Why are there blood drops near my cat's water bowl? Fleas or UTI?

Blood in the urine can be due to a few different problems. If it is red-colored urine and Lily has been urinating more frequently lately, then it is most likely a bladder infection/inflammation, but could also be a kidney infection. If it appears like fresh blood at the end of the urine stream, then this could indicate a problem with the vagina, cervix, or could be coming from the rectum. Either way, it's best that you take Lily to a veterinarian for treatment soon. If she is going to the litter box and nothing is coming out within the last 24 hours, then this is an emergency and I recommend you take her to the vet immediately. They will be able to locate where the problem is and provide the most appropriate treatment. Either way, Lily will need a professional to diagnose this problem and to provide the most effective treatment. Without good treatment, she can have life-threatening complications. I hope that helps and Lily gets better soon.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Waffle. I would have her examined by her veterinarian. She may have a urinary tract infection and be leaking blood tinged urine. She could also have a sore tooth causing her gums to bleed. Skin wounds are more obvious so I suspect that you would have seen one in checking her over. Check her litter box though and see if she has any evidence of blood in the urine clumps or diarrhea or stool that is blood tinged. I hope this information helps!

This is always tricky - the blood may have been in urine, stool or even a wound. I would recommend monitoring Ella very closely over the next few hours - if she is going to the litter box more frequently or if you notice the urine in the box looks discolored you should see a vet. If there are any more drops of blood it would probably be a good idea to see a vet even if you're still not sure where they're coming from - the vet can check a urine and stool sample and look closely for any wounds.

Check all orifice of the body to find out where the blood is coming from. Check his paws for cuts or other injuries. Your cat should not be bleeding. He could be suffering from bad teeth, bleeding abscesses or ulcers in the mouth, an intestinal problem, an infected anal gland or a urethral obstruction. If you find that the blood is coming from a small injury on a paw, clean the wound and observe whether the bleeding stops. If not, you can put a bit of cotton wool on the wound and leave it there, this helps coagulation. If the wound is large it needs to be seen by a vet. If you find that he is losing blood from his anus or penis, then he needs to be seen at a pet ER tonight as he may have a blocked urethra or a bleeding colon or rectum and will need prescription antibiotics or be unblocked if the urethra is blocked. Should he be bleeding from his mouth or have a painful mouth, he will need to be seen by a vet ASAP as these lesions in the mouth are very painful and could possibly keep him from eating and drinking properly. He may also need a dental cleaning and removal of the offending teeth. Sorry I cannot be more specific as I do not know where your kitty is bleeding from.

I am sorry to hear about your concern for Tibou. If Tibou has a normal energy level and has been eating and drinking, and is able to urinate, and if you press on her belly and she isn't painful then this is something that can probably wait until your vet opens in the morning. We can see urinary tract infections in older cats in particular females with kidney disease. A urinary tract infection can cause the symptoms you describe. Other possible causese could include bladder stones, sterile cystitis (inflammation of the bladder without infection), tumors of the bladder or other parts of the urinary tract, or primary renal hematuria. I would call your vet in the morning for an appointment where they can check the urine and may recommend imaging such as an x-ray or ultrasound. If Tibou is acting lethargic, has a painful abdomen, is vomiting or having trouble breathing, or hasn't been eating or drinking then a visit to the emergency vet is recommended. It is never wrong, however, to take your pet to the emergency vet if you feel very concerned and need peace of mind! If you wish to discuss Tibou further then you can use our Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach consultation service. Best of luck to you and Tibou!

It is possible that this particular stool was difficult to pass and you helping to remove it may have caused a small amount of bleeding from the rectal tissue. Cats can become constipated, and if she has been passing less stool than usual, straining to defecate and had a decreased appetite I would recommend seeing a veterinarian. There are some other things that can cause blood in the stool as well including intestinal parasites, colitis or even inflammatory bowel disease. If the blood is persistent you should make an appointment to see your veterinarian as well.

Well I wouldn't expect any of the cats to be sick from the lilies if they just sniffed it and didn't actually ingest any of them. So that is not a concern, especially if you don't see any other overt signs of lily toxicity which would include vomiting, lethargy and a lack of appetite. However a cystitis or UTI is a possible cause of the bloody urine. One good way to determine which cat is responsible is to isolate one cat at a time in a small room with a clean litterbox in it for a day, then monitor the urine output for blood. Another thing you could do is to gently palpate (feel) the cats bladder (lower abdomen) to see which one seems uncomfortable or painful. You could also try to monitor the cats for 1 hr duration to see which one is constantly going to the litterbox. Chances are the one that is affected is going many times within the hour and will be noticeably drinking more water as well.