Measuring Urine pH

raintyger

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I've got some urine dipsticks for pH. I don't think my kitty will allow me to stick it in the urine stream, though. I have an alternative plan for testing. My kitty tends to hit the litter pan backboard a lot, some of it even goes over the pan and lands on the back ledge of the litter pan. (No, this is not "going outside the box" as in UTI. She's done this ever since we've gotten her, and I've heard it's somewhat common, has to do with the cat peeing towards the edge of the box and standing up before the urine stream ends. Her litterbox is placed inside a Rubbermaid storage tub with a door cut in it to prevent any damage to flooring.)

Does anybody know if it's OK to use the urine that landed on the back ledge for the test, even if it's aged? I know some urine readings have to be done immediately, but is pH one of them? If it has to be done immediately I still can get samples, but I'd have to watch kitty's activities and scramble to the box after she exits.
 

ldg

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Though it'd be best to test it frequently and take an average - timing of urine in relation to a meal and time of day impact urine pH. It typically peaks about 4 hours after a meal, can spike just before a meal if they're fed timed meals, and is higher at night.
 
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raintyger

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Thanks, LDG!

You said the reading will peak at 4 hours after a meal. So that means the reading will tend more basic (above 7)?
 
 

ldg

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I mean the "truest" reading would be 4 hours after a meal. It should still be around 6.5. If it's 7 then, it's running a little high.
 
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