Placement of a urinary catheter in a cat (male) is primary for cats and female cats

Catheterization of the cat's bladder is performed if the pet has difficulty urinating or the urination process stops completely. Such cases are a consequence of kidney failure or the formation of kidney stones. The veterinarian knows how to properly install a urinary catheter and carry out the procedure. After catheterization, the cat needs special care to make the recovery period faster and easier.

Why and how to place a catheter

This device is a small plastic or silicone tube that is inserted through the urethra into the bladder. In women and men, the length of the urethra is different; there are features of choosing and placing a catheter, with minimal discomfort for the patient. The presence of a catheter helps in draining urine generated in the kidneys, which accumulates in the bladder if a person is unable to urinate on his own. However, the Foley catheter communicates with the external environment, urine is separated through it, the product can become dirty and clogged, which requires regular cleaning and proper care. In addition, the patient needs to wash, change underwear and clothes, which requires knowledge of how to care for the Foley catheter at home .

Washing, regularly replacing catheters with new products and cleaning the Foley catheter are important to prevent the penetration of pathogenic microbes into the genitourinary tract and the development of inflammation and severe complications. Infection when using a catheter is dangerous as a relapse or complication of the underlying disease, which can lead to re-hospitalization. Regular maintenance of your Foley catheter will help prolong its life, so it will not need to be replaced as often.

When is the procedure performed?

Inserting a urethral catheter for a kitten and an adult is required not only for urolithiasis, but also for other pathological conditions in which the pet does not urinate. Veterinarians prescribe catheterization in case of mechanical damage to the cat’s bladder. Indications for which a urological catheter is required are the following situations:

Conservative treatment for urolithiasis. This therapeutic technique can be used for pathology once or regularly to facilitate urine excretion.
Impaired urine flow during acute illness. When abnormalities in the urinary system worsen, the cat is prescribed catheterization for emergency bladder emptying.
Surgical intervention. After surgery in the area of the urinary system, it is difficult for the pet to walk when necessary, so a catheter is installed. When the muscles are restored, the cat will be able to urinate on its own.
The need to rinse the cat's urethra and bladder. This measure is carried out during treatment, with its help it is easier to deliver medicines to the affected organs.
Determination of urination volume and urine collection. Catheterization is performed in a short time, and after the study the catheter is removed.
For diagnostic purposes. If a cat or kitten needs to take X-rays of the urinary system, then catheterization is performed, through which a contrast agent is injected.

Catheter placement

Before starting manipulations, it is necessary to perform all hygiene procedures. The doctor washes his hands thoroughly, puts on sterile gloves, and the patient’s perineum is treated with soap and water and antiseptics. The catheter is taken with sterile tweezers, the tip is treated with a lubricant to facilitate insertion.

The woman is given a special female catheter, taking into account the length and width of the urethra. It is inserted in a lying position, with knees bent and legs apart. After treating the perineum, the doctor spreads the labia, carefully inserting the tip of the catheter into the opening of the urethra. When urine begins to flow through the catheter, the administration is stopped. After this, sterile water is injected through one of the holes at the other end of the product to inflate the balloon and fix the product in the bladder. A urinal is attached to the other hole.

In men, a longer catheter is used, taking into account the size of the urethra. It is administered in the same way, in a lying position, with knees bent and legs apart. The product is moved slowly, gently, first holding the penis in a vertical position, then tilting it down. When urine separates, movement stops.

Bladder catheterization in a cat: consequences

After this treatment procedure, your pet may experience various complications, which include:

Lack of diuresis. Due to the fact that the urethral muscles are in spasm, the pet cannot go to the toilet. To eliminate the pathology and relieve unpleasant symptoms, the animal is prescribed antispasmodics.
Urethral injuries. Can occur if the specialist is inexperienced. In such a situation, the cat must be taken to the veterinarian again. The injuries are characterized by severe pain in the urethral area, the cat licks the sore spot and cannot urinate normally. Sometimes there may be blood in the urine.
The cat often licks itself after bladder catheterization. This may be due to unpleasant sensations after the procedure, which will accompany the pet for some time, or due to the presence of injuries.

How to flush a Foley catheter at home

You can use a weak solution of potassium permanganate (1:10000), “Dioxidin”, which is diluted with water 1:40 or “Furacillin” (1 tablet 0.1 g per 100 ml of liquid). It is possible to rinse the catheter with Miramistin, a ready-made pharmaceutical solution, or a product recommended by the doctor. The rinsing is carried out in such a way that the patient does not experience pain or discomfort.

It is important to wash your hands thoroughly and use a sterile syringe with which the solution is delivered. The urinal is disconnected from the tube, and the end is treated with antibacterial solutions. Then attach a syringe, which slowly delivers the rinsing solution. You need to first apply about 20-30 ml, after introducing the liquid into the bladder, the syringe is disconnected. It flows back on its own. The rinsing is repeated three times, then the urinal is reattached.

How to choose

When selecting such a medical instrument, you need to rely on medical recommendations. The doctor determines the duration of wearing the device. This can be a temporary or lifelong measure. The specialist also takes into account the patient’s age, the nature of his pathology, and financial capabilities.

