What causes cats to pass blood in feces?
What are other signs to look for?
Regardless of the cause, blood in feces alone is enough reason to take your cat to a doctor. But your veterinarian will be thankful if you have noticed anyy other possibly related signs of illness.
- Poor appetite or a complete refusal to eat can point to many problems, including a long list of illnesses. If your cat is restricting its food intake, you should get him or her back to the bowl as soon as you can, to prevent damage to internal organs.
- Vomiting is a common sign of gastrointestinal problems, such as ingestion of a foreign body or infections. Vomit can also contain blood.
- Straining in the litter box or going outside of the litter box can point to pain during elimination. It could be caused by constipation, infection, or injury. Learn more about pain in cats here.
- A swollen abdomen is a common sign of worm infestation. Other common signs are appetite changes and weight loss, among others. Find a complete list of worm symptoms in cats here.
- Consistency of stools. There are two extremes to look for. Soft stool or diarrhea can point to infections, parasites, or a foreign body, whereas hard stool is a sign of constipation.
Though relatively common, blood in stools is a serious sign in cats. In fact, since it points to internal bleeding, it is a serious symptom in all animals, including other pets and humans. If your cat has blood in its feces, do not hesitate to visit a veterinarian.