Getting kitty to pee in the little cup
July 12, 2011 10:01 AM Subscribe
Trying to get a urine sample from my cat has been a challenge.
I got the "no-sorb" plastic litter from the vet and, while she used it last year, she has been hesitant to use it this year. I've tried locking her in the bathroom, letting her free-roam while blocking off the other litter boxes, and going to bed, since she uses the litter box before she joins me. I've looked through this question and wondered if anyone has been able to pull this off since the time that question was asked. If it doesn't work out, I can board her at the vets and they can do it.
I'd rather not use styrofoam or anything similar that is commonly found in a household, lest she thinks that's okay to routinely pee upon.
I got the "no-sorb" plastic litter from the vet and, while she used it last year, she has been hesitant to use it this year. I've tried locking her in the bathroom, letting her free-roam while blocking off the other litter boxes, and going to bed, since she uses the litter box before she joins me. I've looked through this question and wondered if anyone has been able to pull this off since the time that question was asked. If it doesn't work out, I can board her at the vets and they can do it.
I'd rather not use styrofoam or anything similar that is commonly found in a household, lest she thinks that's okay to routinely pee upon.
We went through this recently, and ended up just following him downstairs to his regular litter box for a day or two with a clean shallow plastic dish (the kind prepared hummus or pesto come in). When we finally got a time when he was squatting to pee, just reached under and held the dish under the stream. At first the cat gave us a look like "!?" but soon he resumed peeing. Then we used the little pipette the vet gave us to transfer the sample to the test tube. They don't need much for the sample so even if you catch only the last part of the pee, it might be enough.
Our cat is pretty tolerant of us hanging around while he's doing his thing, so YMMV.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:47 AM on July 12, 2011
Our cat is pretty tolerant of us hanging around while he's doing his thing, so YMMV.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:47 AM on July 12, 2011
I've had a vet get a urine sample using a syringe, like taking a blood sample. It's not too bad for the cat, but not that great, obviously.
posted by amtho at 10:47 AM on July 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by amtho at 10:47 AM on July 12, 2011 [2 favorites]
From what I've read, there are drawbacks of getting a sample the old fashioned way (ie letting the cat pee and then catching/collecting it). The sample has more of a chance to be contaminated, and if there are bacteria, etc you don't know if they came from the bladder or the urethra. The most important thing is that when you collect the sample take it immediately to the vet - crystals start growing etc which can invalidate the whole purpose of taking the sample in the first place. It should be no more than an hour between collection and handover, ideally a lot less. This is a major restriction on what times of day you should try for collection - eg if you collect a sample at night it won't be useful by the morning.
That's the advantage of the needle-into-the-bladder method: you get a sample from a known location (you're only getting bladder bacteria/crystals/etc, nothing from the urethra) and there is no time lag in getting it to the vet's office.
I believe the drawback of the needle-to-the-bladder method is mainly cost; might be worth asking the vet about this.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:56 AM on July 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
That's the advantage of the needle-into-the-bladder method: you get a sample from a known location (you're only getting bladder bacteria/crystals/etc, nothing from the urethra) and there is no time lag in getting it to the vet's office.
I believe the drawback of the needle-to-the-bladder method is mainly cost; might be worth asking the vet about this.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:56 AM on July 12, 2011 [1 favorite]
When my cat was ill, the vet nearly always took the sample by syringe. (However, there was kidney involvement in my cat's illness, I don't know if that matters.) It didn't bother the cat too much and could be done in a brief office visit.
A couple of times, when the cat was less-ill, we just dropped him off for the morning to pee in the fancy litter at the vet's and picked him up at lunch. They'd call us mid-morning to let us know they'd gotten a sample.
The syringe method actually cost a little less because he wasn't taking up boarding space for four hours, but YMMV.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:51 AM on July 12, 2011
A couple of times, when the cat was less-ill, we just dropped him off for the morning to pee in the fancy litter at the vet's and picked him up at lunch. They'd call us mid-morning to let us know they'd gotten a sample.
The syringe method actually cost a little less because he wasn't taking up boarding space for four hours, but YMMV.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:51 AM on July 12, 2011
Nthing asking your vet about the syringe method. It's standard procedure at the vet clinic my (four) kitties go to, and as my vet explained, it's really the only way to reliably get a good, clean sample from a cat. I can't imagine it's comfortable to experience, but it's quick and doesn't seem to result in lingering discomfort (the needle is very small, apparently) for the cat.
The only thing is to make sure your cat actually has something in their bladder prior to the trip...my Nikki ended up having to go back a second time last year because the first time they attempted to get a sample her bladder was empty (as she'd just used the box prior to leaving for her appointment).
posted by aecorwin at 2:09 PM on July 12, 2011
The only thing is to make sure your cat actually has something in their bladder prior to the trip...my Nikki ended up having to go back a second time last year because the first time they attempted to get a sample her bladder was empty (as she'd just used the box prior to leaving for her appointment).
posted by aecorwin at 2:09 PM on July 12, 2011
I had a cat who had pee issues. I found out that some vets are able to use ultrasound somehow to diagnose issues that previously needed a urine sample. Something to look into.
posted by bleep at 5:58 PM on July 12, 2011
posted by bleep at 5:58 PM on July 12, 2011
Mod note: From the OP:
Kitty finally used the no-sorb litter, after a couple of times stepping into and out of the box and after I put her and the box into the bathroom.posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:09 AM on July 13, 2011
The information about the freshness of the urine is very helpful. Since I need to take her teeth in to be scaled, if there is anything unusual, crystal-wise, with her urine, I'll have them take a fresh urine sample while she's in there, since the presence of crystals before has prompted me to put her on a special diet. I'll also ask about palpation of the bladder.
This thread is closed to new comments.
You could use your oldest cake pan, and then discard it if you feel you need to.
Here is some info. . .scroll down.
posted by Danf at 10:23 AM on July 12, 2011