Cat question

[AngryOldDem]

Vet wants a urine sample to check values. They couldn’t get any when he was in for his checkup, so they gave me a half-cup of charcoal pellets, told me to empty and clean his box, then syringe up the urine and put it in said cup.

Trouble is, he’s now avoiding his box, because it looks empty (esentially, it is) — I know he’s at least been in it because I swept some pellets off the floor.

I’m wondering how difficult it is to express a cat’s bladder manually. I’ve had to do that with a dog, so I’m familiar with it. Anyone have any tips or suggestions? Is it a two-person job? Do I need thick gloves?

I don’t want him holding things and getting backed up, or start finding a new place to go.

As usual, TIA.

[samnsara]

1. good luck..with my cats all i had to do was leave out a pile of fresh laundry and they would pee:)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. I've never tried it, but I'm guessing that the process of expressing a cat's bladder

would be extremely hazardous, worse than claw trimming, and might require more than thick gloves - maybe a hockey goalie's uniform or at least fencers' gear. And several brave friends, similarly equipped. Good luck.

[Big Blue Marble]

3. You should ask your vet.

You do not want to rupture the bladder. My vet is able to syringe the urine from the bladder through
the abdomen to obtain a specimen.

One time I just caught the cat as he was squatting and stuck a small container under him to catch
the urine. I did use the method you are trying once. You have to leave the cat in a small space with
the pan and wait. We did eventually have success.

[Tetrachloride]

4. Link found, believe it or not.

[link:https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/how-express-cats-bladder#:~:text=Hand%20movement%20when%20expressing%20a%20cat%E2%80%99s%20bladder.%20The,rolling%20your%20fingers%20along%20the%20sides%20of%20it.|] .


good luck

[torius]

5. I would think eventually

he would use the box when he has has to, if there's not a huge rush. Maybe add some water to a can with some wet food in it (or whatever food he likes) to get him to drink.

[Laffy Kat]

6. So they couldn't cath him? nt

[AngryOldDem]

9. I think they just tried to express.

This was a routine checkup — he wasn’t in for any urinary issues.

[Lisa0825]

7. I have one cat the vet can never get a sample on...

even with a syringe! He will NOT pee in a mostly empty box with weird black pellets in it. What I have to do is make sure his appointment is in the morning, so I can leave him there several hours until he pees. If they keep him in a cage with that litter, he will eventually get desperate and go.

I supposed I could do that on home, but I couldn't bear listening to him howling at me to get out.

[AngryOldDem]

11. If I can't get it here, that's what I'm going to do.

They open very early.

I’m not messing around with this for too long.

[onlyadream]

8. My vet told me to put a plastic shopping bag in the litter box

(lay it on top of the litter) sprinkle a little litter on it, and when the cat pees it will make puddles. Then take a syringe and pick some up.

[AngryOldDem]

10. Thanks!

That just may work!

[AngryOldDem]

12. UPDATE:SUCCESS!

The bag/litter/charcoal combo worked. I think I have enough to make the vet happy.

to onlyadream. Thanks!

DU advice never disappoints.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. Yay! And you got to keep all your skin and limbs!

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

14. My vet takes it out his bladder via a needle sorta like a

blood draw - not much is needed . Just no other way. No, we dont want them to get any sort of anxiety around the litter box. The shopping bag and small amt of litter trick sounds promising though - will have to try it.