PHOTOS 1-3: Urinary catheterization may be performed for diagnostic, treatment or monitoring purposes. One time or intermittent urethral catheterization can be used for urinary sampling, radiographic contrast procedures or to relieve obstruction. Indwelling urinary catheters are used for continuous urine collection, relieving urinary obstruction, urine retention, surgery of the lower urinary tract and in critically ill patients. Indwelling urinary catheters should only be used when necessary and for the shortest time possible as it may predispose to infection and may be uncomfortable for the patient. In the male cat the penis is extruded caudally with digital pressure applied to the prepuce craniodorsally. The penis is cleaned and the prepuce flushed. An appropriate sized urinary catheter is then advanced into the urethral opening and bladder. In the female cat the vestibule is flushed. The catheter is advanced along the midline of the ventral floor of the vestibule as it transitions to the vagina. The catheter is advanced into the urethral papilla. Correct placement of the catheter is confirmed by urinary flow. An Elizabethan collar prevents the cat from dislodging the urinary catheter.
REFERENCES: PHOTOS 1-3: Silverstein, DC & Hopper, K (eds) 2009, ‘Small animal critical care medicine’, Saunders Elsevier, St. Louis, pp. 603-606.
