Cat Throwing Up Blood: Causes and What to Do

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Is there anything scarier than witnessing your cat throwing up blood? How about discovering your cat threw up blood while you were away, leaving your home looking like a crime scene? Whether you’re dealing with a little or a lot, bloody cat vomit can cause shock and concern in the heart of any pet parent.

While vomiting blood is relatively rare for cats, it’s always a cause for serious concern. In this article, we’ll provide much-needed answers to the question, “Why is my cat puking up blood?” You’ll learn about possible causes, what blood in cat vomit looks like, and what steps to take if your cat throws up blood. 

Cat Vomiting Blood: Is It a Cause for Concern?

Vomiting is a relatively common issue for cats. Fortunately, the occasional hairball or regurgitated pile of undigested food doesn’t always suggest a serious medical condition.

Vomiting blood, however, is a different matter. Bloody vomit is always abnormal. Even a single episode of bloody vomit calls for a visit to your veterinarian. And if it happens while your vet is closed, bloody cat vomit merits a trip to your local emergency veterinary hospital. 

Fortunately, cats vomiting blood is not a common problem. Many cat parents never encounter blood in cat puke. If you do encounter it, however, it’s important to seek veterinary care promptly. 

What does blood in cat vomit look like?

Here’s the challenge: The appearance of blood in cat vomit can vary, depending on the source of the blood. That means while some bloody vomit is easy to identify, other lookalikes may require a bit more consideration.

To spare you wondering, “Why is my cat vomiting blood?” when that’s not the case, here’s what to look for.

In some cases, bloody vomit may be bright red or pink in appearance. You may notice bloody or blood-tinged mucus in the vomit or you may see your cat vomiting watery blood. This is typically easy to recognize, because most of us expect blood to be red or pink in color.

However, not every cat puking red liquid is vomiting blood. Some cat foods or treats may also give a pink or red color to your cat’s vomit. Consider your cat’s diet to determine whether something they ate could explain the color. But even if you think that’s the culprit, it’s best to err on the side of caution and check with your vet anyway.

More commonly, blood in the vomit will look like coffee grounds. Digested blood is brown in color. So bloody cat vomit may contain what looks like specks of dried blood, rather than red or pink hues.

Whether the blood in your cat’s vomit is pink, red, or looks like coffee grounds, these are all serious red flags. Any blood in your cat’s vomit is a sign that your cat needs veterinary care.

If you’re unsure about your cat’s vomit, consult this cat vomit color chart. If there is any possibility that your cat’s vomit could contain blood, seek veterinary care. Pro tip: Take a photo of the vomit to show your veterinarian. Photos can help your vet assess the likelihood that your cat’s vomit contains blood and help with diagnosis.

Why Is My Cat Throwing Up Blood?

There are many reasons a cat could be vomiting blood. Finding the underlying cause of your cat’s vomiting blood will likely require a thorough veterinary workup. 

Here are some potential causes of vomiting blood in cats: 

• Intestinal worms and other parasites. 
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) – This condition causes chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Severe inflammation can cause bleeding, which may be visible in your cat’s vomit. Other signs of IBD include decreased appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. 
• Gastrointestinal cancer – Tumors in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines may cause bloody vomit. Other signs of GI tumors may include decreased appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. 
• Foreign body – Sometimes, cats eat non-food items like toys or string. These items can become trapped in the GI tract, causing inflammation or trauma that results in bleeding. Cats with a foreign body typically experience a relatively sudden onset of signs. Though some foreign bodies can cause ongoing, intermittent vomiting. 
• Kidney disease – Chronic kidney disease, a common condition in older cats, can cause vomiting and GI ulcers. Other signs of kidney disease may include decreased appetite, diarrhea, and weight loss. 
• Bacterial/viral infection – Salmonella, panleukopenia virus, and other infections can lead to GI bleeding and bloody vomit. Other signs will vary, depending on the cause of the infection.
• Clotting disorders – Abnormal blood clotting can increase the likelihood of GI bleeding, resulting in bloody vomit. Other signs of clotting disorders may include nosebleeds, cat coughing up blood, and unexplained bruising. 
• Liver disease – A diseased liver may cause vomiting, and it can also affect blood clotting. This combination of factors can lead to bloody vomit. Other signs of liver disease may include decreased appetite, diarrhea, weight loss, and jaundice (yellow discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes). 
• Toxins – Foods and plants toxic to cats can cause GI irritation and affect blood clotting, leading to bloody vomit. Other signs of toxicity will vary, depending on the toxin ingested.
• Swallowing blood – Any condition that causes bleeding in the mouth, sinuses, nasal passages, etc. may lead a cat to swallow blood and have bloody vomit. Bloody vomit may also occur in a cat coughing up blood due to a respiratory infection.

