Other Signs Your Cat Has Digestive Issues
Seeing a little blood on a well-formed stool is usually nothing to worry about. Like humans, cats can suffer occasional bouts of digestive irritation and recover without on their own.
If the blood is accompanied by other symptoms, though, this could be a sign that your cat is suffering from a digestive problem that requires some medical attention. If you spot some blood in your cats stool, look out for the following accompanying symptoms:
- Changes in appetite
Loss of appetite is one of the most common signs that your cat is having some digestive difficulties. Refusing to eat is a broad symptom of cats, which can be triggered by a variety of different health conditions.
- Weight loss
Cats lose weight for a number of reasons, some of which are associated with digestive difficulties. If your cat loses weight over a short period of time, this is a strong indication that something isnt right, and you should visit your vet as soon as possible.
- Lethargy
If your cats energy levels are lower than usual, they are likely unwell. Bear in mind that most cats will have different activity levels throughout their life, and be less active as they get older. If you notice a dramatic change in your cats energy levels in a short space of time, seeking help is advised, as this is a good indicator that something is wrong.
- Vomiting
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- Irritated skin
How To Tell Whats Causing Bloody Stools In Cats
As you can see, there are many reasons for blood in cat stools despite a lack of other symptoms. But when acting normal, it can be hard to figure out what is wrong. There are no other symptoms to go off of, so all your investigatory work comes from assessing your cats poop.
Thankfully, you can tell a lot about what is happening inside your cat by looking at what comes out! Below are some of the different types of stools youll see and the associated medical conditions linked with each type:
How Serious Is Blood In A Cats Stool
Never ignore blood in your cats stool. Assess your cats overall well-being to determine if you are dealing with a potential emergency. If any of the following apply, call a veterinarian to schedule an immediate appointment:
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A lot of blood in the stool
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Pale, blue, or deep red gums
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A lack of energy
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Your cat is very young, very old, pregnant, or has an underlying health problem
On the other hand, cats who have just pooped a tiny amount of blood but seem to feel fine dont need to be rushed to the nearest emergency clinic. Keep a close eye on the litter box and watch for any new symptoms. If you continue to see blood or your cat starts acting sick, make an appointment with your veterinarian.
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Can Tapeworms Cause Blood In Stool In Cats
No, not usually. Tapeworms are one of the few parasites that do not cause blood in stool in cats.
In summary, blood in stool in cats is a common symptom with many causes, some of which are serious and others that may not be as concerning. Blood in the stool can also have other symptoms associated with it such as vomiting or diarrhea. If you’re concerned about your cat’s blood in their stool, contact your veterinarian to find out what treatment should occur based on the cause. Treatment can vary from simple dietary changes to medications and even surgery in some cases. Fibre supplementation may be recommended for cats that have blood in the stool as a result of inflammatory colitis. Canned pumpkin or Metamucil are both good sources of fibre for cats.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease In Older Cats
In older cats that establish hematochezia, one of the primary concerns is inflammatory bowel disease. Cats with IBD develop a chronic level of inflammatory cells in the gastrointestinal tract, and can impact the mucosa of different areas: the little intestine , colon and stomach .
Unlike colitis that occurs due to a temporary digestive upset, cats with IBD establish an inflammatory reaction in their intestinal tracts that does not deal with. The precise causes are unknown, but its origin has actually been connected to food sensitivities, bacteria in the intestinal tract, and body immune system dysfunctions.
Left neglected, in the short run IBD can cause bad digestion and nutrient absorption, along with abdominal pain. Over time, the chronic inflammation can cause terrifying of the mucosa, and research studies have shown that the scaring frequently results in the development of lymphoma, a kind of cancer, in the intestinal tracts.
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Why Does My Cat Have Bloody Stools
Cats can develop bloody stools for a variety of reasons. Paying attention to the litter box will help you determine whether the problems mild or severe. So, while your cat may wonder why youre studying their poop, youre doing them a big favor.
When you see a few drops of fresh blood, make sure to check your cats rear end first. The blood may not be coming from their GI tract after all. You may find trauma or abscesses around the rectum instead. These require veterinary attention.
Blood In Cat’s Stool: Vet’s Guide To Signs And What To Do
ByRebecca MacMillan BVetMed BSAVA PGCertSAM MRCVSpublished 23 May 22
Blood in cats stool? Our vet explores the reasons for this and what you should do to help
You are probably feeling worried if youve noticed some blood in your cats stool. We know that, in people, blood in the stools is not a good sign, but what does it mean for our feline friends? Blood in the feces is a non-specific finding, meaning that it can be seen in a number of conditions, all of which we will explore in more detail.
