
Finding blood in your cat's urine can be distressing, but it's important to remember that there are many possible causes, ranging from stress to more serious conditions. The medical term for blood in the urine is hematuria, and it can be identified by the presence of pink, red, brown, or black urine, or by the microscopic presence of blood cells. If you notice blood in your cat's urine, it is important to contact your veterinarian immediately for an examination and diagnosis.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Colour | Bright red |
Other names | Hematuria, bloody urination |
Cause | Bacterial infection, general inflammation from stress, polycystic kidney disease, renal dysplasia, trauma, neoplasia, infection, chronic kidney disease, idiopathic causes, bladder or urethral stones, feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), genetic abnormalities of the bladder or urethra, chemotherapy, estrus, clotting abnormalities, vasculitis, urinary tract infections, interstitial cystitis, urinary stones, Pandora syndrome, cancer of the bladder, anatomical abnormalities in young cats, diabetes, hyperthyroidism |
Symptoms | Straining to urinate, frequent visits to the litter box, meowing while peeing, changes to the smell and colour of the urine, increased licking or cleaning around the genitals, passing urine more frequently than normal, palpable mass in cats with tumours, strong odour of ammonia in urine, prolonged squatting or straining while in the litter box, avoiding the litter box, urinating in unusual places, distended abdominal area |
Diagnosis | Full bloodwork and urine testing, abdominal radiographs and abdominal ultrasound, cystoscopy, blood tests, urinalysis and urine culture, X-rays and ultrasound |
Treatment | Antibiotics, surgery, prescription diet changes, fluid therapy, pain medications, anti-spasm medications, behaviour modification medications, IV fluids, diet changes, increased water intake |
What You'll Learn
Stress
Bright red blood in a cat's urine can be caused by stress. This is often referred to as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). It is not a specific disease but is used to describe disorders in a cat's lower urinary tract.
To reduce stress in cats, it is important to create a calm and relaxing environment. This can be done by providing a low-stress environment with a quiet room, their own food and water bowls, and their own litter box and toys. High perches and stimulating toys can also help reduce stress levels. It is also important to ensure that litter boxes and beds are kept clean and away from loud machines.
Additionally, decreasing stress can be achieved by providing each cat in a multi-cat household with a safe and private space to retreat to freely. If two cats do not get along, it is best to keep them separated. Providing plenty of opportunities for vertical play and enrichment, such as cat trees, can also help reduce stress.
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Bladder infection
A bladder infection, or urinary tract infection (UTI), is one of the most common reasons for blood in a cat's urine. It is important to get your cat checked out by a veterinarian, as blood in the urine can indicate a variety of issues.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of a bladder infection in cats include:
- Blood in urine
- Passing urine more frequently than normal
- Straining to urinate
- Urinating in unusual places
- Increased licking or cleaning around the genitals
- Strong odour of ammonia in urine
- Passing small amounts of urine
Causes
A bladder infection is caused by bacteria migrating to the bladder. This can occur due to a number of reasons, including:
- Diarrhea
- Change in food
- Urinary tract stones
- Tumours
- Cystitis
- Stress
- Kidney disease
- Bladder stones
- Trauma
Diagnosis
To diagnose a bladder infection, your veterinarian will first take a detailed history of your cat's symptoms, previous medical issues, and any current medications. They will also perform a thorough physical examination. Further diagnostic tests may include:
- Bloodwork and urinalysis
- Urine culture and susceptibility
- X-rays and ultrasound
- Cystoscopy
Treatment
The treatment for a bladder infection in cats typically involves the use of antibiotics. It is important to complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by your veterinarian. In addition, pain medications, diet changes, increased water intake, fluid therapy, and stress reduction may also be recommended.
Prevention
While it may not always be possible to prevent a bladder infection in cats, there are some factors that are known to increase the risk. These include obesity, decreased water intake, and stress. To help prevent bladder infections, it is important to:
- Monitor your cat's behaviour and elimination patterns
- Keep your cats active to prevent obesity
- Increase water intake
- Provide an enriched environment with multiple resources, such as litter boxes, water, food, and hiding spaces
- Reduce stress through pheromones, music, and a consistent routine
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Cystitis
FIC is a type of FLUTD that causes inflammation of the bladder in cats. It is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning that your vet will diagnose it only after ruling out all other potential conditions that might cause similar symptoms. This process can be expensive and stressful, but it is necessary. Conditions to rule out before diagnosing FIC include urinary tract infection (UTI), urethral obstruction, idiopathic renal hematuria, blood clotting disorders, and prostate disease.
