Felines are great company, and any pet owner’s foremost concern would be their felines’ health. Though considering the alarming signs of a cat peeing blood could be the most everyday fright. This blog aims to shed a light on the possible reasons for this concerning behavior, such as a urinary tract infection, kidney disease, or the presence of bladder stones. Knowing the possible reasons and how to react if such an uneasy situation arises will help nip the problem in the bud and assure your cat gets the attention it requires. Read on to explore the common causes, symptoms to watch for, and steps you can use to tackle the situation professionally and appropriately.
What are the common causes of blood in cat urine?
Feline urinary tract infections
The urinary tract infections (UTIs) tend to be common reason for the presence of blood in the cat’s sequence. The infection recur due to the bacteria entering the urinary system. It causes inflammation, pain as well as a compelling need to pass urine frequently. Affected cats are also known to behave differently, for example – some may try to avoid using a litter box. Fast acting veterinary assessment and treatment, which often consists of antibiotics, are critical to overcoming the infection and the sequelae.
Bladder Crystals and Stones
Another common reason that leads to hematuria is the presence of crystals and stones in the bladder or the ureters which are called uroliths. These calcified malformations can develop inside the bladder or urinary tract irritating and blocking normal flow and even causing . In cases of bladder stones, some cats may have difficulties in urination with only drops of urine coming out and the urine appearing blood-streaked. Suffering cats may also vocalize or lick their private parts excessively. The combination of a clinical examination, urinalysis, and imaging studies using X-ray or ultrasound can allow for making a diagnosis of bladder stones. It very much depends on their size and type, but all kinds of stones may be treated by diet modification, stone dissolution techniques, or in advanced cases even surgicals . Always seek veterinary advice without delay as the condition of the bladder stones left untreated may lead to extremely serious concern.
Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC)
Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC) is another potential cause of blood in a cat’s urine and is one similarly experienced by some of my own pets. FIC is a condition where the bladder shows signs of inflammation but there is no apparent reason for this such as the presence of infection and stones. The condition Each cat is different in how it presents, making it difficult to diagnose and treat because it is believed to be caused by stress and other external factors. I remember quite vividly how my cat would show signs of frequent urination, straining and at times urinating outside the litter box when she was diagnosed with FIC. After visiting my vet I was informed that FIC is often treated by reducing stressors within the household, encouraging cat to drink more water, or placing her on specific urinary-friendly diets. They also emphasized that I should watch out for any reappearing symptoms in my pet and try to keep a peaceful steady atmosphere. I developed a good understanding of how to best manage the cat with recurrent symptoms. Early and continuous treatment of this condition, in my experience, works effectively.
How can I tell if my cat is peeing blood?
Identifying blood in the cat litter
To see visible traces of traces of blood in your cats’ urine, you have to analyze their urination and the litter boxes they use to defecate and urinate. Urine discolored with blood can be at times of pink color, red staining and at times both. While clumping litter cases it, non-lumping often does not allow you to see the abnormalities unless it is carefully filtered. Furthermore, brining your attention to how your cat behaves when urinating such as trying to urinate more, and making noise, or changes litter box more often, can also be signs of urinary issues. In case you notice blood in the urine of your cat, it is prudent to contact your veterinarian without delay of time.
Shifts in ongoing patterns of urination
One aspect that can indicate a health problem could be if there are changes in your feline’s urination patterns. In the event that you observe your feline urinating in a place that is not the litter box, try to understand whether your feline has a urinary tract infection or is suffering from a bladder stone or kidney failure or if your feline is stressed or simply uncomfortable. Urinating more than usual could be a warning sign of diabetes or even hyperthyroidism whereas urination in lesser amounts could suggest a blockage or dehydration in the kidneys. The characteristics of how often and how much your cat urinates alongside where they urinate are crucial insights that can inform you on your feline’s overall health. Lastly, in cases wherein there is a significant change in the cat’s urination patterns, it is best that you seek and contact assistance from your veterinarian.
