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My senior cat had bloody diarrhea. Does she need a vet visit?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 16 years and 5 months old | 12 lbs

My plump, 16 yr old cat with kidney deficiency has always had bowel issues. Usually, it's constipation but sometimes diarrhea. She receives fluids every 5 days. Friday she had 3 episodes of liquid diarrhea. She was absolutely fine afterwards in every way. However, I noticed that there were two dark droplets of blood in her stool. She is still fine and not having any issues with diarrhea. Her eating is normal, but finicky. She sees a vet every 6 months. Does she need to see a vet? Karli

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 21st, 2016

I would monitor Button for now, and keep an eye on her feces. If you see blood again, then yes I would take her into a vet. Her GI tract could have become irritated with the diarrhea, causing the blood in the feces. Should it be a one off occurrence, and she is eating normally with no more diarrhea, she does not require a vet visit.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Jenny, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on November 18th, 2017
Any time there is blood in the stool it is recommended to see a vet, especially at her age. At 6 pounds it will not take long before she is dehydrated. They can check a stool sample to check for parasite or an infection and do an ultrasound to see if there is inflammation from an inflammatory bowel or something more severe. The blood work will tell if she is dehydration or any organ problems. They can provide treatment to get her back to her feet the fastest .
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Lindsey Edwards MVB, BSc, IVCA
Veterinarian
Published on February 17th, 2018
Some spotting of blood can be quite common following severe diarrhea/colitis and as long as all other signs are normal and there is no weight loss I would not be overly concerned - it should resolve over 7-10days. I would recommend a probiotic such as fortiflora/canikur to optimize gut balance and promote recovery
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on November 27th, 2016
Poor Rocky! This bloody stool could be caused by GI polyps, GI ulcers, cancer along the intestinal tract, intestinal parasites, or toxins among other causes. As long as he isn't vomiting, refusing to drink water, or very lethargic, it is fine to wait until tomorrow to bring him into the vet for an exam. He should see a vet for this, and I would make sure to take him in first thing in the morning.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

My cat has blood in his poop, but it's not loose. Should I see a vet?

If he is acting completely normal then I would actually recommend monitoring this for now. This could be an isolated incident where there was mild irritation of his intestines. If it repeats itself then most definitely get him checked out. But there is a chance that things will go back to normal on their own.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My old cat has diarrhea and purple blood in her poop. Is it serious?

I wouldn't really be worried about this at this stage. The purple color may be a bit of digested blood but it could also be due to some colon irritation. I suggest you continue what you are doing and if it persists then you should call your vet to ask them about it. They have more information about her health than we do. My only other suggestion is to put her on a probiotic: like Advita or Fortiflora. This should help with the diarrhea. ( https://vetapprovedrx.pharmacy/advita-powder-for-cats.html ) The box has 30 packets - put one packet on her food once daily for 30 days. It is very palatable so there should be no issue with her eating it. It may even entice her to eat better. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My 11-year-old cat has blood in her stool after pooping. What's wrong?

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.

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My cat has diarrhea but is active and eating. Should I call the vet?

I would recommend you take your cat to the vet on Monday. They can do a fecal examination to rule out intestinal parasites and possibly an X-ray to rule out a blockage/foreign body. Your vet can also give you some medication to help stop the diarrhea. If the diarrhea becomes bloody and/or your cat starts vomiting as well then I would recommend getting him in to an ER vet to make sure nothing too serious is going on.

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My kitten has bloody diarrhea and is hiding. Is it an emergency?

Poor kitten! I think you're in the right for trying to get in sooner to have her checked out by your vet. If she is bleeding a lot or is having severe diarrhea or vomiting, then seeking out care from another vet or even an emergency clinic may be a good idea. Keeping her bottom clean and dry can help, and feeding a bland meal of some boiled chicken may help as well until you can be seen.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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Is it normal for my cat to poop blood after a vet visit for diarrhea?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Simba. Unfortunately there is no picture attached to your post, so I can't see what his poop looks like. Cats can easily get stressed, and that can lead to colitis. Colitis is inflammation of the colon, and that can cause blood in the stool. I'd keep an eye on him and his poop for now. If it continues to be bloody, give his vet a call. As for what happened with the vet, I suspect they may have used a cotton swab to get a sample of poop from his anus. I hope this helps!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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My 6-month-old cat has recurring bloody diarrhea. What should I do?

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question. Poor kitty! It's time to see the vet again since her poo is bad again with blood in it. She may have have something like coccidia or Giardia causing this issue, and those can take a while to treat. I'd take her back to the vet in the morning. Best of luck.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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