Could my cat's bloody stool be from eating cardboard or linoleum?

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.

I would be very concerned that Pancho could have severe intestinal issues associated with the ingested thread. I am so glad you cut the thread and did not pull, as pulling can cause a lot of damage internally. Unfortuately, there is nothing that I can recommend for his current symptoms, since they may be related to the thread. This should be addressed by a veterinarian. Watch for other symptoms such as lethargy, poor appetite, bloating, panting, or increased respiratory rate. The pooping outside the litterbox may be related to the pain that Pancho is feeling when he has a bowel movement. Cats will sometimes think that pain associated with going potty is caused by the box and will decide to stop using the box. You can try to put a second box in a separate area to see if he will start using that. You can also try supplements for stress like Zylkene or Comfort Zone Feliway Pheromones. Here are some articles that may have useful information: http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=88 http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1470

I would inform the owners and ask them their wishes. If they are going to be gone for an extended period, I would feel better if the cat could be seen by a vet before then, since the condition seems to be not improving. They may need to call their vet to authorize you to take the cat in on their behalf. Since you are the sitter, I could see him maybe peeing outside the box in protest to someone else taking care of them, but, unless the cat is extremely sensitive to stress, I wouldn't think a petsitter would be enough to make him have intestinal upset. He could have parasites, a bacterial infection or has eaten something that disagreed with him, among other possibilities. If they will be home in the next day or so they may want to get him seen themselves and as long as he continues to eat and drink and behave normally, that should be okay.

Poor guy. He sounds ill indeed. Many disease processes can cause loose bloody stool including: intestinal parasites, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, lymphoma (cancer of the intestines), dietary indiscretion (eating something he shouldn't have), and even a bacterial infection. The first step would be to do a full panel bloodwork analysis, fecal exam and urinalysis done on Oliver. This should be ble to narrow things down quite a bit so that your vet can know what Oliver needs treatment wise. I would suggest scheduling an appt for him soon at your local vet. I hope that your pet Oliver is able to recover from his bloody stool and illness. Best wishes and take care.

Thanks for adopting Eli. Blood in the stool without constipation is often due to intestinal parasites. Please take a sample to your veterinarian and they will look under the microscope for parasite eggs. If they find some they will prescribe the correct dewormer for Eli. If there are no parasites and this continues Eli should go in for an exam. He could have an anal infection, rectal polyp or intestinal inflammation causing the blood. Cats do have blood in the stool more often than other animals so if he's normal and this only happens once in a while I would just keep an eye on him, and bring him in if it is a constant issue. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Eli.

Poor Sebastian! While this vomiting could be caused by his food, if he's been on it a while, then it's more likely caused by something else. Vomiting and blood in the stool can be caused by a severe GI illness, a foreign body, severe intestinal parasite infection, GI ulcers, or exposure to toxins. Because blood in the stool is not normal and can be caused by serious illness, it would be best that he is taken into a vet now for an exam. The vet can diagnose what is causing the vomiting and bloody stool, and can treat him for it.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Barb. I'm glad to hear that she is still eating and acting like herself. If a cat experiences a bit of difficulty passing a bowel movement, they will strain. This can irritate the colon resulting in bright red blood streaks on the feces. Contact you veterinarian in the morning. Fecal testing will likely be recommended to rule out any intestinal parasites causing the blood. A diet modification may be needed to make it easier for her to pass stool if this becomes a repeated problem for her. You can add canned food for the extra moisture content or your veterinarian may recommend a higher fiber food or supplement. I hope this information helps!