You're cleaning out your cat's litter box and you see something worrisome: blood in her feces. What does it mean if you see blood in cat poop? How worried do you need to be? Blood in cat feces will appear bright red. Blood in your cat's stool can also look very dark red or black. Bright red blood in the stool is fresh, and black blood is old.

What causes blood in cat poop?

Blood in cat feces is often caused by colitis. While colitis is one of the most common causes of blood in cat feces, colitis is a symptom and not a diagnosis. Colitis is a general term that describes inflammation of the colon, which is a part of a cat’s intestines. Colitis can be caused by many different causes. Here are some of the most common reasons:

Anal gland infection, impaction, or abscess.

Anxiety.

Bacterial infection.

Coagulation disorders.

Cancer.

Constipation.

Changes in diet.

Eat unsuitable or spoiled food.

Food allergies or food intolerances.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Internal bleeding due to trauma or other causes.

Intestinal obstruction.

Intestinal parasites.

Kidney disease.

Liver disease.

Drug intolerance.

Mercolon.

Pancreatitis.

Poisoned.

Rectal polyps.

Trauma (hit by a car, attacked by an animal).

As you can see, blood in cat poop can have many different causes, some are minor, some are more concerning, and some are true emergencies. Without a veterinary examination, you won't know for sure why your cat has blood in his stool. For example, changing your cat's food may cause blood in your cat's stool, or having worms may cause blood in your cat's stool. It's crucial to seek veterinary care when you see blood in your stool, whether it's bright red or dark, black or tar-like.

Should I be concerned about blood in my cat’s stool?

Never ignore blood in your cat's feces. Blood in a cat's feces indicates something is wrong with her health. There are no home remedies to treat blood in cat poop. If you see blood in your cat's stool, take her to the veterinarian as soon as possible.

Consider the following scenario:

1. You only see a small amount of blood in cat feces;And the blood is bright red

If your cat's poop looks fairly normal and doesn't indicate illness, you may be able to wait a day or two before consulting your veterinarian. Even if your cat seems fine, at least give your veterinarian a call and tell him what you saw in his cat's poop. Although a normal cat will occasionally have blood in its stool, it is still cause for concern.

2. You see dark blood such as dark red, black or shiny

In some cases, blood in a cat's stool requires more urgent veterinary care. You must see a veterinarian immediately. Your cat may be experiencing internal bleeding, and this can't wait any longer.

3. You see blood and the cat is sick or has other symptoms

Feces can tell you a lot about your cat's health. If the blood is bright red and the cat has diarrhea or vomiting; if the cat has a lot of mucus and blood on its butt, the amount of blood is excessive, and the cat is uncomfortable, send it to the veterinarian for examination as soon as possible. Don't wait until the next morning. This may mean a trip to an emergency animal hospital if it is during regular business hours or on a weekend or holiday. If possible, bring a fresh stool sample of your cat's blood to your veterinarian.

How does a veterinarian treat a cat with bloody stools?

When you arrive at the hospital, your veterinarian will typically do the following:

From the cat’s medical history, ask about the cat’s health, environment and lifestyle.

Give your cat a thorough physical exam, pet her body, and look at her eyes, ears, and mouth.

Do a fecal test for your cat’s bloody stool.

Bright red or black depending on the cat's other symptoms and the type of blood in the stool. Your veterinarian may also need:

Draw blood for blood tests, such as a complete blood count.

Collect urine for analysis.

Get an x-ray or have other diagnostic tests like ultrasound.

Exploratory surgery or endoscopy is recommended.

Treatment for blood in cat feces is highly dependent on the cause of the bleeding. Once your veterinarian is able to determine the source of the blood in your cat's stool, he or she will be able to determine appropriate treatment. Your cat may need fluids, medicine, special food, or other care.

Don’t ignore the blood in cat poop

If you find blood in your cat's stool, don't panic, but get your cat checked out by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Especially for cats, putting off a trip to the vet is never a good idea. Cats have a natural tendency to hide their illnesses. In the wild, sick or injured cats may become targets for large predators. This is how cats often hide their pain and discomfortreason. Sick cats often do well until they fail. Signs of illness, such as decreased appetite and weight loss, can be difficult to notice, especially in older cats.

When you realize something is wrong with your cat, the problem may become more complicated. When this happens, treatment can be more invasive and costly. Delaying treatment may lead to worse outcomes for the cat. It's better to be safe than sorry, and if you find blood in your cat's stool, bring your cat in for a checkup.