The size of the device deserves special attention. Catheters with the following dimensions are available on the market:

Floor	Brief size designation	Color	Inner diameter mm	External diameter mm	Length cm	Cylinder volume ml
Children's	Ch 6	Pink	1.1	2	28	3-5
	Ch 8	Black	1.7	2.7
	Ch 10	Grey	2.3	3.3
Husband/wives	Ch 12	White	2.8	4	39-40	30
	Ch 14	Green	3.3	4.7
	Ch 16	Pale orange	3.8	5.3
	Ch 18	Orange	4.5	6
	Ch 20	Yellow	5.1	6.7
	Ch 22	Violet	5.6	7.3
	Ch 24	Dark blue	6.2	8
	Ch 26	Pale pink	6.9	8.7
Husband	Ch 28	Brown	7.5	9.3
Husband	Ch 30	Dark grey	8	10

Even based on the data in the table, you do not need to select a catheter yourself. This should also be done by the attending physician. The diameter of the tube is selected to match the width of the urethral canal. You simply cannot determine it without outside help.

Showering with a catheter and urine bag

It is important to maintain good body hygiene by showering regularly. This reduces the risk of infection. Before standing under the stream of water, the urinal is disconnected and the catheter is clamped with a special clip. When washing, you should gently wash the genitals around the catheter using baby or liquid soap with a neutral pH.

After bathing, the catheter tube is carefully dried, the genitals are blotted with a soft cotton towel, and a clean urine bag is put on. You can swim every day, following these rules.

How does the installation work?

First of all, before installation, the specialist thoroughly disinfects his hands. Also, all used instruments and the area where the device is introduced can be treated with antiseptic treatment. The entire operation is carried out using disinfected gloves. Before introducing the device, a tray or film is placed between the person’s legs.

The catheter is removed from the box with tweezers. Before use, it can be coated with a special lubricant to facilitate insertion.

For women, such a device is installed the fastest. The following actions are performed:

The girl lies on her back, bends her legs and spreads them apart.
The doctor carefully spreads the labia and inserts the device with soft circular movements. The insertion depth is 4-6 cm.
When properly installed, urine begins to come out.

In the case of men, a little more manipulation is performed:

The patient also lies on his back, bends his legs and relaxes as much as possible.
The catheter is carefully inserted into the urinary canal using rotational movements. Initially, the penis is held in a vertical position, and then slowly tilts down.
If the medical instrument is difficult to insert, the doctor changes the catheter to a device with a different diameter.
Once inserted successfully, the catheter immediately begins to fill with urine. Sometimes this procedure is accompanied by the release of a small amount of blood. This is normal and there is no need to worry.
After installation, the device is washed with sterile water.
At the end, a urinal is attached to it.

As for children, it all starts with a preparatory conversation. A small patient needs to be provided with psychological comfort, so the doctor delicately explains what procedure he is going to perform and why it is necessary. The specialist should be extremely careful not to cause discomfort in the child.

When the patient is in a moral mood, the following actions are performed:

The child lies on his back, bends his legs and spreads them apart.
The genital area is disinfected 2 times and wrapped in a sterile napkin.
The inserting end of the device is lubricated with petroleum jelly.
The administration process is almost the same as in adults. Only the insertion depth differs: up to 15 cm for boys and up to 4 cm for girls (it all depends on the age and physique of the young patient).
As in previous cases, during normal installation the catheter begins to fill with urine.

The catheter is never inserted by force. If an obstruction is felt, the specialist either changes the device or conducts an additional examination of the urethral canal. Careless actions can cause physical damage to the urinary canal and cause additional complications.

Replacing and maintaining a medical device

This device needs to be changed every 5-7 days (silicone models can be changed less frequently). If you have little free time or have certain aesthetic barriers (for example, it is unpleasant to perform the procedure on a loved one), you can call a specialist (doctor or nurse). The cost of replacing a Foley catheter at home is not very high, so such a service will not put a strain on the family budget.

If you are ready to do everything yourself, then follow these steps sequentially:

Wash your hands and apply an antiseptic solution to them.
Remove the clamp and empty the catheter 100%.
Place the patient on his back (ask the patient to bend his legs and spread them).
Ask the person to relax and then carefully remove the catheter. If necessary, you can use a special clamp (this will guarantee sterility).
After removal, make sure the device is intact.

Because the Foley catheter is a reusable device, it needs to be flushed periodically. This is not a very complicated procedure, so if you can handle the removal yourself, maintenance will not be a problem.

Before cleaning the device, hands are washed with soap and treated with an antiseptic. Then you need to do these steps:

Clean the outer surface of the product with alcohol. Pay special attention to the area where the tube connects to the catheter.
Disconnect the tubing from the catheter. Fill the container with saline solution.
Drain the liquid into a separate container.

The procedure is repeated several times until the catheter is completely cleaned. After rinsing, the device is connected to the tube, and then removed to a sterile place or reinserted into the patient’s urethral canal.

Are there any analogues

Unfortunately, there are no 100% replacements for a Foley catheter. You can find a good Nelaton Mederen catheter on the market. It is also quite flexible and can be easily inserted into the patient’s urethra. However, this is a disposable model, so each time you replace it you need to buy a new device.

There is also a Urocel urine collection device. It ensures normal urine drainage, but is only suitable for men. There are separate bedside urinals, but in terms of functionality and ease of use they are still inferior to the Foley catheter.

To summarize, it is worth saying that the device we reviewed is an indispensable assistant for people suffering from pathologies of the urinary system. The low price of the catheter and the possibility of reusable use make it accessible to patients of all social groups.