Finding out the signs of whether a cat is sick or not might be tricky because cats are skilled at hiding signs and symptoms. The appearance of blood in cat poop, urine, and vomit is an indication that your cat is unwell.
“No pet or person has a perfect stool every time it defecates, but consistent variation from bowel movement is a red flag that something is wrong with your pet’s health,” says Donna Solomon, a vet and the owner of Animal Medical Center of Chicago.
What Are the Types of Blood in Cat’s Stools
What does it mean when your cat poops blood? The presence of blood can manifest in two different ways, with both showing hints of the main location of the bleeding.
Haematochezia
Bright red blood is visible and can be distributed throughout the faeces or just specks on it. This is usually associated with anal bleeding or complications in the lower intestines that can either be in the colon or rectum. This type is easier to identify than the next one.
Melena
It can be described as tarry dark blood in cat stool. This signifies internal bleeding that can be from the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
The colour of fresh blood is turned black or dark brown from having been digested. There are also cases where the blood can come from the nose, mouth, or food intake.
What Are the Common Causes of Blood in Cat Poop?
1. Intestinal Parasites
The most common cause of blood in cat stools is parasitic infestations. Cat worms can be the cause of the inflammation of the intestines that results in bleeding.
Hookworms and roundworms are the common parasitic worms found in cats. Fortunately, this condition can be prevented and treated by deworming.
2. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
IBD is the result of impaired nutrient absorption and food digestion. This occurs when there is a complication in the entire gastrointestinal tract.
It can affect either the small intestine, large intestine, and stomach of felines. Symptoms include diarrhoea, blood in stool, and vomiting. Switching to a highly digestible diet can alleviate the pain and discomfort.
3. Colitis
Colitis or swelling of the colon is one of the most prevalent causes of fresh blood and mucus in cat poop. It comes in two forms: acute and chronic.
Acute refers to the sudden onset of the condition. Diarrhoea is often observed in this case. Chronic colitis, on the other hand, is intermittent and tends to persist longer. Dehydration, weight loss, and inappetence are common symptoms.
Fortunately, colitis is curable. The treatment options often include medication therapy, dietary changes, and stress management.
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4. Dietary Changes or Food Intolerance
Having a sudden change in diet can irritate the colon, and the digestive system and may affect the composition of a cat’s poo. It can be corrected by going back to her former diet. Change in diet must be gradually introduced.
5. Food Allergies
The digestive tract’s exposure to food allergens can irritate its tissues and cause inflammation and bleeding. Switching to a prescription hypoallergenic cat food helps avoid triggering allergic reactions in cats.
6. Ingestion of Foreign Bodies
Some cats have a habit of indiscriminate eating and ingesting non-food items. These foreign objects may cause damage as they pass through the digestive tract. As a result, felines will have blood in their stools.
In some cases, these items are expelled from the body through vomiting or defaecation. Extreme forms of this issue will require surgery to remove the material blocking the animal’s GI tract.
7. Bacterial Infection
Much the same with the parasitic infection, bacterial infection results in the inflammation of the intestinal tract. Vets usually prescribe oral antibiotics to affected cats.
8. Tumours
Tumours or rectoanal polyps can occur in the wall found in the lower intestine or around the anus. A surgical procedure is typically done to remove polyps or tumours.
9. Anal Sac Complications
Anal sacs are similar to scent glands, which secrete an oily, foul substance that is used to identify individual felines. Complications occur due to inflammation from the thickened secretions of the anal glands.
If left untreated, it can become an infection. Furthermore, treatment can be manually done by expressing the glands. This should only be done by a trusted veterinarian.
As for crucial cases, extraction of the infected material should be done with antibiotics to help treat the infection. If the condition persists, surgical removal should be considered.
10. Cancer
This refers to the uncontrolled division of cells in the form of intestinal cancer, colon cancer, and anal gland cancer. Surgery is the usual course of action to remove cancer. Further treatments include chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
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What to Do If a Cat Has Blood in Her Poop?
Finding blood in your cat’s stool can be extremely worrisome. However, avoid panicking and keep a cool head. Here are some steps that you should take to assess the severity of her situation:
- Check how often your cat defaecates bloody poop. When you clean out the litter tray, examine her stools for signs of blood. If it is present for more than 2 days, she requires a medical health check.
- Monitor your pet’s bowel movement. Excessive or absence of elimination for prolonged periods is an alarming sign of an illness. If her bowel movement does not return to normal after 1 day, bring her to an animal clinic.
- If your pet is acting normal but her poop has a small amount of blood, keep a close eye on her. Watch out for other symptoms of the disease such as lethargy, inappetence, straining to poop, vomiting, and diarrhoea. If her condition gets worse, vet intervention is warranted.
FAQs About Blood in Cat Poop
1. What If My Cat Has a Small Amount of Blood in Her Poop?
If your cat has a small amount of blood in her poop, it is an indicator of an illness. Oftentimes, this is caused by stress, sudden dietary changes, or food intolerance.
Try to observe your cat’s behaviour and see if she is exhibiting other signs of illness. If this is the case, drive her to the vet immediately. If she remains active and normal, consult a vet about the next steps to take.
2. Is Blood in Cat Stool an Emergency?
Blood in cat stool can be a sign of emergency. Black, tarry stools and stools with large amounts of blood indicate a serious underlying illness.
These symptoms go hand in hand with straining to poop, stomach pains, and gastrointestinal distress. Bring your pet to the animal clinic ASAP if she is exhibiting these signs.
3. Why Is My Cat’s Poop Red Jelly?
If your cat’s poop appears similar to red jelly, it might be caused by colitis. However, proper diagnosis is essential in confirming the root cause of this symptom. So be sure to get your pet checked by the vet.
4. Can Stress Cause Blood in Cat Stool?
Stress can cause blood in cat stool. It affects the digestive process, which may result in health problems like stomach upset and colitis. With this in mind, we advise pawrents to provide a comfortable and safe living environment for their cats.
Conclusion
Minor and major health issues can cause blood in cat poop. Certain instigators like food intolerance, food allergies, and stress are easily manageable when given attention right away.
However, bloody stools may also signal the presence of serious ailments such as cancer. Thus, pet owners should pay close attention to other abnormal behavioural changes accompanying this symptom.