This list is not exhaustive. There are a variety of other conditions that may cause your cat to vomit blood. Some may be more serious than others, but it is always important to consult with your vet when it comes to cats vomiting blood.

For example, a cat vomiting blood but acting normal may suggest a minor issue, like a small injury to the mouth. But it’s still best to have your vet check it out. A cat puking and pooping blood indicates a more severe problem, possibly affecting the entire digestive tract. This is a medical emergency.

To find out why your cat is vomiting blood, your vet will need to perform a physical examination. Then they’ll conduct a variety of diagnostic tests. These will likely begin with laboratory testing, including a complete blood cell count (CBC), serum biochemistry profile, fecal parasite examination, and urinalysis.If the lab results do not reveal an obvious diagnosis, an X-ray or ultrasound of your cat’s abdomen may be next. Depending on your cat’s history and risk factors, your vet may also recommend infectious diseases testing, blood clotting profiles, and other specialized tests. 

Treatment for Bloody Cat Vomit

Treatment for bloody vomiting will vary, depending on its underlying cause.

Some conditions, like infections and toxicities, may be treatable with simple supportive care. Your vet may prescribe an anti-nausea medication like Cerenia and a bland diet for your cat, and that may be enough to resolve the problem.

If your cat’s vomiting is severe, they may need to be hospitalized for injectable medications and intravenous (IV) fluids for rehydration. 

Other conditions, however, may require more aggressive treatment. If your cat has a foreign body, for example, surgery may be necessary to remove the foreign object from your cat’s GI tract. Surgery is also recommended for some cases of GI cancer. However, other types of cancer may respond better to chemotherapy.  

Intestinal parasites are typically treated with oral dewormers. The treatment of clotting disorders varies, depending on what type of clotting disorder is present.

Chronic conditions, like IBD, kidney disease, and liver disease, may require a variety of ongoing, lifelong treatments to manage your cat’s condition. Your veterinarian will decide the best treatment for your cat, based on the results of diagnostic testing. 

Is there a home remedy for cat vomiting blood? 

There is no home remedy for bloody vomit in cats. Bloody vomit often suggests a serious underlying condition. In these cases, measures like a bland diet or an over-the-counter hairball remedy are unlikely to help.

Instead, it is better to contact your veterinarian at once. Having your cat evaluated promptly is essential, to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment. 

How to Prevent Cats from Throwing Up Blood

Although some cases of cats vomiting blood are impossible to prevent, here are some steps you can take to reduce your cat’s risk: 

• Avoid feeding raw food. Raw cat food diets (commercial and homemade) may increase your cat’s risk of infections that contribute to bloody vomiting. 
• Prevent your cat from ingesting non-food items, like small toys and strings. Select appropriate toys and keep small items out of your cat’s reach. 
• Keep your cat indoors to reduce exposure to toxins, infectious disease, etc. 
• Avoid using rodenticides (rat poison) on your property. Many rodenticides work by preventing clotting. This could befall your cat if they ingest the poison directly or eat a rodent that has consumed bait.
• Prevent access to toxins, such as household chemicals, poisonous plants, and medications. 
• Keep your cat up to date on vaccines to reduce the risk of infectious diseases.
• Administer monthly parasite prevention to reduce the risk of intestinal parasites.
• Ensure that your cat receives regular wellness examinations every 6-12 months (as recommended by your veterinarian), to allow for the early detection of kidney disease, liver disease, and other serious medical conditions.

If you have further concerns about preventing or managing bloody vomit in cats, reach out to your veterinarian. And, remember: If you see your cat vomiting blood or find bloody cat vomit in your house, don’t wait. Schedule a vet visit right away. Even one episode of bloody vomit can signal something serious.