Urine Sample

Our old guy Ollie was diagnosed a couple of weeks ago with a UTI, he's had a history of crystal block as well (he actually had surgery a few years ago for it...he almost died). He's all done his medications now, and the vet told me that I should bring in a urine sample after a couple of weeks....and that is what I'm trying to do.
I've put some plastic beads in the litter box for him to pee on...he peed in there once but there wasn't much (I don't think he needed to go, he just saw clean "litter" and had to squeeze something out, he does that every litter change). He doesn't like the beads though from the look of it, and I might try shredded plastic next.
The biggest problem I'm having is that I've had to shut him in the bathroom with the box or else he will go outside or somewhere else and pee (actually I let him out of the bathroom yesterday and he peed in our indoor planter!). There is also the added complication that the other cat Hemi will go and pee on the beads. He is being stubborn and he HATES being stuck in the bathroom....he meows dejectedly most of the time he is in there, he'll do his best to get into the cupboards too (luckily he doesn't manage it) I'm guessing he wants to hide in there to pee. He also threw up the first time I left him in there (just hairballs), it may have been stress but he was fine after that, other than the howling.
Does anybody have any suggestions? I really don't have the money laying around to spend the extra cash to take him in to have the vet get a sample, but I want to be sure he is ok. I feel so cruel leaving him in the bathroom and hearing him, but its the only way I feel like I can be sure he'll go to the "special" litter box when he needs to go. In addition, I think he's prone to UTI's now partially because of stress (the other cat is an issue), and I know that this whole thing is causing him more stress. I'm kinda stuck here...am I going to have to take him to the vet?

Ok, my boy had crystals, but was never totally blocked. And my vet gave me the plastic as well. My boy does not do well in isolation, so I had the same fears. For me, having the vet draw a sample was the best solution, as much as Dante hates going to the vet, he hated being locked up more, and he simply would not use that litter.. Have you asked how much the urine draw and test would be? Maybe it's more reasonable than you think. I know, it's like being between a rock and a hard place - and I just had a reasonably hefty bill from senior panels and dental cleanings, so I feel your wallet's pain.

Put the litter box in the bedroom over night and shut him in there with you (shut the other cat out). It's better than the bathroom because he wouldn't be alone. My cats usually pee in the morning (they sleep at night) like a human does, so if your cat follows that pattern it should be easy to get some urine collected around the time you all wake up.

Well, I just found out the hard way that the shredded plastic wasn't so good....it is very staticky in the house right now and he stepped into the litter box, got zapped and jumped out with plastic stuck to him....kinda funny really.
I was going to try the bedroom thing tonight, after cleaning up to avoid him peeing in the laundry hamper again which he did when he had a UTI, but I tried an empty litter box as a last-ditch effort (I was about to let him out of the bathroom) and oddly enough he just used it! I now know how to get a urine sample from him.
Hopefully its a nice clean sample that they'll be able to get good results from

I use dust free or low dust aquarium gravel. The smallest you can get with the most rounded edges.

It worked like a dream for Beeba to pee in.

Good luck to you and your boy. I know how stressful this crystal business is.

Gee, I wouldn't even bother with all that. I'd take him in and have the vet get the sample. I can't imagine . . .



Robin

Woo hoo!!! Let's hope they can use the sample....if that works, that's absolutely a great way to get the sample without the stress of the vet trip. As I said, I've got that issue myself, but with Dante I've resigned myself to afternoon trips to the vet to get the sample. I wish he'd be as cooperative as your boy!

They couldn't use the sample, so we had to take him it, but they got a sample while we waited!!! 5 minutes! I wish I knew how they did that! Turns out his sample is clear and he's fine. I just hope he stays that way.....now to get the cats to get along so he doesn't stress himself into another infection!

Oh good, that is a weight off your mind.