Per a vet visit yesterday, I need to collect a sample of my poor guy’s urine at home, which I’m dreading.
I’ve been told that I just need to clean the box of litter, put down some of the “Nosorb” (non-absorbent litter) they gave me, and scoop the pee into a little cup once the cat comes through.
However, I have a feeling this may be end up being way more complicated than it sounds, as most cats don’t take kindly to human interference with their boxes. Any tips/advice/words of wisdom from others who have had to do this???
It usually works pretty good but if you are absolutely against it ask if they can do a cystocentesis. It’s where they put a needle through the animal’s abdomen directly into the bladder to collect the urine. Of course if they’re sending you home to collect, either you’re short on money or your cat is a complete hell demon.
I think the cystocentesis procedure is what they tried to do yesterday but there was no urine in his bladder (or something). He is a hellion at home but very meek at the vet so I doubt that was the issue.
Heh…I bet they charged me for the attempt anyway, since the bill came to a wince-inducing $263. Q.E.D., I knew that was coming once I looked at my thread title!
Well in that case, do as they suggested. Cats will normally go ahead and use the box when there’s something different. If that fails, they’ll just inform you to get a little plastic baggy and some duct tape and get to work.
That gives me an idea. What if the OP were to tape a plastic garbage bag ito an empty litter pan, like a liner, and put a very thin layer of litter on it? He could then gather this up after Kitty has peed, resulting essentially in a bag of urine. Poke a hole in the bottom with a thin nail and let it run out into a container. Some litter granules might get through, but I doubt these would mess up the test any.
I usually end up dropping the cat off in the AM and leaving it for the day so the vet can be in charge of collecting it and making sure it stays sterile…
If you have to do this only once, just follow the vet’s instructions. If you have to do it on a regular basis, get the kind of litter box that’s specifically designed for the non-absorbant litter. The urine passes through the litter, and collects in a little drawer on the bottom, which you empty into the toilet. You can easily get a sample from the drawer.
They gave me that stuff, but I just set a glass by the litter box and snuck up on her while she was peeing and caught the urine in the glass. Way easier.
That glass is now for guests.
We can’t get the cat in the carrier to go to the vet, so we have the vet in the van come to us. We’d noticed some blood in Dodget’s urine, and the vet asked if we could get a sample. We couldn’t, but as soon as Dodget saw the vet, he peed on the floor (he’s a wuss). The vet tested the puddle, and I ended up giving him (Dodget, not the vet) antibiotic injections for a week or so.