Other symptoms to look for
Whenever I see blood in my cat’s urine or if I notice changes in the behavior of my cat in respect to their litter box, I look for other signs that might help narrow down the possibilities. For instance, I become concerned if my cat had an increased tendency of being inactive or had low food intake, or frequently licked their genitals or seemed to suffer pain during micturition. In some cases my cat would fail to defecate for a period of time without touch a litter or box which could mean something is wrong with them. I also try to find out whether my cat has severe dry mouth – for example, sunken eye or loose skin are some signs that may provide an insight. By carefully witnessing these symptoms, I am able to collect more data which I can relay to my veterinarian to make sure that my cat receives necessary treatment without undue delay.
When should I take my cat to the vet for bloody urine?
Assessment of the medical emergency
There are many reasons why bloody urine is a big emergency, one of the reasons is that it may lead to chronic conditions. Bloody urine or hematuria in cats is medically put as the presence of red blood cells in the cat’s urine and can result due to Feline Idiopathic Cystitis, urinary tuberculosis, or necrotizing vasculitis. Urination might become incredibly painful due to these causes, and in extreme circumstances in male cats, it can develop into total blockage of the urethra. Seeing a veterinarian as early as possible is essential as there are even more symptoms that could develop such as the cat whining with pain, difficulty in urination, or there may even be no urination at all. Even in the case where cat seems healthy, blood in urine in any instance should not be taken lightly and a complete check-up should be done. This is because if untreated it could become worse and treatment would be done at a more critical stage further impacting the cat’s health.
Significance of Immediate Veterinary Care
f I ever saw any signs as, for instance, traces of blood in my cat’s urine, I made a point to hurry and take her to the veterinarian. I appreciate that being proactive enables one to identify the underlying cause of a problem much quicker and that this might assist in stopping the situation from worsening into something such as a urethral blockage. In my personal opinion, there is little harm in being safe with regard to your pet when it comes to everything else especially their health. Paying close attention to how my cat behaves and taking the necessary steps when I notice any changes makes it possible for me to offer her the highest level of comfort and reassurance that she respects.
How do veterinarians diagnose the cause of blood in cat urine?
Physical examination and medical history
The first step veterinary practitioners will focus on is undertaking a thorough physical examination of the cat. They try to search for notable signs which include signs of discomfort, abnormalities or even the presence of some underlying health issues. In effect, they also go through the cat’s medical history: for example, they try to determine if there are changes in the cat’s recent behavior, or diet, or the environment. Urinalysis, blood work, imaging like X-rays or ultrasound may be performed to examine deep structures for the presence of infections, crystals, stones, or abnormalities in the urinary tract. These actions enable the veterinarian to learn the more acute reasons of the health issue, which is the point to suggest an effective treatment scheme.
Urine culture and analysis
A urine culture is used by veterinarians for the purpose of determining whether an infection exists and determining the type of such infection, as well as testing the drug of choice in case there is a culture of bacterial growth. In such developments, the treatment that is going to be prescribed is sure to be effective against the infection. Research on urine helps the growth and identification of cultures from the urine that contains red blood cells, crystals, proteins, and inflammatory cells which are indications of urinary tract infection (UTI), bladder stones, or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) among other diseases. In combination these methods of examination allow assessing the main problems of the cat’s organism and working out the appropriate solution that is adequate and reasonable.
What are the treatment options for cats peeing blood?
Treatment of urinary tract infections in cats
No appointment is necessary when a cat UTI is concerned, medication for the condition only requires an antibiotic, and pain relief or anti-inflammatory medicine if pain or inflammation is observed, it is best for a veterinarian to administer these drugs. It sometimes happens that cats develop a habit of skipping medications, a lack of medication causes the UTI to resurface and ethose sometimes out of sheer frustration end up having chronic UTI concerns.
Encouraging modification of diet to improve water intake
What is applicable to humans can be quite effective for an animal, in this case a cat, for any urinary obstruction issues B, altering the current diet offers the best results. In cases where the cat has urinary tract issues specifically custom made diets can be used to dissolve stones, reduce crystal formations and control the urine pH levels. Such diets often have a low magnesium and phosphorus content to prevent the formation of any bladder worsened by their mildness. Furthermore, increasing the amount of water intake in a cat considerably reduces the concentration of urine, allowing for toxins and debris to be removed from the body, resulting in further incidences of urinary tract infections being reduced immensely. Making these relatively small shifts to your cat’s environment, along with taking them to the vet regularly, can help avoid further issues, and secure your cat’s health.
