My 6-month-old kitten has blood in his stool. What should I do?

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.

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.

No, it is not normal for a kitten to have blood in their stool. If Fuzzball is straining to defecate or having diarrhea that can cause some blood in the stool, but it is not normal and should be evaluated by a veterinarian. One of the most common reasons for abnormal stools in kittens and puppies are intestinal parasites. This is true even if they have previously been dewormed. So, I would recommend having your veterinarian examine Fuzzball to see what might be causing the blood in the stool and what should be done about it. Good luck! I hope that was helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

I am very sorry to hear that Petunia is experiencing this issue, I am sure it is unsettling. From what you are describing, a soft bowel movement which becomes liquid and has fresh blood in it, it sounds as though Buddy has colitis, or inflammation of the last portion of the large intestines. There are several causes of colitis in cats, ranging from bacterial infections, parasite infestations, IBD, or ingestion of contaminated food. Since you have only noticed one such episode I would continue to monitor Petunia at home for the time being. Provide a bland diet of boiled boneless chicken breast for a few meals, then switch to a sensitive stomach diet preferable by royal canin or hills science diet as these two brands are veterinarian tested and approved. I would also suggest using a broad spectrum de-worming treatment. Here are some helpful links; https://www.petcoach.co/article/6-things-you-can-do-at-home-if-your-pet-has-diarrhea/ https://www.petcoach.co/article/most-common-causes-of-diarrhea-in-cats/ If the episodes continue, if Petunia becomes depressed, passes large amounts of blood, vomits, or seems very uncomfortable take Petunia to see her vet. I hope this answer was helpful and more importantly that Petunia feels better soon. Warmest regards to you both.

It looks like Ollie might be having a partial rectal prolapse, which can happen with diarrhea from things like parasites or from constipation. The blood might be related to diarrhea or if it's a small amount it could be from the rectum and from irritation. I would recommend seeing a veterinarian right away given his age - if it is a small prolapse it could get worse quickly and require surgical repair. The vet can hopefully determine the underlying cause and offer treatment.

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!

Blood in the stool can occur secondary to food sensitivity, but it can also be a sign of parasites or even occur secondary to stress, so I'd recommend seeing your veterinarian first to rule out these medical problems. Unfortunately if you're switching foods frequently it can be difficult to determine which is or isn't helping, so if your vet recommends a food trial you should stick to one specific food for at least 6 to 8 weeks before deciding if it is or isn't helping.