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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Getting a urine sample from a cat...

14 replies

MrsSchadenfreude · 24/02/2015 22:13

Urine sample showed that cat had a trace of blood in her wee, and the vet said to get another sample in 12-15 days, as she was still on her cystitis medication.

I didn't want to shut her in the bathroom overnight, so I shut the other cat in the bedroom with us (he usually sleeps on my feet) so she had the run of the rest of the house. Although she had clearly been in the tray, she obviously didn't like the feel of the special litter, and peed on the sofa and on the bath mat. Twice. How else can I get a sample from her, or if I go back to the vet, will he be able to do it?

OP posts:

Qwebec · 24/02/2015 22:31

I would try an empty litter tray or locking her in a room with all soft surfaces removed like the bathroom for a few hours. Cats tend to go in the tub. Not fun, but important deed. I suppose the vet can keet her in a crate until she she pees.

RaisingSteam · 24/02/2015 22:35

The vet needs to give you some non absorbent litter - we had some it was like little plastic beads. In clean or lined litter tray it will give her something to "dig" in but let the urine collect in the bottom of the tray.

Being a vet they will probably charge you £25 for it!

RaisingSteam · 24/02/2015 22:36

Sorry, read your OP you tried that! err... could you phase in the special litter gradually?

GerundTheBehemoth · 24/02/2015 22:41

When I had to do this on a regular basis (cat with kidney trouble) I used to just wait til she went to her tray and then catch the pee as it emerged, in a shallow bowl that I manouevered under her bum. Then I'd tip it into the little sample pot. It helped that she was very tolerant, and that she peed frequently and abundantly.

TheSpottedZebra · 24/02/2015 22:43

Helpfully, I was told by a vet to use a jar, but if it had contained jam, to wash it well.

My cat was a free-weer, he didn't use a tray.

juneybean · 24/02/2015 22:43

I don't know about yours but when I had to get a sample from my boy he was doing big wees anyways so sometimes there would be a puddle where there was no more absorbency left however you risk ruining the sample with "bacteria" from old wees.

Original poster

MrsSchadenfreude · 24/02/2015 22:59

She usually dashes to use the box as soon as the litter has been changed, but when it's got the non-absorbent litter in it, she kicks around a bit, sticks her head out of the box (it's one that has top entry), looks at me as if to say "What the fuck do you call this then?" and goes and pees in the other tray.

I think I will call the vet for advice. She is a bit of a stressy little cat, and I don't want to lock her in the bathroom. Last time I did this, she dashed out and shat on our bed, then wiped her arse on the carpet for good measure.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 24/02/2015 23:44

I'm with Gerund on this one. I 'hover' and then catch the pee when Seniorboy goes to his tray on the normal litter. (Stick it under the base of his tail - they pee at just the right angle to collect it.) We have a smallish saucer-like thing - the base to a coffee can so like a slightly deep saucer - and the vet gives us a pipette thing to suck it up and a vial to hold it. Works a treat.

mummytowillow · 24/02/2015 23:46

I had to do this once, vet recommended bean bag balls in litter tray. They don't soak it up and you just pour it in pot, gross though!

cozietoesie · 24/02/2015 23:49

PS - added tips. Wait until the cat is fully committed to the deed. You'll still get plenty compared with non-absorbent litter (I often throw some away) and don't assume you've got nothing in the saucer until you get it in the light. (I could tell a tale about that latter.)

Original poster

MrsSchadenfreude · 25/02/2015 17:58

Right, have got some more of the non-absorbent litter, to see if she will wee in a fuller box. Will try and stay at home, shut gormless cat in the bedroom (he will be quite happy and has a box there) and see if I can get her to wee in the box again...

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 26/02/2015 23:32

Any luck?

Original poster

MrsSchadenfreude · 27/02/2015 11:41

No. She won't pee if anyone is nearby. She has so far peed on the sofa and the bathmat (twice) rather than in her box. For a cat who allegedly has a small bladder, she has remarkable control over it. I will go back to the vet tomorrow and see what they suggest.

Gormless cat did not like being shut in the bedroom, and threw himself at the door non stop and hollered.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 27/02/2015 11:55

Oh Dear - I must be blessed with Seniorboy's forbearance. (Although I swear he knows I'm on the 'collection prowl' and holds himself in deliberately at times.) What would happen if you sat and read/watched a movie or something close to her tray - with her normal litter in it and a saucer nearby?

Poor GormlessCat.

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