A cat can bleed from the nose for many reasons that should not be taken lightly because a cat that bleeds from the nose usually does it for less trivial reasons than us and it could be that a pathology is at the origin of the problem.
In this article, I tell you everything you need to know about feline nosebleeds, and most importantly, how to fix the problem.
Nosebleed Cat: Symptoms
If you want to make sure your cat has a good nosebleed, pay attention to the following symptoms:
- Red spots under the nostrils: Sometimes simple spots are present, because the cat constantly cleans itself and does not leave the bleeding visible. You will have to scrutinize the hairs and the nostrils to get a clear idea.
- Drops of blood: Lighter bleeding will induce drops of blood but may become heavier. The drops of blood will be more frequent in the places where he is most often.
- Frequent licking of the nose without it being cold: It cleans the blood which flows being very hygienic. He also retains his animal instincts, and in the wild, the smell of blood can attract predators and is a danger to him.
Cats can have chronic or acute nosebleeds and nosebleeds are not all the same. Knowing the likely causes of your cat’s nosebleed is vital to finding the most suitable solution.
The causes
There are two types of causes causing nosebleeds in cats:
- Something is stuck in the nose / It is injured: The cat will usually only bleed from one nostril and you will be able to see the wound or the object stuck in its nose.
- A pathology: Which causes blood to come out through the nose. These can be many and I will show you the main ones that are linked to a nosebleed in your feline.
A wound
Cats have a tendency to jump around, especially when they are young, and outdoor cats can easily hurt themselves, whether it’s a fall, a fight or contact with something sharp like brambles.
They may also get something stuck in their nose, such as a rock or thorn.
If the wound is minor, it will go away on its own, but if it doesn’t go away quickly, it may become infected and spread.
What to do ?
The first thing to do is to watch your cat carefully and take care of his injury. It will not necessarily be easy because he will become aggressive and will not want to be touched at the level of the nose.
Start by checking to see if it could be a wound, he will probably bleed from only one nostril, and the wound or stuck object may be visible.
If there is a deeply embedded object, do not remove it yourself, and call the veterinarian. If you do it yourself, you risk making the problem worse, especially since your cat will probably fight to get you to leave him alone.
You can also spray his nose with saline water to keep his nose healthy and pat dry with a sterile compress. This helps prevent further injury by leaving the nose in a healthy environment.
Also avoid letting him walk outside, your cat must stay indoors to prevent him from re-injuring himself or his wound from getting worse or becoming infected, especially since parasites will be able to make room there if it is not dewormed.
If nothing passes quickly, take him to the vet because the nose being close to the brain, there may be a cerebral hemorrhage. He will then be drowsy and suffer from convulsions if this is the case. These two symptoms should lead to an emergency visit to the veterinarian or the on-call veterinarian.
A tumor
Tumors can occur in older cats which may be caused by squamous cell or lymphoma. The tumors cause bleeding in a single nostril, purulent and/or bloody.
If your cat has a swollen nose, hissing when breathing or a foul odor, it is likely that he has a tumour.
Young cats can also suffer from tumors, even if these are benign and they will sneeze in addition to snoring. However, do not neglect the problem because the tumors can get worse, especially in kittens who have a weaker immune system.
What to do ?
In case of doubt, especially when the cat has other associated symptoms, a visit to the veterinarian is essential for effective treatment.
If your cat is elderly, any abnormal symptoms should lead to a visit to the vet anyway as they will be increasingly weak and need medical attention.
An infection
If the nasal mucosa is infected with fungi, viruses or bacteria, then recurrent nosebleeds may occur. If your cat suffers from this, he will sneeze often and may suffer from poor breathing and especially facial swelling.
What to do ?
Here too, a medical appointment is recommended to avoid any risk of aggravation, especially since treatment will quickly resolve the problem. While waiting for a visit to the veterinarian, make sure that he benefits from fresh air, without bad odors and which facilitates his breathing the most. Certain essential oils will help him breathe better while waiting for the medical examination.
Dental disease
Certain dental diseases lead to a feline nosebleed. You can check the condition of teeth that will have abscesses or pus if they have a problem. It is this problem that affects the nose and causes the cat’s nose to bleed.
Your cat may then have other symptoms, such as a lack of appetite or bad breath.
What to do ?
If the problem does not resolve itself quickly, you can go to the pharmacy and ask for advice, and if the problem worsens, the veterinarian will be the only one competent to solve the problem. In the meantime, try to disinfect the wound with natural remedies in the meantime and you can also regularly apply a cat spray.
Inflammation
Generally caused by viruses or bacteria, inflammation in the nose can cause your cat to bleed. The bleeding will then be recurrent as if it were a cold.
What to do ?
Go to the vet if the problem persists and natural remedies are not enough.
External diseases
Some illnesses, such as high blood pressure or leukemia, can cause bleeding and then more serious problems will ensue.
What to do ?
If your cat is elderly or currently suffering from other pathologies, a medical visit to the veterinarian should be made as soon as possible before other problems arise. In addition, any doubt about a disease should lead to a visit to the veterinarian to avoid any risk of aggravation.
What can I do myself?
While the cat usually needs to be taken to the vet to fix the problem, there are some things you can do to help your cat live better while waiting for the visit.
Reassure him
A stressed cat will increase its bleeding because the blood flow will be faster. It is essential to reassure him, first of all by cuddling him if he wishes but do not insist if he does not want to.
You must also place him in the quietest possible environment, without noise and without agitation, in which he can rest and be quiet.
You can also talk to him softly and play him some music he likes so that everything goes well in his head.
Finally, certain pheromones can naturally calm him, cats being very sensitive to smell.
Make sure his nose is as healthy as possible
Keep your cat’s nose as healthy as possible by applying a saline compress to prevent infection. If he is too aggressive, do not insist because it will upset him and make the bleeding worse.
Facilitate water and food intake
Some symptoms parallel to the bleeding will incite him not to eat and not to drink. It is vital that he achieves this so that his body has everything it needs. Give him wet food, which he will prefer and which will also be gentler on his body. Prefer food that he likes, it is essential to stimulate his appetite.
Give him fresh water with a few drops of tuna oil to make him want to drink as much as possible. Cats also have a preference for flowing water and you can make them drink straight from the tap.
Visit to the vet: But what will he do?
In most cases, you will need to take your cat to the vet as they are qualified to fix the problem. Deep pathologies must always lead to a medical visit because they will always end up evolving without medical treatment.
Here’s what it will do:
In case of injury
He will precisely examine the type of wound or the stuck object thanks to different tools and will carry out a disinfection or removal of the object, which will sometimes require local anesthesia.
He will then give the most suitable medicines for his healing.
In the event of a deep injury, an MRI or x-ray examination can be set up as well as surgery if necessary.
In case of pathology
The veterinarian will carry out a complete examination of your cat, also possibly with an ultrasound or X-rays and will give the most suitable treatment for the resolution of the problem.
How to help him?
Your vet will ask you many questions about bleeding: When does it happen? How often ? In what context ?
Prepare yourself as well as possible for his questions and if possible film him when he bleeds so that he can quickly get a clear idea of the cause of the problem.
Nosebleed cat: The final word
A cat with a nosebleed should not be taken lightly as it may hide a significant problem. By examining his nose, you will already see if it is an injury or an illness. Do your best so that he can live as normally as possible and go see the veterinarian if the problem persists.