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Why is my cat's stool bloody with mucus, even with normal tests?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Shorthair | Female | spayed | 9 years old | 9 lbs

Hi there! My cats bloodwork is all normal and no parasites found in fecal test. Once in a while there is what you see a lil blood . There also appears to be a filmy substance covering the stool ? I'm wondering what could be going on and what I should do next to find out. Any thoughts/ suggestions are greatly appreciated :) and please excuse the photo!

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Mariya Gugel, DVM

Answered By Mariya Gugel, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 17th, 2018

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The photo is very helpful- I can definitely see the blood and mucus in the stool. Certain liver and pancreatic conditions can cause this, as well as intestinal inflammation. Additional tests I recommend are pancreatic and liver function tests, bloodwork to determine nutrient absorption by the intestines, x-rays, and even an ultrasound. The most aggressive diagnostic would be an exploratory surgery with biopsies. You can talk to your vet also about changing your cat’s diet and adding probiotics. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you have!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Julia Henwood

    Certified Veterinary Nurse

    Published on March 31st, 2017

    Sometimes it can be diet related for example if you've changed his food it just may take a bit of time to agree with him. It could also be due to a bacterial infection. If it has only happened once or twice or if you have changed the food recently then I would just monitor it. If it has been going on for several days and you haven't changed the food then you should take him to your vet. If you are able to take a sample of the faeces too that may help with diagnosis. Good luck!

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    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Published on January 17th, 2020

    These signs could be compatible with a colitis, which is an inflammation of the last part of the colon, usually related to dietary indiscretion. As a first approach, I would suggest to start feeding with a bland diet based on boiled chicken and rice in small portion every 6 hours for the following 48hours. Then gradually reintroduce the normal diet over 5 days.
    I would definitively recommend a veterinary check up if the signs persist or you notice vomiting, lethargy or inappetence.
    Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further. If this answer was helpful please let us know, this will be used to improve our service!

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    2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Amber Da Silva, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 19th, 2017

    A very common reason for having bright red blood and soft stool is a condition called colitis. This is an inflammation in the colon that commonly results from a change in diet or a stressful event. You could start by feeding a bland diet of plain boiled chicken breast and plain white rice. You could also add fiber in the form of canned pumpkin puree. As long as he is acting normally, you could see if just the bland diet will resolve it. If you see other signs such as lethargy, vomiting, poor appetite or diarrhea, I would strongly recommend taking him to a veterinarian for evaluation. They may recommend a fecal exam to look for parasites or recommend x-rays and blood work to look for the underlying cause.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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