What should I do if my cat's poop contains blood?

Cat poop containing blood may be caused by various reasons such as internal parasite infection, feline distemper virus, constipation, indigestion, damaged intestinal mucosa, or other underlying diseases. If your cat has other uncomfortable symptoms besides pooping with blood, such as depression, fever, loss of appetite, etc., it is recommended to send your cat to a pet hospital for examination and treatment in a timely manner to avoid delaying the disease. It is also important to investigate the cause of abnormal cat feces normally found during daily inspection to avoid missing valuable treatment time.

1. Internal parasite infection

Parasites are one of the most common causes of blood in cat feces, such as roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms, which can damage the intestinal mucosa and cause bleeding. In this case, it is recommended for the owner to take the cat to the pet hospital for a fecal examination. If there are eggshells, it is advised to give the cat deworming medication and repair the intestinal mucosa. In addition, owners should give their cats an internal deworming treatment every three months to prevent soft or loose stools.

1. Feline Distemper Virus

Feline distemper virus is a highly contagious viral infection, with symptoms including loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and hemorrhage. It mainly affects young cats. If your cat is young and hasn't finished vaccination, you should seriously consider this possibility and take your cat to the pet hospital for examination. If it is confirmed to be feline distemper, start intravenous therapy as soon as possible.

1. Constipation

Cats usually poop 1-2 times a day. If constipation lasts for a long time, the water in the stool will be absorbed by the intestine, making the stool harden. Excessively hard stool can cause damage to the intestinal or anal canal, leading to hemorrhage. If your cat has mild constipation, you can feed it honey water or goat's milk, and play with it regularly to increase its physical activity. However, if the constipation is severe, you can give the cat oral medication containing magnesium sulfate or lactulose under a doctor's guidance. If necessary, use enemas or irrigation to help the cat defecate.

1. Indigestion

Overfeeding or unsuitable food can easily cause indigestion in cats, resulting in soft, bloody stools. If the symptoms are mild, you can give your cat oral probiotics to regulate the gastrointestinal tract. If the cat's condition is severe or affects its appetite, it is recommended to take it to the pet hospital for examination and treatment as soon as possible.

1. Damaged Intestinal Mucosa

Cats like to bite random objects, and they may unknowingly swallow pins, needles, plastics, and other foreign objects. If these objects scratch the cat's gastrointestinal tract, it will cause damage and bleeding, leading to bloody stools. It is recommended to take your cat to the pet hospital for inspection. If necessary, surgery may be required to remove the foreign objects.

1. Other Diseases

Cat stool containing blood may also be caused by intestinal polyps, tumors, and other abdominal masses that rupture or compress. This situation requires an endoscopy of the intestine and removal of the masses, followed by cautious post-operative care. The prognosis varies depending on the nature of the abdominal masses.