Blood in cat stool or a Cat pooping blood can be a severe problem for the pet. It may be due to small intestinal , the colon, rectum or anal problem. The critical question here is, what can make a cat poop blood, and what can I do to help my buddy? Well, let’s start here. How does a normal Cat poop look like?
- Round and firm.
- Brown or tan in color
- Two and a half inches long on average
- An inch thick
- The average defecation of a cat is once daily
As a cat parent, you need to be observant of your pet, especially its poop, which can help you identify any changes earlier; and help the veterinarian diagnose your pet more easily.
Well, blood in cat stool problem signifies two issues:
Haemtochezia
It is a lower gastric system infection that presents as fresh blood in the stool, indicating that it’s not digested (blood may have come from the anus or the rectum). In such a case, you might notice spots or in severe cases, the whole poop is full of it.
Haematochezia can is caused by the following:
- Parvo virus infection
- Swallowing of a foreign object
- Eating of dry foods and not taking of enough water.
- Gastric cancer.
Melena
Happens on the upper gastric system. In this cat poop is darkened or dark spots are found in the stool, an indication that it has passed through the digestive process. This problem might have originated from the small intestines or the stomach.
Blood in the stool due to colon, rectum, or anus.
- Due to infection or Campylobacter disease
- Intestinal polyps– a growth of benign in the rectum
- Dry poop that might tier through as the cat defecates
- Parasitic infection such as tapeworm, hookworm, and other worms.
- Tumors (anal gland tumor or perianal tumor).
What are the signs that your cat has a gastric problem?
- Blood in stool or change in stool color.
- Mucus in the poop. Due to pus cells
- Worms in poop.
- Lack of appetite
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Weight loss
Other Causes of Blood in Cat stool.
- Feline Zoonosis
- Gastric cancer of the feline
- Poisoning, especially for outdoor cats.
What can you do if your cat poops blood?
If you notice blood in Cat stool with normal behavior, watch your pet for a day or two closely for any changes such as
- Weight loss and Appetite changes.
- The poop if the stains of blood (fresh blood or dark-colored stool) are still present or even diarrhea.
- Constipation makes it hard for the cat to pass stool which leads to rupturing of the blood vessels in the lower gastric system (anus or rectum)
Most of the time, diarrhea and constipation are caused by gastric problems such as parasitic worms (tapeworms, hookworms), change in dietary, swallowing of foreign objects, and gastric diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease.
Changes in the diet of the feline can also cause blood in the stool. Dry foods without enough drinking water can cause your cat’s strain to defecate, leading to bloodstains in stool. It is advisable to feed your cat dry foods, but you should put water on a side bowl to drink from for a better digestive system.
Read also: Dry food vs. Wet Cat food for Cats and Kittens.
Some cats have sensitive stomachs, while others allergic to a type of diet. Therefore, as a cat owner, you should know your pet. If you have noticed the problem is caused by changes in your cats’ diet, its advisable to stop feeding it that type of food and contact your Vet for guidance.
It is advisable to contact your Vet immediately when you notice changes to your feline’s bowel movements. Its an indication of a severe problem going on in the gastric system
Home-based Care for Cat Pooping Blood.
You may wonder what you can do to stop your cat from pooping blood? Well this is a medical problem that needs a professional vet to diagnose, but there is something you can do to help your cat in the short run;
- Changing the dietary of the cat; avoid cat foods with additives and artificial coloring.
- Giving it enough water to drink to keep the feline dehydrated, especially for ‘melena’ condition this can be very helpful. Having clean drinking water helps clean the system of any toxins that might be ingested by the feline.
What to expect from the Vet
- X-ray or ultrasound to diagnose the problem
- Blood and urine tests.
- Biopsies for cancer and bowel inflammation.
- Balloon dilation for the anal and rectal problem.
- Intravenous injection for in case of dehydration
- Antibiotics and painkillers
- Blood transfusion for anemic cats
- Fecal examination
In conclusion.
Although Blood in cat stool might be a problem, it shouldn’t scare you much because most of the conditions associated with it are treatable. For a cat pooping blood, but with no other behavioral changes as a vet, I would advise that you keep a close eye on your pet for a day or two, but if the problem persists, visit your Vet immediately.
Gastric cancer or bowel can also lead to a cat pooping blood, So I would advise that you visit your veterinarian as soon as possible and do not ignore the problem just because your pet doesn’t show any other symptom.
Tell us, what’s your experience with your cat pooping blood? Leave a comment below; we would love to hear from you.
