How to collect a urine sample from your cat
Your vet may ask you to bring in a urine sample if your cat is showing symptoms of urinary tract problems. A urine sample can help your vet make a quicker diagnosis of what your cat is suffering from, for example, it can tell if your cat has a urinary tract infection.
As you probably know, cats can be a little particular about where they do their business and often like to have a good rummage in their litter box before they pee. So, collecting a urine sample might sound like a tricky job, but it doesn’t have to be! Here’s how you can do it.
Firstly, vets often sell ready-made urine sample kits. These kits typically include everything you need, such as special plastic balls, a pipette, and a collection tube. The plastic balls are used in place of your cat’s usual litter.
Once you have your kit, it’s time to collect the sample:
Empty the litter box of its usual cat litter. Give the box a thorough clean and dry it.
Pour the special plastic balls into the clean, dry box. These are designed to encourage your cat to use the box as normal, but crucially, they don't absorb urine like regular litter.
When your cat has urinated in the box, use the pipette provided in the kit to collect the urine, and then transfer it into the collection tube. Your vet will likely need around 5ml for testing, which is about the amount that fits in the tube provided.
Urine should ideally be analysed as fresh as possible. If you can’t get it to the vet straight away, pop the collection tube in the fridge until you can hand it over. The sooner, the better, though!
If your kit didn’t come with plastic balls, don’t worry! Unpopped, plain popcorn (without salt) can also work as a substitute. You can also use any clean, empty jar to collect the urine if a specific tube wasn’t provided.
