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If a cat has a health issue affecting its rectum or its anus, the first signs of trouble are usually found in its litter box. If a cat owner sees red blood in a cat's stool, he should contact his veterinarian so the cause can be diagnosed and treated.
If you clean out your cat's litter box and notice blood in the stools, you need to take some action to help your cat. This doesn't necessarily mean a trip to the veterinarian, particularly if there's only a small amount of blood in the stools. Bloody stools can be sign of minor infections, allergies or polyps, among other things. Try a natural remedy or two with your cat first and see if you get positive results.
Infrequent diarrhea in cats can be caused by nothing more than an upset stomach, or it could be a symptom of a serious underlying illness. Cats that spend time outdoors can often hide diarrhea from their owners, but stained fur under the tail and frequent grooming of the back end are dead giveaways. Sporadic bloody stools can be worrisome, but small amounts of blood can just be the result of mild inflammation. Large amounts of blood should be brought to the attention of a veterinarian, and it is helpful if you are able to bring in a sample for testing.
The presence of blood in a cat's stool may be alarming for cat owners but often can be an isolated event. However, repeated or persistent episodes of bloody stools or bloody stools accompanied by other symptoms should be reported promptly to a veterinarian.
The presence of bright red blood in a cat's feces is called hematochezia. According to veterinarian Dr. Bari Spielman, something has entered the cat's lower intestines closest to the rectum and caused damage. This could be a poison, bacterial infection, intestinal worms, cancer or even a foreign object. If a cat swallows a small sharp rock, for instance, it could pass all the way through to the lower intestines or the rectum before causing a wound which passes out with the stool. The blood is close enough to the rectum so that it does not have time to be digested…
A small amount of blood in a cat's urine or stool can be the sign of an easily-treatable illness or a more serious health-related issue that could result in death. A veterinary examination is recommended to ensure that a beloved pet's health is not compromised.
