Help! Need to get a urine sample from my cat!

[thefairyfellersmasterstroke]

She's 8 years old, and the most stressed out, nervous, scaredy cat I've ever known. Had her at the vet for a urination problem, and nothing obviously physical was found. Vet has asked me to try and get a sample, but the big problem is how??

The vet recommended Katkor to trap the urine, which I bought, however my cat doesn't wee in a litter tray, she goes outside - no idea where. So catching her while she's doing her business won't be easy.

The vet suggested shutting her in a room with the litter tray and a bowl of water, but being the timid soul she is, that's just going to make her more stressed. She's also not very bright (cat, not the vet) so may not realise what she's expected to do.

Has anyone had to do this before, and got any tips? Any recommendations? I have to confess that, other than shut her in a room, I have no ideas at all!

[Toddlerteaplease]

Can't they just do a catheter sample?

[gegs73]

If your cat doesn't use a litter tray that sounds near impossible. Some cats can hold for a long time if they don't use litter trays and are kept in to encourage them to use it. You could also well find if they are forced to go inside, they do it in a corner or on a chair! I personally would ask the vet for firstly medicine then the urinary tract health food to see if that helps.

[Tidypidy]

Our ancient mog prefers to go out to wee but will use a litter tray if shut in. The katkor stuff does work, you just have to hope the cat doesn't poo at the same time! If that fails the vet can use a catheter to extract urine but it's not very pleasant for the cat and will cost money. Why not try the tray for an afternoon or overnight first and see how it goes.

[thefairyfellersmasterstroke]

The vet didn't offer a catheter sample so I did'nt realise that was an option. It does sound somewhat unpleasant though, so would have to think hard before putting her through that.

gegs73, that was my concern about shutting her in a room, that she'd wee somewhere that's not helpful! She has done it on my bed before, which would be no good. Unless I'm quick enough to wring it out into a sample bottle before it soaks in...

I think urinary tract health food might be the way to go, given that her problem is intermittent.

Thanks for all the advice, very grateful for all help.

[DisgruntledGruntle]

You could consider borrowing a large dog crate and confining her in there, with her tray. It would prevent her going in the wrong place, but only you would know how stressed she would get. You could try it and let her out if she hates it. (We used to take our cat camping in a large dog crate...it worked well).

[thefairyfellersmasterstroke]

Disgruntled, that's a seriously clever idea. I might just see if I can borrow one. She going to be stressed out whatever I do, so I may as well go with whatever is likely to get the right result. Thanks!

[TyrionsNextWife]

My cat has FLUTD and after a few serious utis he had almost constant problems (sore after peeing, dribbling after using the tray, that sort of stuff) and the vet put him on nutracys. It’s only been a few weeks, but the difference is already huge - he’s not dribbling anymore and he’s licking himself a lot less after peeing. Touch wood, there hasn’t been any peeing in inappropriate places either.

He’s a really stressy cat and that the vet reckons that exacerbates his bladder problems so it’s not been the easiest thing to treat but the nutracys seems to be doing the job!