Blood in the feces of a cat, a cat, a kitten: reasons and what to do

Seeing blood in your cat’s stool, whether it be a kitten or an adult, can be concerning. It’s an indication that something isn’t quite right, but there could be a lot of different causes. While some causes are minor and can be treated without much difficulty, others might require more urgent care.

It’s important to stay calm and observe any other symptoms your cat may be showing, such as changes in behavior, appetite, or bathroom habits. These can offer important clues about what might be causing the issue.

This guide will explain the possible causes of blood in your cat’s feces and offer actions you can take to hasten the healing process for your pet.

The dependence of the color of the feces on the level of problems in the digestive tract

You can identify which intestinal department is involved by looking at the color of the bloody interspersed.

• The presence of scarlet blood indicates the injuries of the anus or the lower digestive tract;
• dark, almost black – indicates the problems of the top of the gastrointestinal tract.

Upon noticing this, it is worthwhile to consult the veterinarian as soon as possible to ensure proper diagnosis, examination, and treatment.

The reasons for the appearance

There are a number of them, and blood in the stool can be attributed to a number of illnesses, the following being the most common:

• Parasites. Helminants are attached to the intestinal walls, damaging them, which causes the appearance of bloody discharge with feces. The feces acquires a brown tint.
• Solid feces (with constipation) when passing through the intestines can lead to its trauma.
• A foreign body, for example, a piece of plastic, a tubular bone, etc. objects. During the peristaltic wave passing through the intestines, it begins to move, injuring the surrounding tissues, as a result of which blood appears in the animal"s feces.
• Poisoning, for example, with rat poison. If the pet catches rats, mice, or the house has recently been treated for them, the animal may accidentally eat some of it. Once absorbed, the toxic substance leads to poisoning of the body, which is accompanied by bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract and the pet defecates blood.
• Malignant and benign tumors, as well as the growth of their metastases with germination in the digestive organs.
• Inflammation of the perianal glands (located in the anus in cats and used to mark territory). With this disease, they increase in size due to edema, which can develop into a fistula. During the act of defecation, the inflamed gland is injured and drops of blood appear.
• Coronavirus infection. This virus causes gastroenteritis, enteritis and peritonitis. As a result of these diseases, the intestinal mucosa is damaged and, as a consequence, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and other signs of the disease. Young animals under 3 years of age and older animals over 10 years of age are most susceptible to infection. Coronavirus infection is a common cause of death in pets, 90% of infected die. This is a serious condition that requires immediate veterinary care.
• Problems with the blood coagulation system, which leads to intestinal bleeding. In this case, not only feces with blood streaks appear, but also vomiting with it. This condition can be dangerous for the animal and requires urgent veterinary care.
• Colitis. Elderly animals are most susceptible to this problem. Feces change not only their color, but also their smell. Dark-colored blood and mucus are released along with feces, while constipation alternates with diarrhea.
• Poor absorption of dry food. This is often due to the fact that the animal drinks little water after eating such food, which leads to strong compaction of feces, which injure the delicate intestinal mucosa.
• Various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Among the main ones are: gastritis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis, ulcers of the duodenum and stomach, and many others. With these diseases, the blood in the feces will have a dark, even black, color.
• Long-term constipation leads to the formation of cracks in the anus, with scarlet blood released at the end of the act of defecation.
• Polyps in the colon lead to its trauma and bleeding.
• Allergy to stabilizers, dyes and corn flour contained in dry food. The main recommendation in this condition is a partial or complete transition to separately prepared natural food.
• Infection with bacteria, such as salmonella, coli bacteria and intestinal tuberculosis bacillus. In this case, inflammation of the intestinal mucosa occurs, the permeability of the vessels located in it increases and, as a result, blood is detected in the cat"s stool.
• Prolapse of the rectum caused by prolonged labor, constipation or diarrhea with strong straining of the pet.

These are not all the illnesses and ailments that can cause blood to appear in the feces, but they are similar in their symptoms. Regarding this, you should trust a professional—a veterinarian—rather than making your own diagnoses and treatment recommendations.

It can be concerning to discover blood in your cat’s feces, and you should be aware that there are a number of possible causes for this, from relatively minor conditions like constipation to more serious ones like infections, parasites, or inflammatory bowel disease. If this is noticed, it’s critical to keep an eye on your pet’s behavior, food, and general health. You should also seek veterinary care as soon as possible to identify the underlying cause and administer the appropriate treatment. Prompt action can help avoid problems and guarantee your cat’s health.

Symptoms

Blood in the feces is always a concerning sign for the owner that their pet needs professional assistance.

Not only can blood in the feces be concerning, but if your pet exhibits any of the following symptoms, you should see a veterinarian right away:

• during the act of defecation, the animal meows loudly – this indicates that it is painful for it to defecate;
• vomiting;
• a decrease in the amount of food consumed, up to a complete refusal to eat it;
• the pet becomes weak, apathetic, stops playing;
• the cat is very anxious, meows often – may be associated with pain in the abdominal area;
• an increase in body temperature;
• frequent urination;
• the pet begins to drink often and a lot;
• a sharp decrease in weight;
• blood and its clots around the anus.