The average age of onset for FLUTD is four years old, and it affects around 250,000 to 500,000 cats annually in North America. It is the most common urinary disorder of young to middle-aged cats and is characterised by frequent, bloody, and painful urination, house-soiling, and in some cases, life-threatening urinary obstruction. Symptoms often subside within about a week in most cats. However, there are many cats who experience a more severe form of idiopathic cystitis, in which symptoms persist for weeks to months or frequently recur. These cats are classified as having chronic idiopathic cystitis.
Signs of FLUTD include:
- Increased frequency of urination
- Difficulty urinating
- Blood in the urine
- Urine that is cloudy or smells foul
- Urinating in unusual places
- Excessive grooming or licking in the genital region
- Complete urinary tract obstruction, resulting in the inability to urinate (mostly in male cats)
There are many potential causes of FLUTD, including urinary calculi or bladder stones, bacterial infections, neoplasia, anatomical abnormalities, and urethral plugs.
The treatment for FLUTD depends on the underlying cause. For example, bacterial infections of the lower urinary tract usually respond well to antibiotic therapy. If a cat develops a blocked urethra, emergency treatment is required to remove the blockage. If bladder stones are present, they must be eliminated through a special diet or surgical removal. There is no universal treatment for FLUTD, and each case must be investigated to determine the underlying cause.
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Bladder stones
The most common signs of bladder stones in cats are blood in the urine (hematuria) and straining to urinate (dysuria). Bleeding occurs when the stones rub against the bladder wall, causing irritation and damage to the tissues. Straining happens due to inflammation and swelling of the bladder walls or the urethra, and it can also be caused by muscle spasms.
Large bladder stones can cause a temporary or partial obstruction at the neck of the bladder, where it attaches to the urethra. Small stones may flow into the urethra and become lodged, resulting in a complete obstruction. This problem is more common in male cats due to their longer and narrower urethra. A complete obstruction is life-threatening and requires immediate emergency treatment.
To prevent bladder stones, it is important to address the underlying causes, such as dietary modifications to change the pH of the urine, increasing water intake to dilute the urine, and regular veterinary check-ups to monitor for any signs of recurrence.
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Urethral obstruction
The early signs of urethral obstruction may be difficult for pet owners to recognize. These signs include increased vocalization, frequent trips to the litter box, and licking or straining in the litter box. These signs may be misinterpreted as a less serious condition, such as a urinary tract infection, cystitis, or constipation. However, if left untreated, urethral obstruction can rapidly progress to a critical stage, with cats exhibiting vomiting, lethargy, dull mentation, or inability to stand.
The veterinarian will examine the cat and feel for a large, firm, and sometimes painful bladder that cannot be expressed. Medical management may be attempted to prevent the progression to a full blockage, including administering fluids, pain medication, and medication to prevent urethral spasms. However, these cats are still at high risk for developing a complete urethral obstruction and will require close monitoring.
For cats with a complete urethral obstruction, hospitalization is necessary to stabilize their condition and physically relieve the obstruction. This is typically done by inserting a urinary catheter under sedation or anesthesia. In some cases, a surgical procedure called a perineal urethrostomy (PU) may be required to widen the outflow tract of the urethra permanently.
Once the urinary catheter is inserted and the bladder is emptied, it is flushed to remove any inflammatory or crystalline material. The catheter is typically kept in place for 24-72 hours while the cat is hospitalized and closely monitored. During this time, pain medications and urethral relaxants are administered, and any underlying causes, such as infection or urinary stones, are treated.
After the cat has clinically improved and the catheter is removed, close monitoring is still necessary to ensure the cat can urinate on its own. If re-obstruction occurs, the catheter will need to be replaced. Cats that have experienced urethral obstruction are at risk for recurrence, so preventative measures, such as prescription urinary diets and increased water intake, are recommended. In cases of repeated urethral obstructions, the perineal urethrostomy (PU) surgery may be considered as a more permanent solution.
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Frequently asked questions
Cat urine should be a light yellow colour with a slight ammonia smell. Darker yellow, orange, brown, or red urine could indicate the presence of blood and should be checked by a vet.
Blood in cat urine can be caused by a variety of issues, including:
- Stress
- Urinary tract infection
- Bladder infection
- Cystitis
- Bladder stones or crystals
- Trauma
- Clotting disorders
- Tumours
- Cancer
Contact your veterinarian immediately. They will ask you about your cat's health and behaviour and perform a physical examination. They may also take a blood sample and run a urinalysis to determine the cause of the blood in the urine.