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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

Argh - trying to get a urine sample from a cat

18 replies

basildonbond · 13/03/2015 07:52

it's not going well

Dcat1 is having a general anaesthetic today for tooth removal and a biopsy of a lump on her tail :(. The vet's a bit concerned about her kidney function and asked me to get a urine sample ... I've been given some special non-absorbent litter but the sodding cat is refusing to use it. She's been sitting in it and chucking it around the room but will she bloody well wee in it???

She's now either bursting or has gone behind the sofa - aarrgghh

OP posts:

Kundry · 13/03/2015 08:05

Oh dear - my vet has always just done bloods or a cystocentesis, expensive but avoids the impracticality.

Fluffycloudland77 · 13/03/2015 08:10

Ask them to catheter her while under GA? Mine won't use the special litter either.

cozietoesie · 13/03/2015 09:32

If she's having a GA, best to advise the vet you're having problems and ask for some to be extracted while she's first under. (I've had that done before.)

I never use non-absorbent litter because Seniorboy can't be doing with it - and neither can I. I just stick a saucer under his bum while he's mid-deed and collect some from that. It gives plenty to be siphoned off into a little vial and is all nice and clean.

cozietoesie · 13/03/2015 09:37

PS - and maybe ask them to get some blood as well for a full blood work up? I'd seize any opportunity for that - peeing in a saucer may be easy enough but getting blood from a cat can be the very devil.

CinderToffee · 13/03/2015 09:38

I sympathise - it's so difficult to get cats to co-operate! We've just been told we need to brush our cat's teeth twice a day: she's having none of it. She might end up with a tooth extraction as well - the vet is going to decide at the of the month. Hope all goes well for yours!

CinderToffee · 13/03/2015 09:38

That should say "at the end of the month"!

cozietoesie · 13/03/2015 09:43

How old is she cinder? I'd usually be minded to go along with an extraction/proper cleaning proposal and start with a clean slate because my experience is that bad teeth just get worse and worse.

chockbic swears by some stuff you just slip in to their mouth - maybe she'll see this thread and give you a link.

Original poster

basildonbond · 13/03/2015 13:12

(Sob) as I was writing that she decided she couldn't hold on any longer, teetered on the edge of the tray and promptly wee'd all over the floor I managed to catch a bit and the vet nurse said that's enough to test ...

She's having a blood test as well - I don't want to take any chances with her under the GA. She's in at the moment

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 13/03/2015 14:11

Poor basildon. You do have to hover and have a saucer pre-placed ready. It sounds as if they got enouogh though - it seems like they don't need much at all actually.

Best of luck for the procedure. Seniorboy had a lump biopsied when they did his teeth and it turned out to be just a fatty deposit of some kind - nothing of great significance anyway. Fingers crossed for your lass.

cozietoesie · 13/03/2015 20:45

How did she get on with the GA? (I realize you likely won't have the biopsy result for a couple of days.)

CinderToffee · 13/03/2015 20:46

She's almost 4, cozie. It has been a bit of a surprise - she was at the vet for something unrelated, and when the vet gave her a check up she said that she was concerned about one of her teeth. Something about it dissolving (? I wasn't there - DH took her). Vet said her teeth are very clean, but it's some kind of genetic issue. The cat isn't showing any signs that she is in pain, or bothered at all, but her gum is a bit inflamed. So we've got a course of antibiotics for her, and instructions to at least attempt to clean her teeth twice a day - the vet is planning to look again in two weeks time.

If they recommend an extraction then I'm happy to go with that, although I was not thrilled to discover that our pet insurance won't cover dental treatment unless it's the result of an injury. I'm not sure how expensive it might be?

CinderToffee · 13/03/2015 20:47

Fingers crossed for your cat basildon - you must be feeling nervous! I hope she copes OK with the GA and that the news from the biopsy is good.

cozietoesie · 13/03/2015 21:13

It sounds a bit like resorption. There's some guidance on it here but it's a bit beyond me. (I have a blind spot for dental issues, cat or human.) Good luck with her anyway.

Original poster

basildonbond · 14/03/2015 08:28

She's fine - a bit groggy but somehow managed to eat (she'd have to be at death's door not to eat as she's exceptionally fond of her food ...)

There were traces of blood and protein in her urine which suggests she might be running an infection but she'd not shown any signs of being under the weather - she's had a long-acting antibiotic for the dental procedure anyway so that should help

We're back in a week for the biopsy results

Cinder - our cat's tooth problems are as a result of resorption - brace yourself for the cost - dcat's now had this done twice at a cost of >£500 a time, and ours has not been covered by insurance either :(

OP posts:

CinderToffee · 15/03/2015 21:05

Oh dear - I was afraid it might be in that ballpark! We can mangage it, but it's far from ideal. It had never occurred to me that even with insurance we might still end up with massive vet bills to pay - she's an indoor cat so I thought we would be safe from major vet issues until she was more elderly!

Original poster

basildonbond · 18/03/2015 19:27

Update - the lump on her tail is benign we're just going to keep an eye on it and leave it there as it's not causing any problems (phew)

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 18/03/2015 21:22

That's good news - I had a reasonable feeling about it but nice to have it confirmed.

How's himself doing?

Original poster

basildonbond · 18/03/2015 22:03

Thanks cozie - Shuri's fine, it's hard to believe that he was so seriously injured less than six months ago. He still thinks it's a bit cold so charges outside in the morning for a quick garden patrol but spends most of his time inside. He does cough more when the air is very cold and dry so I think he can't wait for summer. He uses up an enormous amount of energy just to stay warm so is eating vast quantities of food (which Daisy thinks is Really Unfair)

OP posts:

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