The animal undergoes extreme stress due to pain associated with any disease or condition that is accompanied by blood in the stool, which makes matters worse. In this sense, the pet just needs to receive treatment on time.

Mr. Cat recommends: when to contact a veterinarian

If any of the following symptoms occur, you should contact a veterinarian right away at home or at the clinic because there are certain conditions that call for emergency care:

• refusal to drink water;
• sudden weakness;
• ongoing vomiting and diarrhea with blood;
• a sharp rise in body temperature.

They all point to a dire circumstance.

Actions before contacting a veterinarian

If blood was discovered in the animal’s feces and there are no indications of the grave condition mentioned above, you should keep an eye on your pet and learn the following:

• frequency of blood appearance: once or regularly;
• approximate amount: in the form of drops, streaks, clots or solid;
• has anything changed in the pet"s behavior: has it become restless, sleeps a lot, stopped playing, etc.;
• is there anything in the feces besides blood: clots of wool, mucus, undigested food particles, etc.;
• has eating behavior changed, how much water does it drink;
• the presence or absence of vomiting, diarrhea or constipation;
• measure the temperature and clarify whether it is within normal limits.

The veterinarian will most likely inquire about each of these parameters since they are all crucial to determining the right diagnosis.

Diagnosis of the causes of bleeding in cats

The veterinarian will examine the patient and speak with the owner to learn about significant events in the pet’s life in order to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. They then proceed to diagnostic examinations.

To achieve this, they act as follows:

• general and clinical blood and urine tests;
• coprogram – helps to clarify the presence of undigested food, the presence of blood and other parameters;
• stool examination for the presence of worms and protozoa;
• ultrasound of the abdominal organs and kidneys;
• x-ray examination;
• if necessary, they will perform a colonoscopy. This study makes it possible to examine the animal"s intestines from the inside.

Possible treatment

The principles of treatment will vary depending on what caused the blood in the stool to appear and the diagnosis made:

• If this condition is caused by dry food, you should completely abandon it. Dry and canned cat food is the same as fast food for us. Since it contains a large number of dyes, preservatives, thickeners and all sorts of additives that have a negative effect on the pet"s body. But do not forget that feeding from the human table is even more dangerous for the pet. It is necessary to start preparing natural food for him separately. It is worth consulting a veterinarian about the products approved for use. A sample menu can be developed at a veterinary clinic, since the diet should be balanced. But there are rules: you cannot give fatty, spicy, salty and sweet food. You can feed boiled chicken, rice, boiled vegetables. Smecta, dissolved in a small amount of water, helps well to normalize stool. Probiotics will help normalize the intestinal microflora. For this purpose, Hilak forte is prescribed, this is a solution for intravenous drip use, which makes it convenient for use at home in the dosage specified by the veterinarian.

• The reason is infection with bacteria or helminths. Antibiotics and antiparasitic drugs are prescribed, as well as intravenous infusions of vitamins, microelements and saline. They will help maintain the acid-base balance of the body, reduce intoxication and improve the general well-being of the cat.
• If problems with the liver and gall bladder are detected, hepatoprotectors are prescribed, for example, Essentiale forte. It is administered intravenously or subcutaneously, in some cases oral (internal) use is acceptable. It is worth strictly adhering to the prescribed dose.
• If there are problems with the blood coagulation system, hemostatic drugs and vitamin K are prescribed.
• The cause of bleeding in the excess accumulation of hair and the formation of lumps from it in the intestines – special therapeutic feeds are prescribed that help remove it naturally.
• If there are problems with the pancreas (pancreatitis) – taking enzymes is indicated.
• If tumors, foreign bodies or polyps are detected in the intestines – surgical treatment is mandatory, eliminating the problem radically. Drug therapy is powerless in such cases.
• If the animal has been poisoned, its remains are washed out of the body by washing the stomach and an enema. Also, intravenous administration of a diuretic and solutions to maintain the acid-base balance of the blood is prescribed, which contributes to the speedy recovery of the pet and improves its overall well-being.

It is important to keep in mind that the likelihood of recovery increases with the promptness of receiving qualified assistance.

It can be concerning to find blood in your cat’s feces, but you should act quickly and remain composed. This can occur for a number of reasons, from relatively minor ones like food intolerance to more significant ones like infections or parasites.

It’s critical to keep an eye on your cat’s general health if you observe this symptom. Keep an eye out for additional indicators such as behavioral, dietary, or energy changes. These hints can assist in determining whether the issue can wait until a routine veterinarian visit or if it is an emergency.

Ultimately, speaking with a veterinarian is the best course of action. They are able to conduct the required examinations and prescribe the best course of action for your cat’s ailment. Prompt action will guarantee the continued health and happiness of your pet.

Video on the topic

CAT HAS DIARRHEA WITH BLOOD // BIO-VET Veterinary Clinic Network