Originally posted by emily_the_spoiled
If I remember correctly Phred had to get urine samples from "Boots the Kat" when he had surgery. I think that he just put a plastic liner in the box with no litter and that was how he collected the sample.
We actually did it two ways...

At first, when Boots had a catheter, he wasn't supposed to use any litter (too dirty), so his tray was filled with shreded newspapers. When it was "sampul tyme", I substituded a Single Sheet of newspaper. Then had to *watch like a Hawk* because there were only seconds to shoe da Kat out and try to pour the sample into a plastic baggie! Take too long - and the newspaper absorbed what little he was producing!
Not to mention he wanted to *dig* - newspaper doesn't hold up well to Kat Klawz!

As tyme marched on, he reluctantly agreed to *P* on a plastic garbage bag (partially split and arranged as a liner in the tray). If he acted upset with just the plain plastic, I'd add a 1/4 sheet of newspaper on top of the plastic for a more down-home "feel"!
Still - Quick Action was required to retrieve what was produced before he attempted to cover it!

I became quite talented?? at *Bootin da Kat*, pullin out the newspaper, and attempting to pour whatever was left into the Zip-Lok. Takes "talent" to cradle a pool of *P* in an open plastic bag and then try to hold open a Zip-Lok while you make the transfer! >With two hands to work with!<

A final thought...
Boots was NOT drinking enough - so HE get the extra thrill of being forced to drink. The method was crude, but quite effective. I used a standard plastic medical needle/syninge *with the sharp needle un-screwed and discarded!* as a waddur pump/sqwirt gun! Suck up a load of waddur, hold his mouth open, place the end of the *gun* over his tongue, and in about two seconds *pump* him a generous mouthful. Sounds cruel - and he DID make some frightful *GAAkk* & Gurggle* noises - but he would swallow it! And this technique WAS Vet approved! Being a BIG Kat, Doc suggested about 6 syringe fulls at a "sitting"... more than that and poor Boots made serious *Sloshing* noises when he walked away from a "wattering"!
I mention the wattering technique as a possible solution to GrassHopper's not being "in the mood" to produce a sample when you are ready to "collect" it! Get the collection apparatus ready, load her up with 6-12 *sqwirts* of water, and she'll be "in the mood" to dump the tank!

Happie Collecting!