Does your cat vomit blood? Don’t worry, it’s not as bad as it sounds and is very common in domestic cats who often suffer from urinary tract disorders.
A cat that urinates blood usually suffers from hematuria, ie there is blood in the urine.
Hematuria is the medical term that defines this problem and is often associated with other infections, including:
- Polyuria: The cat urinates often, it has control over its bladder and does not urinate elsewhere. He will urinate much more frequently than normal.
- Dysuria: The cat is unable to urinate. He will often meow in embarrassment or pain.
- Strangury : The cat suffers when it urinates and meows to express its suffering.
- Periuria : He pees in unusual places, control over his bladder is very weak. It’s best to put him in a cat diaper because the loss of bladder control will cause him to urinate all over the place.
- He often licks his genital area : Because of the burning sensations in this area.
If left untreated, the problem can get worse and lead to the following symptoms:
- Refusal to eat and drink: Whatever food you give him, he will refuse to eat. The same goes for water, which he won’t drink even if it’s very cold.
- Fever : He will appear ill and do nothing all day. He will not like to be touched and will refuse physical contact.
- Vomiting: He will reject everything he ingests and may even vomit bile and gastric juices if he has an empty stomach.
- Mental confusion: Your cat is lost, it does not concentrate and is very clumsy.
- Apathy: He is lethargic;
Cat that urinates blood: The causes and their solutions
The main causes that make your cat urinate blood each have appropriate solutions, I present to you for each of them what you must put in place.
Feline idiopathic cystitis
This is the most common cause and is due to inflammation of the bladder and causes the presence of blood in the urine. If your cat suffers from it, it is probably a nervous stress that affects different parts of the body. The first thing is to go to the vet to avoid worsening inflammation and end the problem.
Basically, you will absolutely have to manage the stress of the cat, if it is justified you must remove the cause, otherwise make sure that he gets used to what stresses him by reassuring him and doing so that he feels totally safe in his basket.
Stones in the bladder
Cats can also get kidney stones, which can block the passage of urine and cause damage. Stones that are too large or blocked can lead to surgery.
If he has trouble urinating, the presence of stones is probable or imminent and you must take him to the vet as soon as possible to avoid surgery. Large and older cats are much more at risk. If yours is obese, try to get it back to normal weight.
Urethral plug
More common in males, this disease prevents the normal flow of urine because of something that gets stuck in the urethra. Here too, the veterinarian is essential to unblock the situation and avoid serious damage to the bladder.
Bacterial infection
The bladder is an organ exposed to external and internal bacteria. Bacteria can reach the urethra and travel up to the bladder and cause infection. Ditto, only the veterinarian can solve the problem.
Parasites
The parasites can occupy the cat’s urinary tract and cause it to urinate blood. Deworming the cat is essential, especially if it is an outdoor cat. Who will necessarily be in contact with parasites in nature. You must act by having it dewormed because the parasites multiply and will be fatal to your cat if nothing is done.
Malformation of the urinary tract
This malformation can cause urination disorders, but medical intervention can also be of great help.
Bleeding disorders
These disorders can make the cat more susceptible to hemorrhaging and bleeding. Medical treatment is essential.
Medications
Certain medications can create this problem. Contact the veterinarian to see if the treatment can be followed. The side effects probably mention this type of problem.
Trauma
Trauma to the urinary tract, bones and pelvis can cause your cat to urinate blood. Sometimes the trauma is not visible from the outside but the cat will be weak and will not want to be touched. In the most serious cases, do not wait and go to the veterinary emergency room.
Shock
Blows suffered by the cat can cause lesions and therefore blood in the urine. This problem is solved in the same way as trauma.
Bladder tumors
Tumors are more common than you might think, especially in young cats and they will usually suffer with vomiting and loss of appetite.
There are many other, many other less common causes, so it is necessary to go to the veterinarian to find out the precise cause.
The veterinarian is essential
Whatever the cause of the bleeding, only a veterinarian can precisely define the cause and treat your cat with the appropriate treatment.
He will begin by examining the cat’s urine with a blood test to determine the quality of the urine and the potential presence of bacteria and crystals.
Then he will take the blood to see if there is possibly an infection.
Sometimes an x-ray of the abdomen and an ultrasound of the bladder will be necessary to know the state of the urinary system and the bladder.
What will he do?
After determining the cause that causes your cat to pee blood, he will choose a treatment from the following depending on the cause of the pathology:
- Diet low in magnesium: Which reduces the formation of struvite crystals
- Acidic drugs: To prevent stones
- Washing the bladder: To eliminate them
- Surgery: To remove stones that are larger or too blocked to be expelled otherwise.
What can I do myself if my cat urinates blood?
Here is a list of things that will help your cat while waiting for the vet visit:
- Encourage him to drink more: With fresh water, even flowing directly from the tap so that your cat finds it as healthy as possible. Cats dislike standing water.
- Choose specific foods for this type of problem: Those that are low in magnesium.
- Prefer wet food rather than dry food: To help him eat.
- Help him exercise: What’s good for his body.
- Help him deal with his stress by spending time with him and giving him something to do. In the event of a change of habit, such as a move, it will take time for him to be completely comfortable. You can also use pheromone diffusers which will reassure him naturally.
- Give him vitamin C supplements to increase the acidity of the urine and eliminate bacteria in infections. Otherwise, give him fruits rich in vitamin C and suitable for cats.
- Pour apple cider vinegar into the water : This will help clean the urinary tract.
But how does blood get into urine?
The blood present in your cat’s urine is produced in the cat’s kidneys and passes through the urethra to then seep into the bladder and finally be expelled in the urine. There may also be lesions in the genitals that cause bleeding.
Special cases
Some special cases are often present, here are the main ones:
Old cat urinating blood
It is probably a bacterial infection of the urinary tract having a low concentration of urine and allowing easier bacterial growth. Older cats have a lot more health problems than when they were younger and you absolutely have to take him to the vet if the slightest pathology shows up.
Cat urinating blood after a fall
Your cat probably has an injury that has caused a lesion in the genitals and evacuating blood when he urinates.
Cat urinating everywhere with blood
Urinary tract infections, crystals in the urine and interstitial cystitis are among the most common causes of this problem.
Cat urinating blood and vomiting
There are many causes that cause problems.
Cat that urinates blood: The final word
A cat that urinates blood should not alarm you, it is however essential to always treat it quickly with home methods and then take it to the veterinarian to solve the problem directly.