If you notice a change in your cats stools, its important to seek advice from your vet and not to try and self-diagnose, but hopefully, this guide will arm you with some more information for that initial appointment.
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How Do I Notice If My Cats Poop Is Healthy Or Not
The majority of cats defecate once a day. Your cats normal feces would usually be about 7 centimeters, well-formed, brow to dark brown, and not too strong in smell. According to U.Ks Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition, there is a Feces Scoring System, which they developed. Checking this chart would help you define whether your cats feces are abnormal or not.
Causes Of Blood In Cat Urine
Your cats urinary system starts at the kidneys. Urine produced here moves through the ureters and is stored in the bladder until it is voided through the urethra and into the tray.
Things can go wrong with any part of this system to cause blood in your cats urine. The most common problems occur in the lower urinary tract and form a spectrum of diseases called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease or FLUTD.
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Feline Recovery From Bloody Stool
- Put Together A Peaceful Setting: To make a full recovery from bloody stool, cats require a quiet, stress-free environment. People, especially children, in the house must refrain from disturbing the felines while they rest.
- Make Changes To The Diet: By adding chicken broth, pumpkin, wet food,.. to daily meals of your furball, you could relieve its strained digestive system.
- Make Plans To Remove Provocations: In case your cat eliminates bloody stool because of particular foods, ingestion of plant leaves, stressors, …. proceed to remove irritating agents from its life.
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Diagnosis Of Blood In The Stool In Cats
Diagnosis of blood in the stool of your cat will require your veterinarian to diagnose the underlying condition that is causing the signs. During the initial veterinary exam you should provide your veterinarian with a complete history of your cats signs. Noting whether your cat is also suffering from diarrhea and vomiting, whether they have been eating regularly, and any other behavioral changes will be important. You should provide your veterinarian with information on the type of food your cat eats, as well as if there have been any dietary or lifestyle changes in the household that may have induced the signs.
Your veterinarian will then use the information you have provided, the results of the physical exam of your cat, and possible lab tests to come to a possible diagnosis.
Your veterinarian will most likely perform a fecal smear of your cats stool in order to check for parasites that may be irritating your cats intestine. This is typically performed quickly in your veterinarians office. Your veterinarian may order blood work, which will give a detailed report on your cats white blood cell count and may help identify the presence of any infection.
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How Will The Vet Treat The Problem
Cats who are diagnosed with hematochezia are usually treated on an outpatient basis. If the underlying condition is severe enough, such as dehydration or internal bleeding, the vet will need to get those under control before releasing your cat back into your care.
Depending on the underlying cause that is diagnosed, your vet may prescribe antibiotics or other medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and/or laxatives.
In many cases, where the problem was caused by changes or problems related to the cats food the vet may prescribe a change in diet .
Conditions like condyloma, fistulas, hemorrhoids and fissures are classified as anorectal diseases. Some anorectal diseases may require surgery to cure.
What To Do If You Notice Blood In Your Cat’s Stool
If you see blood in your cats stools then you should get your pet checked out by your vet. It could be something mild, such as eating something that has disagreed with them, but it could be something more sinister.
If your cat is vomiting, off his food, or showing signs of pain , its especially important to get your pet seen quickly. The more promptly you seek help, the quicker and more effectively the problem can be dealt with.
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Other Indicators To Observe
Unless your cat looks weak and in pain, you can observe it before you schedule an appointment to its veterinarian. Its pooping behavior is among the things you should monitor. You should check out other possible signs such as:
- Lethargy
Keep a record of all the signs youve observed and relay them to your vet later on. By doing so, your vet can make a diagnosis more quickly.
How Dangerous Are Hookworms For My Cats
Internal bleeding and severe infection due to these worms could be lethal to your cat if they are not taken care of as soon as possible. These worms can also affect humans by penetrating the skin in case you step on them when walking barefoot in an area where cats tend to defecate, such as the beach.
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What To Do When There’s Blood In Your Cat’s Poo
If your cat is pooing blood you should always contact a vet to rule out anything serious and ensure they receive any treatment they might need. While its possible that blood in your cats stool could indicate something serious, there are also lots of milder causes that can be treated. Be prepared to describe your cats poo and any details that could help diagnose the problem for example, has your cat been near something toxic or have they had any other symptoms? If you can collect a sample of your cats bloody poo to show the vet that would be ideal.
