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Does your cat's bathroom routine have you scratching your head? Have you noticed your cat peeing outside the litter box, or perhaps they seem to be drinking a lot more water than usual? These changes in behavior could be a sign of an underlying health issue, and a urine sample might be the key to getting a diagnosis.
Your cat may be trying to tell you something, and it is important to listen. One of the first steps in finding the cause of the problem is to collect a clean urine sample from your feline friend. However, getting a urine sample from a cat can be a bit frustrating for many pet owners. Veterinarians often need the urine to be fresh, kept at a certain temperature, and caught/stored in a special container. That is a big task for creatures like cats who need their privacy when they pee.
But why do you need a clean urine sample, and what can it tell you and your vet about your cat's health? Your cat's urine holds valuable information that can help diagnose a range of health issues, from urinary tract infections to kidney disease. By collecting a clean sample, you are giving your vet the best possible chance of identifying any problems early on, which can make all the difference in your cat's treatment and recovery. Obtaining a clean urine sample is vital for monitoring your cat's health and catching potential health issues.
Why Do Vets Need a Clean Urine Sample?
So why can't you just bring in the litter clump, bath rug the cat peed on, or the paper towel you used to soak the urine up from the floor? Veterinarians need a clean urine sample to accurately assess your cat’s health and to check for the following:
Urine from a urinary tract infection (UTI) will have infection-fighting white blood cells and/or bacteria.
If a bladder stone or urine crystals are suspected, or the kitty is having trouble urinating (e.g., cystitis), microscopic examination of the crystals is needed.
Monitoring urine protein levels may be necessary to provide insight for certain diseases like kidney failure.
Checking how dilute the urine is can help explain recent excessive drinking and peeing giving your vet an insight of their kidney function and hydration status.
If you soak up urine off the floor, from a rug, or from a litter clump, bacteria will most likely be present. Dirt, litter, and fibers from the paper towel, litterbox, or rug can also affect the protein and diluteness of the urine. If your floor or litter box had cleaning products on it, this could falsely change the number and type of bacteria seen. Litter boxes that have kitty poop in them will also affect the type/numbers of bacteria seen in the sample, possibly altering test results.
Thus, you ideally need only urine in the sample, as straight from the source as possible, and it needs to go in a container that is as clean and sterile as possible, without any additional chemicals present. Your local veterinarian can provide you with a sterile collection container to avoid contamination of the sample.
Why Does the Urine Sample Need to Be Fresh?
The longer urine sits out at room temperature, the more likely it is to undergo changes that can alter test results. These changes can lead to inaccurate diagnoses and potentially inappropriate treatment. When urine is left out, it can become cloudy or darken in color, develop crystals, and produce an ammonia smell due to bacterial growth. The pH of the urine can also become more alkaline (less acidic) over time. Additionally, red blood cells and white blood cells (WBCs) can break down, making them difficult to identify under a microscope. This is problematic because the presence of these cells is an important indicator of infection or inflammation. Bacterial counts can double every 20 to 40 minutes in warm urine, resulting in a false increase that may lead to a misdiagnosis of a urinary tract infection.
How to Collect a Urine Sample from Your Cat
Unfortunately, cats do not typically pee on command. They prefer to use the bathroom in private and will often hold their urine for a long time. Here are some tips for collecting a clean urine sample from your cat:
Obtain a sterile collection container from your veterinarian to avoid sample contamination.
Follow your cat to the litterbox and hold a small, clean container between their legs to catch the urine stream. This may be easier to do with indoor cats who urinate outside the litterbox because the shape of many litterboxes makes it hard to avoid disturbing the cat (and outdoor kitties like to go in the yard). This does not have a hundred percent success rate though.
If the kitty has a favorite bathroom rug he likes to pee on, follow him to the bathroom, patiently wait for him to pee, then catch the urine as he goes on the rug. Because cats stand pretty low to the ground, collect the urine sample using a shallow container to avoid disturbing the cat while he is peeing.
Use a clean, empty litterbox, put it in its usual spot and wait. If your cat objects, try adding a small amount of clean litter or torn paper. Non-absorbent litter may also be an option but consult your veterinarian first - you do not want to put you and your cat through all this trouble if the sample needs to be cleaner than that.
Encourage your cat to urinate by providing fresh water throughout the day and monitoring them closely for signs they need to go, like heading for the litterbox.
If your cat urinates but you cannot catch it in time, you may need to wait several hours before he needs to go again. If all else fails, ask your veterinarian if you can leave your kitty in their care for the day to collect urine. The staff usually has a bit more training in such matters, so it may not take them as long to be successful.
What to Do with the Collected Urine Sample
If you successfully collect a sample yourself, wash your hands, store the container in the fridge (not the freezer), and deliver it to your vet within 24 hours, ideally as soon as possible. If immediate delivery is not possible, keep the sample refrigerated and transport it in a cooler to maintain its stability.
The Role of Pet Insurance in Your Cat’s Health
Collecting a urine sample from your cat to be examined by your veterinarian is one aspect of providing them with the best possible care. Another part is having a comprehensive pet insurance plan, to help you manage the costs associated with diagnostic tests and treatments. We all hope the best for our feline friend’s health, but hoping is not always enough, sometimes we need to have a cat insurance plan that cover accidents and illnesses, ensuring that you can provide your cat with the necessary medical attention without worrying about the financial burden.
Regular check-ups, vaccinations, and parasite prevention can help identify and address potential health issues early on, often when they're more manageable and less expensive to treat. Consider an optional pet wellness plan. This program is not insurance, but rather a budgeting tool that can help you set aside funds specifically for preventative care expenses—including grooming, teeth cleaning, microchipping, and more—ensuring your furry friend stays healthy and happy for years to come.
Cat Urine Sample Success!
Let's be honest, collecting a urine sample from your cat can be downright frustrating. It might test your patience, planning skills, and maybe even your gag reflex. But here's the key takeaway: you did it! You successfully obtained that sample, which is a big win for your feline friend. This small act of perseverance paves the way for a clear diagnosis and a happy, healthy future together. You've conquered the cat urine sample challenge – pat yourself on the back, you're a fantastic pet parent!