If you have a cat that vomits blood, it is necessary to act quickly to solve this problem. Indeed, vomiting blood is always a concern and the longer you wait the more likely it is that the problem will get worse. Here’s everything you need to know about this problem and how to fix it.
Cat Vomiting Blood: Causes
A cat that vomits blood necessarily has a problem and potentially serious. Here are the main causes of vomiting blood in cats, with for each of them the means to overcome this problem. I also tell you for each cause, how to recognize it correctly so that you can detect it.
Gastrointestinal ulcers
Cats can suffer open sores in the mucous membranes that will affect their esophagus or stomach and lead to vomiting blood. Although these problems are rare in cats, they can occur, especially in older, much weaker cats.
If your cat is showing symptoms like loss of appetite, pale gums, dark stools, diarrhea , or lethargy, this may be the problem.
If in doubt, you absolutely must go to the veterinarian so that he can establish a specific treatment for the problem he is encountering.
While waiting for the vet, feed him soft food so that he can eat without suffering and aggravating his symptoms, for this you can soften his kibble and grind his food as much as possible.
He ingested something poisonous
Some things like household products are toxic to cats. In the most severe cases, the cat may cough up blood. For example, if your cat chased a mouse that had taken rat poison, he can ingest it and suffer the effects.
If your cat is having difficulty breathing, not eating, lethargic, or excessive thirst, this is likely the problem.
To be on the safe side, take your cat to the vet if he tries to get something out, because he probably has something wrong with his system. You can also call the poison control center for immediate advice.
A bleeding disorder
This genetic disease causes the formation of clots that can be life-threatening. During the visit to the veterinarian, an analysis can be done and determine if it is this problem. Here too, your cat will quickly become out of breath if he suffers from this problem.
Inflammatory bowel disease
This gastrointestinal disease is usually due to hypersensitivity or food allergies and cannot be cured, only the symptoms can be managed. If your cat is having diarrhea and not eating, this may be the problem. There too, the veterinary box is essential. Here too, make it easier to take his food.
Panleukopenia
This contagious disease only occurs if your cat is not vaccinated. During the medical visit, make sure that he is completely up to date with these vaccines. If your cat suffers from it, it will have to be hospitalized for treatment. This disease being viral and very contagious, you will also need to isolate your cat from others if you have several. A cat that suffers from this pathology will have a fever and will not eat.
Worms of the heart
Heartworm is very well known for affecting dogs, but cats also suffer from this disease which can lead to death if nothing is done. Symptoms often include weight loss and asthma attacks. A blood test will verify whether or not your cat has it.
A side effect of a drug
Some medications can have violent side effects, and if your cat is on medication, he may suffer them, in this case you will have to change the treatment which does not suit him and could be dangerous for him. Also remember that your cat should always have cat-specific medications, and never one of ours, as their immune system is different.
Dental disease
Check the condition of your cat’s teeth and gums to see if he has an injury or bleeding, in this case, you will also need to give him food that is simple to eat and never hard and go to the veterinarian to prevent your cat from losing its teeth . Older cats are more at risk.
Kidney failure
Kidney failure is the number one killer of cats, usually due to too dry a diet, as is heart disease, so change their diet to something soft like cat food and ensure that it is treated. To recognize a cat that has this disease, it will have problems urinating, lack of control, strange smell, difficulty urinating to name the main symptoms.
A traumatic injury
An internal injury can cause the cat to vomit blood, if he limps or has difficulty moving, he may have suffered a shock or a blow and you can touch him to see if an area hurts him. The veterinarian is also essential.
Distinguish between the two types of blood
The blood will not have the same color depending on where it comes from, if the blood is bright red, then the problem is in the esophagus or the stomach, or even the upper part of the small intestine.
Dark, almost black blood indicates that the problem is in the lower part of the small intestine because its color indicates that digestion has been completed.
In any case, the veterinarian is necessary
Vomiting blood often only hides pathologies that need to be treated to solve the problem. It is therefore essential to always properly treat the problem of feline vomiting by visiting the veterinarian. Early treatment is always best before the problem progresses.
If your cat is very old or still a kitten, the slightest discharge of blood justifies the intervention of the veterinarian who will then be able to treat it in time, as its body is still very weak.
The vet is the only one who can treat him without making the situation worse by examining him, and potentially giving him a CT scan and x-rays. You can help by filming your cat when it vomits blood or taking a picture of it vomiting so that it can form an accurate opinion of the problem.
What to do while waiting for the visit to the vet?
Before seeing what to do, it is vital not to give him medication, because what is good for us can be harmful for his organism.
Regarding the good habits to adopt while waiting to have it treated by a professional, here is what you can implement:
- Keep him up to date with his vaccines and his dewormer : To prevent him from the damage caused by certain diseases and intestinal parasites. A vaccinated cat will have far fewer health problems, especially if it wanders outside.
- Prevent him from accessing toxic substances such as household products and plant products: Provide him with the healthiest air possible for his body. Also check that your plants are not toxic to him because he can purge himself with it and poison himself.
- Give him a healthy food to eat to encourage him to eat, that is to say moist, lukewarm, good and nutritious: He will be able to eat without his stomach being attacked.
- Limit his physical efforts , especially if he is young and does not realize that this can make his problem worse. Also prevent him from going outside so that he does not take additional risks with his current state of weakness.
- Give him something to calm down , your cat is in pain, so make sure to reassure him by spending time with him and give him something to calm down, for example you can use a soothing spray so that he can have odors calming him down.
Special cases
Many of you are asking more specific questions about cat vomiting blood. Here are the answers :
Cat vomiting pink blood
The blood is clotted and this is a sign of an inflammation of the stomach lining, an ulcer or even, in very rare cases, a tumour. It’s a medical emergency and you need to get to the vet ASAP, the problem can’t wait.
Cat vomiting clear blood
This is also a problem of inflammation of the stomach lining, an ulcer or a tumor, to be treated as soon as possible.
Cat vomiting blood and diarrhea
It is likely that typhus is responsible, this viral and sometimes fatal disease should lead you to quickly go to the veterinarian. Vaccination will prevent a recurrence in the future.
Old cat vomiting blood
An elderly cat can vomit blood for many reasons such as hairballs or catnip and also be the consequence of more serious pathologies. You definitely need to take him to the vet. Any problem in an older cat can have terrible consequences.
Cat vomiting blood clots
A coagulation disorder is likely and you must act urgently, his survival depends on it.
Watch out for recurrences
If your cat has been vomiting blood, it is vital that he can avoid having this problem again in the future. The first thing is of course to eliminate any risk that he ingests anything harmful, especially with regard to plants, but you can also promote good transit with a varied diet including kibble and soft food to avoid problems of health that may cause the cat to vomit blood.
In some cases, food supplements can help him have a better immune system, which is recommended for older cats.
Finally, if it is a fall for example or a blow, it is necessary to limit his movements if his fall is due to his age. Especially if you have a balcony, or at night for example. Don’t forget that an unneutered cat is much more likely to be injured.
My cat vomits blood: The final word
A cat vomiting blood is never something trivial and it is best to act as soon as possible by going to the veterinarian who can do what is necessary to solve the problem.