A urinary catheter assembly includes a catheter shaft, a drainage funnel associated with the distal end of the catheter shaft, and a gripping member. The distal end of the gripping member is fixedly secured to the drainage funnel, while an extendable portion of the gripping member allows its proximal end to be moved along the length of the catheter shaft toward and away from the proximal end of the catheter shaft. The extendable portion of the gripping member encircles at least a portion of the catheter shaft when the proximal end of the gripping member is moved toward the proximal end of the catheter shaft, thereby allowing for the gripping member to be used to manipulate the catheter shaft without directly touching the catheter shaft.