Surgical cases with extreme severity
In case of dietary modification and drinking water, I would consider picking a high quality, vet recommended prescription diet which promotes a cat my urinary health. I would look for formula medications which are low magnesium and phosphorus for it’s use in prevention of bladder stones or crystals, as these diets are made for the specific purpose. To raise the water I would keep clean water or consider using a pet water fountain at different stationary places in the house as most cats are attracted to running water, Thus when they feel thirsty they will drink water at the fountain. One more suggestion would be to increase the amount of wet food in my cat’s daily servings since, wet food has more moisture than dry food. These preventive measures ensure me that my cat is well hydrated and chances of developing urinary problems are minimum. Surely, I would make sure to keep in touch with my veterinarian to make sure that I am not taking steps which are not suited for my particular needs as a cat.
Reference sources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Â
Q: For help, how do you know your cat has blood in its pee
A: A crucial red flag will be the appearance of cotten-stained patches in the litter that represents blood infused urine, this causes irregular bath habits as blood in a urine mark indicates more infrequent peeing cycles so paying attention to the litter tray for any such indication is crucial. Other notable markers include, frequent using of litter boxes, uncomfortable push-to-urinate sounds in louspeakers and discharge sound. If you have confirmed that there is blood in your cat’s pee it is mandatorily important to talk to the vet.
Q: Why do we see blood in urines of males cats more as compared to females
A: Most common reason for this is due to a narrowing in the distance of urethra profiling them for the risk of having blockages more which is a common enough reason for male cats to suffer from hematuria. However, urinalysis and hematuria can be observed in both male and female. Borrowed cats, noticeably, are at a somewhat positive upper end in the graph emission of conditions which contribute towards and create blood in the urine.
Q: What are the clinical signs of hematuria in cats?
A: The clinical signs that an affected cat would have visible blood in urine include the following; frequent attempts of urination, straining during urination, excessive licking of the genitals, urinating outside of the litter box, and aggression or discomfort due to pain. Some cats may also show reduced appetite or lethargy.
Q: Can urinary tract stones cause blood in cat urine?
A: Yes, a stone in the urinary tract does lead to blood in a cat’s urine. Such stones can irritate the bladder lining or are lodged in the urethra which leads to blood in the cat’s urine. Blood clots in urine can also happen in some instances. Medications, diet control or surgery in severe cases are options of treatment that are available for stones of urinary tract.
Q: How is hematuria in cats diagnosed and treated?
A: Cats that exhibit hematuria are diagnosed using urinalysis, sometimes blood tests are done, and imaging tools such as x rays and ultrasounds. Medical treatment is provided in relation to the cause of hematuria noted, infections are treated with antibiotics, change in diet helps to change the pH levels of urine, small stones disintegrated with medications, and in cats with large stones or tumors surgery is done. Some cats may have to undergo hospitalization for the purpose of supporting care.
Q: Is there a possibility for cat food to cause blood in the cat’s urine or any urinary problems?
A: Yes, there is a possibility when cured by neglect. Certain cat foods containing high level of magnesium and phosphorus, if not taken in moderation can lead to urinary problems and even blood in urine, apart from being the reason for substance of stones and crystals in the urinary tract. So, in accordance with due considerations to your cat being prone to or having a history of urinary issues, it is best to consult your veterinarian regarding the best diet which is beneficial for your cat’s urinary tract health.
Q: In case of bloody urine, at what time should a cat be taken for examination at the veterinary clinic?
A: Your cat should have been taken to the animal clinic immediately when you first noticed the drops of blood in her urine. It should be understood that hematuria can be due to an underlying medical ailment and very severe ones which are significant and require attention. Most importantly, there could be a risk of Urethral blockages which could be fatal for male cats if responsiveness to the effected area of the body is not attended to time critically.
