Commercially available non-absorbent litters are becoming increasingly popular for urine collection in cats. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of such device on routine feline urinalysis results, a potential issue that has not been addressed to date.

Thirty-one cats subjected to cystocentesis for urinalysis as part of their diagnostic work-up were included. A fraction of the urine sample collected by cystocentesis was immediately processed to obtain a reference urinalysis (USG, dipstick and UPC). The remaining urine was poured on the non-absorbent litter in a tray, urine specimens were then retrieved from the tray immediately and after 3, 6 and 12 hours at room temperature and urinalysis was repeated at each term The effects of urine timely contact with litter on urinary analytes were assessed using a General Linear Model and Dunnett's test.

The range of results obtained from the reference specimens was wide but the vast majority of samples were negative for ketones, glucose and bilirubin. Testing urine retrieved from the tray with ketones reagent pads was found to be unreliable. Results for 5/8 analytes tested were statistically different from those of the reference specimen at 9 occasions. The observed differences were clinically relevant for USG after 3, 6 and 12 hours and for the protein reagent pad result of the dipstick after 12 hours.

In conclusion, urine collected within 12 hours of contact with the non-absorbent litter tested is suitable for UPC measurement and most dipstick reagent-pads but not for USG assessment.

Disclosures

No disclosures to report.