If you think your cats condition might be serious and its at night when your daytime vet is closed, our clinics across the country are here for you. Find your nearest Vets Now pet emergency clinic here.
If youd like some advice and peace of mind, our vets are available to video chat every day between 8am and 11pm. Learn more about our online consultation service here.
About Dr Joanna Woodnutt Mrcvs
Dr. Joanna Woodnutt is a small animal veterinarian and writer who is passionate about helping owners to learn more about their pets in order to improve animal welfare. She loves to write and wants to empower owners to make the best decisions for their pets by giving them all the information they need. In her spare time, she takes consultations on the small island of Guernsey.
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Can I Give My Cat Rice For Diarrhea
As mentioned earlier, rice works wonders when it comes to treating diarrhea in cats. Both brown and white can be offered for this purpose as long as theyre cooked properly and served unseasoned. A small addition of cooked rice into your kittys usual food can improve digestion by hardening the stool.
Reasons For Blood In Cat Stool
There are a few reasons why you might see blood in cat poop. Some are more serious than others.
Diarrhea can cause irritation of the lining of the lower gastrointestinal tract, leading to bleeding. If your cat has diarrhea or soft stools, they may start to appear bloody after a couple of days.
Constipation often makes a cat strain to defecate. This sometimes leads to ruptured blood vessels in the lower GI tract. The stool often appears hard and small and may have blood on the outside.
Both diarrhea and constipation can be caused by , dietary changes or intolerance, parasites, foreign bodies, infections, toxin exposure, inflammatory bowel disease, and many other illnesses.
Dehydration can cause constipation in cats. On the other hand, diarrhea often leads to dehydration. Chronic constipation can lead to a condition called megacolon, an enlarged intestine.
Growths like polyps, cysts, and tumors can cause blood in the stool.
Many diseases and disorders can cause GI problems that lead to blood in the stool. In some cases, the cat’s stool will look normal except for the blood.
Watch for dark-colored stools that look tarry or resemble coffee grounds. This may not look like blood at first because it is so dark in color. That’s because it is digested or partially digested blood. The presence of dark blood in stools means there is bleeding somewhere in the GI tract, like the small intestine or stomach.
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What Causes Blood In Cat Stool
Blood in cat stool is most often caused by colitis . Although colitis is one of the most common reasons for blood in a cats stool, colitis is a symptom rather than a diagnosis.
Colitis is a general term that describes inflammation of the colon, which is part of your cats intestinal tract.
Bloody stool can be caused by many different things. Here are some of the most common causes:
- infection, impaction or abscess
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As you can see, blood in a cats stool can have lots of different causes some are minor, some are more concerning, and some are true emergencies. Its impossible to know exactly the reason for the blood you are seeing in your cats bowel movements without a veterinary exam.
Home Remedies For Blood In Your Cats Stool
While seeing blood will get your heart racing and prompt panic, you do have some treatment options to try at home. If your cats behaving normally, eating without a problem, and not vomiting, you dont need to rush to the ER just yet. A few drops of blood isnt cause for panic just concern.
After all, stress can cause inflammation to crop up and give your cats GI tract a wobble. So can an accidental ingestion of a new food . So, trying a few home remedies and monitoring the response isnt unreasonable.
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Treatment For Blood In Cat Poop
The first step will be to either remove or help them adjust to any possible stressors, which could be anything from a new animal in the home, to a change in their routine. If the stress is caused by a new animal or person you can help them by providing them with their own safe place that they can escape to. If its due to a different routine, you may need to revert back to your original schedule and then work in the new routine over a period of time to help them slowly adjust to the change.
If the problem is connected to a dietary issue or food intolerance your vet may suggest changing their food for a while, or may try an elimination diet in order to discover which ingredient in your cats food is causing the problem.
When the blood in cat poo is due to parasites or infections, the necessary prescriptions will be given and its absolutely essential that the course is continued until the end for the treatment to be successful. When the blood is dark, more serious treatment is usually required and could result in surgery as it might be a blockage.
If youre concerned about your cat and they seem to be displaying extra symptoms as well as having blood in their poo, be sure to take them to the vet straight away. Your vet will be able to perform a thorough examination and can help get your cat back to normal as soon as possible.