How do I use the vet's kit to collect a urine sample from my cat?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Leti. I would give her a break for a few days so that she starts urinating normally again. Then I recommend using an old soup ladle to collect the urine. It allows you to be a little further away from her and not have to swoop in when she starts to go. Just hold the ladle under her and hopefully this will be a less stressful way to collect her urine. Good luck!

Lack of urination is certainly concerning. Port may simply be holding his urine, or he could be suffering from a bladder obstruction. I would contact your regular vet and let them know how things are going - they may consider collecting a sample directly from Port’s bladder using ultrasound and a long needle. This has the benefit of being a sterile sample, of cultures are needed. If your Vet has concerns that Port has a bladder obstruction they may also recommend X-rays to check for stones. I would seek veterinary care today, as a bladder obstruction can potentially be fatal.

Hello. Unless there is obvious blood, it is unlikely you would be able to tell differences in urine color once the urine is soaked up by the litter. There are some litters that will monitor certain conditions, such as diabetes & liver disease. There is a color change if there is a change, but I know on no veterinarians that will recommend this. The results are just too vague to justify the costs. Most concerns from owners will come if a cat urinates outside the box on a non absorbent surface. I just would not worry about anything your kitty does in the litter box as long as she is happy & otherwise seems healthy. Your yearly health visit with Bijou & your vet are far more diagnostic & important. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I know this is not ideal. If you are able to place a litter box up there I would. That way she is still urinating in a litter box at least. When you do have more room, I would create a space just for her. Put 2 litter boxes out for her, give her a place to look outside, places to hide and climb on also. I don't know if your veterinarian performed a urinalysis. If they did then I would think about doing a urine culture. A urinary tract infection does not always show up on blood work and a urine culture will give you an answer. Has your veterinarian prescribed behavioral medication? This may be a good idea for Nyx also.It can take a few weeks for it to fully work but it is something I would think about. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I love that you have already switched to the unscented litter as that can be a big problem for many cats. Putting the litter box in the shower is a great idea. I would also make sure to clean up the spots he went outside the litterbox using an enzymatic pet stain cleaner to ensure he does not keep smelling urine/feces there and think that it is akin to a litterbox. Other things, like cleaning the litter box often, having multiple litterboxes which are different types of boxes, and trying different types of litter (such as fine-grain litter) may also help you figure out what type of litter Mittens likes. While it certainly sounds like Mittens is having trouble getting used to his new litterbox, it is important to remember that internal diseases (like organ, hormonal, or orthopedic diseases, among other possible causes) can cause Mittens to have a hard time making it into the litterbox so it is important to take Mittens to your vet for evaluation to make sure we are not missing something else that is making it hard for Mittens to make it to the litterbox. I have attached a link to an article with more great suggestions below. Good luck! https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-train-your-cat-to-use-a-litter-box/

There can be a couple of reasons why Zuzy will not use the litter box. Cats like a very clean box, and the litter should be scooped every day with the litter itself being changed once a week. If the box isn't clean enough for her, she won't use it. Cats can also be very picky about the type of litter used. If you changed litter recently, she may not like it and won't want to use it. Don't use scented litters, cats typically don't like the scent and will not use the box if it smells funny to them. I would use an unscented litter only. The litter box itself may be a problem. It could be too small for her to turn around in, or if it has a cover, she may not like using the box under a cover. Conversely, if it doesn't have a cover, she may not like going to the bathroom in the open. Cats also won't use a litter box that is too close to their food and water sources, so if the litter box is close to those, she won't use it. Finally, there could be a medical issue behind her not using the litter box, such as a UTI or bladder stones. If none of the above scenarios apply to Zuzy, I would take her into your vet for a health check to see if there is a medical cause behind her refusing to use the litter box. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Hello, sorry to hear about Booboo. Unfortunately, if she does have a UTI she may need antibiotics and the only way to confirm this is by obtaining a urine sample. You may be able to obtain free catch sample with a sterile container and bring it to your vet to have it tested. Your veterinarian may be able to prescribe the adequate antibiotics based on his assessment of warranted. Alternitavely, your veterinarian may be able to offer premedications to calm Booboo's stress so that your are more able to bring her to be checked. Hope this helps and best of luck