) or acidity (-) existent in one ounce (28.35g) of food. The higher the number, the better it is for you to eat.
(-> it isn't the PH)
Healthy Alkaline Foods: Eat lots of them!
(...)
Straw Grass +21.4
Watercress +7.7
Wheat Grass +33.8
White Cabbage +3.3
Zucchini +5.7
**
So zucchini (la courgette) is safe because it doesn't contains phytic acid although phytic acid may help, but may cause problems also. And it is a little alkalin.
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So zucchini (courgette) cooked in low mineralized water mixed with Science Hills K/D will be fine. Because it will higher PH alkalinity a little and therefore lower urine acidity.
And drinking a lot / for a cat is several times a little / water is also good.
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after doing more reading I realize the info I gave you is wrong!!! a normal ph level should be 6.1-6.6 (sited from wellness diet site)....therefor if your kitties is reading 5.5 the urine is already acidic so you don't want to lower this any further....speak with your Vet.
Thanks Opus, my PH paper goes only until 5.5, so I can't know if it is worse. Before she was 6 or 6.2.
Friday morning I'll go to the vet.
For stomach acidity, I'm feeding her little food (case: 1 syringue) 5 or 6 times a day instead of 2 three times a day. Because the cat has little stomach and that makes food calm down stomach without beeing too full or too empty.
For urinary acidity, I just found this night that adding a little cooked pumpkin (courgette / green vegetable) in her food will high alkalinity and lower acidity. Because cats who only eat meat have calcium oxalate problems (acid side) and cats who only eats vegetarian have struvite problems (alkalin side). So a little pumpkin or peas will lower acidity.
hi Franc. a PH of 5.5 is in normal range, but I would watch as you are doing not to let this get any lower...as you say you need to be careful of too acidic a urine and oxolate crystals.
I am glad you've stopped the whiskas cat milk, god only knows what they add to that stuff and any milk product isn't good for kitties digestive system.
You are doing a good job....frustrating tho it is...
♥Opus
I think she is having high creatinine now days because of gastro, because today PH paper was 5.5.
I'm going to keep on K/D wet, although I've ordered Renal Special, but she isn't eating her dry food from long.
I'm going to stop Mercola Complete Probiotics and Whiskas Cat Milk, although I have some at home. Mercola because it was good on #### but it didn't improve her gastro-intestinal problems. Cat Milk, because of risk of Oxalate crystals.
As soon as I can I'll try iFlora Healthy Pets wich is lighter then Mercola 5billions * more than 10 bacterias * 2mg / 2,2. And it is written "Balanced Digestion" on it.
Cellulose isn't only in Mercola, it's also on K/D and plenty of cat foods. I don't trust the ingredient, but I can't say it's the cellulose in Mercola that isn't helping because the cellulose is everywhere. But cellulose might have a negative effect on crystal oxalate.
Really worried.
I'll buy some K/D at the vet for waiting. I don't know what to do about her gastric problems. I can't give her Gastro-Intestinal Moderate because family is right, it isn't appropriate.