Blood in Your Cat’s Urine | 4 Possible Causes
You’ve noticed your cat is leaving blood spots around the house…
Or perhaps, you’ve seen blood in your cat’s urine in the litter box.
We know this can be unsettling!
Blood in your cat’s urine can indicate different issues. In this article, our cat veterinarians share 4 common causes for the blood.
#1: Your cat may be stressed.
If your cat is stressed, you’ll often see blood in your cat’s urine.
There are a lot of things that can give cats stress:
- A new pet in the house
- A new cat in the neighborhood that’s prowling
- A house guest who is staying with you
- A move to a new home
- A home renovation project
- Construction three streets over
- A pet parent leaving for a vacation or a business trip
- Someone in the house wearing a new perfume or cologne…
And that’s just the beginning of the list.
Sometimes, there’s no way to pinpoint what’s causing the stress.
You may hear this stress-induced condition referred to as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.
Despite the name, it isn’t really a specific disease. The phrase is used to describe disorders in your cat’s lower urinary tract.
#2: Your cat may have a bladder infection — a type of urinary tract infection (UTI).
Your cat’s immune system has become compromised for some reason.
Bacteria have migrated their way up to the bladder and caused an infection.
We sometimes see this in female cats after they’ve had a bout of diarrhea.
It may also occur if your cat has changed food.
#3: Your cat has crystals or bladder stones in the bladder.
These little deposits of minerals and organic matter start as crystals and turn into stones.
There are a variety of things that can cause these deposits, including:
- Your cat’s diet
- Urine pH changes
- Bladder infections
Bladder stones are on the move. They can scrape, inflame and irritate your cat’s bladder, which is painful for your cat.
These crystals and stones also run the risk of blocking your cat’s urethra, so your cat can’t urinate.
This can become a very serious issue quickly.
#4: Your cat has a mass in the bladder.
The mass may be due to bladder stones. There’s chronic irritation from the stones rolling around.
Or, the mass could be a tumor.
Before you start feeling panicky, though, rest easier knowing that our vets tend to see more of the first three issues.
Given that blood in your cat’s urine can indicate different issues…
It’s important to get your cat checked out.
Your cat is likely uncomfortable, and some of these scenarios can lead to more serious and costly issues quickly.