How to get a urine sample from a cat that doesn't use a litter tray

[SuburbanRhonda]

Our vet wants a urine sample as he suspects my cat has kidney disease. He's given me a "Smart urine test kit" to collect the sample.

Neither of my cats has used a litter tray except when they were kittens, and not at all as adult cats. My cat is very unsettled at the moment as she has just been diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and is constantly hungry and vomiting. I'm going to give it a try, but does anyone know of any other way to get a sample? Can you hold them over the litter tray and squeeze their tummy (only partly joking)?

[SuburbanRhonda]

Thanks, alpaca.

The vet knows my cats don't use a litter tray but he didn't offer to - ahem - assist in obtaining the sample. I will try the plastic beads but if that fails, I guess he's going to have to man up!

[catsrus]

Lock the cat in a confined space, like a bathroom, overnight with only water and the litter tray. Put the plug in the bath and sinks incase the cat uses those instead. Good luck it might take a while hope you have more than one bathroom

[SuburbanRhonda]

That's what I'm planning, cats - good suggestion about putting the plugs in the sink and bath.

Sadly we only have one bathroom and it's downstairs, but needs must!

[catsrus]

We've discovered one of ours uses the bath - remarkably accurate at peeing right down the plug hole, only spotted it when she did a double act when I went to the loo

[SuburbanRhonda]

Not sure whether I should be impressed or disgusted, cats

[cat234]

If you dont manage, then take your cat back to the vet and they may be able to manually express your cats bladder, or do a cystocentesis (put a needle into the bladder). Generally both of these are much easier if the cat has a full bladder though, so offer lots of water and restrict outdoor access for several hours before the appointment!

[GRW]

I covered a litter tray scoop with tin foil, then followed my cat after letting her out in the back garden, and caught it as she squatted to wee.

[SuburbanRhonda]

GRW

I would love to have seen that!

I will try the litter tray and plastic beads thing after the weekend when the vet is open again. I'll only try it once because she will hate being locked in a room all night

Thanks for your suggestions,cats - I feel better knowing it's not litter tray or bust!

[RubbishMantra]

Brilliant advice by catsrus

I've also had cats who like to position themselves over the plug-hole. With remarkable precision.

Peculiar little creatures, aren't they.

[SuburbanRhonda]

As I know you were all hanging on for an update, here's what happened.

Phoned the vet and they said they would do the needle thing and to keep her in overnight and in the morning before the appointment and bring her in with a full bladder.

All went fine and her bladder was full at the vet so they got a good sample. Levels were fine but they wanted to do a repeat sample a week later. Went through the same procedure only this time she was very reluctant to get in the basket and seemed very stressed. Emptied her bladder onto the towel in the carrier on the way to the vet, so they couldn't get a sample!

But I have come up with a solution. I'll go through the same procedure without an appointment, put her in the carrier without a towel and just walk round the block with her in the carrier. Hope she'll empty her bladder into the carrier but I can syringe up the sample from there. Then just take the sample to the vet and avoid the stress of a consultation for my poor cat

[ragged]

that's cunning, thanks for sharing.

[ragged]

ps: mine piss on beanbags. So I'm thinking locked in a room with just a bean bag would result in a handy puddle.

[SuburbanRhonda]

Why are they so particular about where they wee?

A previous cat of mine wee'd in my MIL's weekend bag when she came to stay. Mind you, I can kind of understand the sentiment