What are the best practices for urinary catheter placement and maintenance in companion animals?

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Urinary catheter placement requires aseptic technique throughout, using chlorhexidine scrub diluted with sterile saline to 0.5–2% chlorhexidine or 1:200 povidone iodine/sterile saline for all site cleansing. Sterile gauze sponges should be used for cleansing, alternating between the dilute antiseptic and sterile saline at every step.1 Gloves are required at placement and during all maintenance interactions. Examination gloves are worn during site cleansing; sterile or clean gloves are used for catheter insertion itself.1 Post-placement maintenance centers on twice-daily site inspection. The catheter site should be examined at least two times daily, with full unwrapping of bandage material to assess for swelling or thrombophlebitis.13 If the bandage is not clean and dry, it should be replaced immediately.1 If thrombophlebitis is identified and the catheter remains clinically necessary, it should be relocated to a different site.1 When IV lines are disconnected, connection sites should be cleaned with isopropyl alcohol single-use wipes and capped with injection caps; injection caps are never reused. IV tubing used for fluid administration should be changed every 72 hours. Tubing used for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) should be changed with every new TPN bag or every 24 hours, whichever is more frequent.1 Routine catheter replacement on a fixed schedule is not supported. Evidence in human patients shows that routine peripheral catheter replacement provides no benefit over replacing catheters only when clinically indicated.3 Would you like guidance on the specific technique and antiseptic protocol for urethral catheterization in male cats?