Blood in Cat Stool: 11 Common Causes
Pooping is a fact of life for cats. On any given day, your cat’s poop, also known as stool, will look normal: dark brown, firm, and shaped like a log.
But various health problems can lead to your cat pooping blood. That would make any cat owner concerned, and even a bit grossed out.
Blood in a cat’s stool is not always an emergency. But it does point to an underlying cause that needs a vet’s diagnosis and treatment.
Blood in Cat Stool: What Does It Look Like?
Inspecting your cat’s poop is not most people’s idea of fun. But being able to describe what the blood in the poop looks like will help your veterinarian determine how the blood got there and how to treat it.
Let’s go through a few things to observe about blood in your cat’s poop.
Color
The color of the blood indicates where the bleeding is occurring in your cat’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
Dark and tarry blood – called melena – resembles coffee grounds. This type indicates a problem in the upper GI tract (stomach and small intestine). Melena’s appearance is due to the blood being partially digested.
Bright red, fresh blood – called hematochezia – is a sign of problems in the lower GI tract (colon, rectum, or anus).
Consistency
Clots of blood in the stool resemble clumps of jelly and point to a problem in the lower GI tract.
Volume
The blood may appear mixed throughout, present on one end, or take up almost the entirety of the stool.
Take note of the stool’s appearance as well. Hard stool is a sign of constipation, while loose, watery poop indicates diarrhea.
11 Common Causes of Blood in Cat Poop
The list of causes of bloody stools can run a mile long. Here’s a list of the most common causes:
Constipation: Straining to poop can rupture blood vessels around the anus, causing bleeding. Prolonged constipation can damage the colon.
Diarrhea: Diarrhea can irritate the lining of the GI tract as the loose poop passes through, causing bleeding. Long-term diarrhea can lead to severe dehydration and should be treated promptly.
Parasites: Intestinal worms, such as hookworms, can attach to the intestinal lining, leading to bleeding. Intestinal parasites steal nutrients from their host, causing problems like malnutrition.
Inflammation: Inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease, irritate the GI tract lining, causing bleeding. Although not life-threatening, inflammatory diseases are chronic and need consistent management.
Cancer: Cancerous growths in the GI tract can cause bleeding. Cancers range in severity and aggression.
Polyps: Polyps are benign growths but can still damage the GI tract lining and cause bleeding.
Stress: Stress in cats can cause a condition called stress colitis (inflammation of the colon). An inflamed colon can leak blood into the poop.
Infection: Disease-causing bacterial infections, viruses, and fungi can cause GI upset and bleeding.
Foreign bodies: A sharp-edged foreign body may lacerate the GI tract lining and cause bleeding after ingestion.
Dietary indiscretion: Cats that sift through garbage may eat something that causes bleeding. Food intolerances can be severe if your cat eats toxic food like garlic.
Rat poison ingestion: Rodenticides contain an anticoagulant and are toxic to cats. A cat that eats rat poison or a rat that ate the poison will be unable to clot blood, leading to significant GI bleeding.
Each of these causes requires veterinary attention. Rat poison ingestion is an emergency and needs immediate treatment.
Getting a Diagnosis for Blood in a Cat’s Stool
Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if your cat has blood in its stool. Your veterinarian will first take a history from you and perform a physical exam.
Be ready to answer questions from your vet, such as those listed below:
- When did you first notice the blood?
- What does the blood in the poop look like (e.g. red blood, dark/black blood)?
- What other symptoms is your cat experiencing (e.g., lethargy, vomiting)?
- Has your cat experienced recent stressors (e.g., new pet, baby, recent move)?
Your veterinarian may also run diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the blood in your cat’s stool. These might include:
- Blood work
- Fecal exam
- X-rays
- Abdominal ultrasound
Your vet may also want to perform an endoscopy of the GI tract, for which your cat would be sedated. An endoscope consists of thin tubing and a camera, along with small pinchers to take tissue samples, if necessary. An endoscopy would allow your vet to see evidence of inflammation, cancerous growths or polyps, and foreign bodies.
How to Treat Blood in Cat Poop
Treatment for blood in cat stool depends on the underlying cause. For example, a deworming medication kills intestinal worms. Constipation can be treated with stool softeners. Inflammatory bowel disease is often managed with dietary changes. The goal is to reduce inflammation and irritation in the GI tract.
Surgery may be the best option to remove a foreign body, polyp, or cancerous growth.
Regardless of cause, it’s important to monitor your cat for any additional symptoms or behavioral changes to provide an accurate report to your veterinarian.
Home remedies are generally not recommended to treat blood in cat poop. The only safe and appropriate home remedy is dietary management. This may involve feeding a hypoallergenic diet and adjusting your cat’s fiber intake.
How to Prevent Blood in Your Cat’s Stool
With so many causes of blood in cat poop, prevention is not always possible or practical.
Good news is, there are a few things you can do to reduce the likelihood of blood appearing in your cat’s stool:
Eliminate stress. Reduce your cat’s stress by providing plenty of environmental enrichment, like toys and perches.
Don’t let your cat dumpster dive. Block your cat’s access to rat poison and garbage.
Keep regular veterinary appointments. Take your cat for wellness visits according to your veterinarian’s recommended schedule.
FAQs
Why is there blood in my cat’s poop?
Blood in cat stool can be caused by many things, including digestive upset, infections, parasites, stress, or more serious conditions like colitis or cancer. A vet exam is the best way to find out.
Why is my cat pooping blood but acting normal?
Even if your cat seems fine, blood in the stool can signal a health issue like parasites, food intolerance, or inflammation. It’s best to contact your vet to rule out anything serious.
Can worms cause blood in stool in cats?
Yes. Intestinal parasites like hookworms and roundworms can irritate the digestive tract and lead to blood in your cat’s poop. Deworming and fecal tests can help treat and prevent this.
When should I worry about blood in my cat’s stool?
If the bleeding is frequent, accompanied by diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, or your cat seems unwell, call your vet right away. Even a one-time occurrence is worth mentioning at your cat’s next checkup.
Can cat food cause blood in stool?
Yes. A sudden change in diet or a food allergy or intolerance can irritate the gut and cause blood in the stool. Always transition food gradually and consult your vet if symptoms persist.
