A wetting apparatus (1) for wetting a hydrophilic urinary catheter (3), comprising: a wetting fluid container (4) containing a wetting fluid and being openable by the application of a pulling force thereto; a wetting receptacle (2); and a hydrophilic urinary catheter (3) to be wetted by said wetting fluid and being arranged within said wetting receptacle (2). The wetting fluid container (4) is arranged within the wetting receptacle (2), and the wetting receptacle is extendable, for opening the wetting container without rupturing a sealed condition of the wetting receptacle.