Cat blood in the urine. Cat guardians frequently seek veterinarian assistance due to bloody and discolored urine.
Drops of blood in the litter box, on bedding, or on the floor are quite distressing. Sometimes Blood may not be seen in the urine until it is viewed under a microscope or found on urinalysis.
Many cats with blood in their pee, fortunately, have symptoms that resolve rapidly with relatively easy remedies. Cystitis and feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD, are the two most common causes of blood in a cat’s pee.
Table of Contents
What is hematuria?
Hematuria is the presence of blood in the urine. Hematuria is defined by the presence of pink, red, brown, or black urine, as well as the presence of blood cells on a microscopic level. A urinalysis is performed to identify whether the blood is the consequence of urinary tract disease or a condition that affects coagulation or bleeding. Blood tests are often required to confirm or rule out a bleeding or clotting problem. Cystitis is the most prevalent general diagnosis for hematuria in cats.
The term “cystitis” refers to inflammation of the urinary bladder. Cystitis is a general word that does not refer to a specific cause. Diseases affecting the lower urinary system, including the bladder and urethra, are commonly referred to as feline lower urinary tract disease, or FLUTD, in cats.
Because it can be difficult to discern between numerous illnesses of the bladder and urethra, and many ailments impact the whole lower urinary system, we utilize this broad medical terminology. Feline Idiopathic Lower Urinary Tract Disease is the name given to the illness once your veterinarian has ruled out all other causes of hematuria. Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) is a term used by some veterinarians to characterize this disease. Idiopathic refers to a condition in which the specific etiology is uncertain.
What are the signs and symptoms of cat cystitis?
The inflammation and irritation of the lower urinary tract are common signs of cystitis or FLUTD in cats. The following are some of the most prevalent clinical signs:
- Pollakiuria is an increased frequency of urination.
- Dysuria (difficulty urinating). (Affected cats frequently strain in the litter box for lengthy periods of time while passing just tiny amounts of pee.) Many cat owners believe this is the same as constipation.)
- Urine that is bloody, foul-smelling, or discolored.
- Perugia is the act of urinating in unexpected locations such as furniture, floors, and corners.
- Grooming or licking the vaginal area excessively.
- Urinary incontinence. These cats struggle to urinate and only produce a few drops or none at all. This is a medical emergency if you believe your cat’s urinary tract is blocked and he or she is unable to discharge pee effectively. If left untreated for even a few hours, urethral obstruction, which is more frequent in male cats due to their small urethra (“the plumbing”), can be a life-threatening problem.
What are the causes of cystitis?
Blood in a cat’s urine can be caused by a variety of factors. Cystitis and FLUTD can induce severe bladder and/or urethral irritation, resulting in hematuria. While many young cats under the age of ten have unidentified bladder irritation, some of the particular reasons for cystitis blood in a cat’s urine include:
- Physical damage (trauma)
- Coagulation, often known as bleeding disease, is a condition in which blood clot
- Bladder stones, also known as urinary calculi, are a kind of bladder stone (approximately 20 percent of all cases in cats under age 10)
- Bacterial infections (primary bacterial infections are uncommon in cats, although secondary infections can arise as complications) – more prevalent in cats over the age of ten – Many senior cats will have bladder stones as well as a bacterial illness.
- Bladder or lower urinary tract tumors (neoplasia) are more frequent in elderly cats.
- Anatomical anomalies – particularly in younger cats with chronic or recurrent urinary tract problems.
- Urethral plugs are a combination of crystals or tiny calculi (stones) and inflammatory material that obstruct the urethra.
How will the presence of blood in your cat’s pee be detected?
The presence of symptoms associated with lower urinary tract irritation is used to make the first diagnosis for a cat with hematuria. The most frequent diagnostic test used to establish the presence of urinary tract inflammation or infection is a full urinalysis with sediment exam, which is typically conducted in real-time in the office. Other blood in the pee diagnostic tests include:
- A urine sample was tested at the lab.
- Bacterial culture and urine susceptibility
- Blood tests to look for additional signs of urological diseases, such as kidney disease or bleeding problems.
- The bladder and urethra are examined with radiographs (x-rays) and/or ultrasound.
Blood in your cat’s urine treatment
The underlying cause of feline hematuria determines the treatment. The following are some of the most popular treatments for blood in the urine, cystitis, and FLUTD:
- Antibiotic treatment for bacterial infections of the lower urinary tract usually works for two to four weeks.
- Other therapies for sterile or idiopathic cystitis may include dietary modifications, anti-inflammatory medications, environmental changes, promoting increased water consumption, and others.
- If a cat’s urethra becomes clogged, immediate treatment is necessary to clear the obstruction. The urethra will be flushed or catheterized in most situations, and the cat will be given short-acting general anesthesia. Male cats are nearly often affected by the urethral blockage. Other treatment methods may be suggested depending on the nature of your cat’s obstruction.
- Uroliths (bladder stones) must be removed if they are present. Depending on the kind of bladder stone, it may be possible to dissolve it with a specific diet or dietary supplement, or it may be necessary to remove it surgically. In some situations, the findings of a urinalysis might be used to establish an initial therapy.
Hematuria, cystitis, and FLUTD have no uniform therapy. Each case must be identified, and therapy must be tailored to the cat in question. Clinical symptoms and hematuria may return despite proper tests and treatment, necessitating further therapy and diagnostic testing. Patience and perseverance are frequently required while treating lower urinary tract illnesses in cats.
Keeping your cat’s pee free of blood
I’m always looking for strategies to keep things like hematuria from occurring. Unfortunately, preventing disorders of the lower urinary system in cats is impossible. We know that felines with low water consumption and who are sedentary or fat are more likely to develop FLUTD/FIC.
These factors may have little impact on a cat’s urine frequency. Weight loss, increased activity, and increased water consumption may help to avoid cystitis and FLUTD. It may also assist to have an enriching habitat with clean and accessible litter boxes. If blood in the urine is due to bladder stones or crystals, Relapse prevention may be aided by specific therapeutic diets.
If you believe your cat has blood in its pee, please take it to your veterinarian as soon as possible. The sooner you get a diagnosis and treatment, the sooner your cat can get back to living a healthy, pain-free life. Always visit or call your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns; they are your greatest resource for ensuring your cats’ health and well-being.
