![]() Treatment will be based on the exact diagnosis. In more serious cases, x-rays, ultrasound, and blood and urine tests will be conducted. Your veterinarian will search for blood, parasites, bacteria, and other indicators of the cause. Most of these problems can be diagnosed on medical history, physical examination, and microscopic fecal evaluation. What will my veterinarian do to determine the cause of the blood or mucus in my cat’s poop? Digested dark blood can signal a serious condition while red blood can be anything from benign food changes to cancer. Blood in the stool, red or black, is always concerning. This morning’s loose stool can lead to dehydrating diarrhea overnight. Today’s constipation can become tomorrow’s intestinal obstruction. What should I do if I see blood or mucus in my cat’s poop?Īny changes in your cat’s bowel movements should be reported to your veterinarian immediately. Constipation or idiopathic feline megacolon.There can be many causes of blood or mucus in a cat’s poop. What causes blood or mucus in my cat’s poop? Fecal mucus is an example of “more is worse.” It is abnormal to see lots of slimy, often clear to pale yellow-green liquid accompanying your cat’s bowel movements. It’s not unusual to observe some greasy or slick coatings on your cat’s feces. Mucus is a normal secretion of the intestinal tract to help lubricate and moisten the linings and facilitate fecal passage. These are all terms I’ve heard from cat parents describing excessive mucus in their cat’s stool. Bright red blood without either diarrhea or hard, dry stools generally indicates the problem is closer to the rectum and anus. It’s important to note that both constipation and diarrhea can cause blood in the stool of cats. This blood will often appear as dark flecks, specks, or coffee grounds. This color change is due to partial digestion by enzymes secreted in the small intestine. Red or pink drops or smears are frequently discovered on the sides of the litter box and on top of the stool or litter.īlood from higher in the intestinal tract, particularly the small intestine, will be black or brown. If the blood originates in the lower intestinal tract, especially the distal colon (large intestine) or rectal region, it will most likely look like, well, blood. For starters, litter can sometimes alter the color and conceal – or create – changes in appearance. What does blood look like in my cat’s poop?īlood in a cat’s poop can be challenging to identify. And gloves, if you insist on handling these sorts of things. They make litter box utensils, if you’re wondering. You should be able to pick up the stool without it running through your fingers (if you’re into picking up poop by hand). Grading the fecal quality and estimating the quantity can help your veterinarian more quickly, and correctly, diagnose your cat’s condition. If your cat has abnormal stools, you can “grade” the feces. If you’re wondering, researchers at the U.K.’s Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition published a handy illustrated “ Faeces Scoring System” you should check out. Normal cat poops are about two to three inches long, one-half inch in diameter, well-formed, and brown to tan in color. Should you worry if you spot beads of blood or mounds of mucus in the litter box? Let’s find out. One of the most common intestinal irregularities cat parents report is blood or mucus in the stool. According to the, “intestinal upset/ diarrhea” was the sixth top medical condition of cats in 2015. Identifying a “bathroom problem” early can prevent more serious complications and restore health to an ailing kitty. We humans are inexplicably interested in monitoring our companion animal’s eliminations. I’m talking about inspecting our cat’s poop. We do it every time we change the litter or hear the call of compacted clay being clawed.
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