Austin Stephens
Anemia in cats is often a medical emergency and can become life-threatening. It is not a disease in itself but a symptom of another disease or condition. Anemia refers to a decrease in the number of red blood cells and haemoglobin in a cat's blood. The signs of anemia in cats depend on the severity, the duration (short or long-term), and the underlying cause of the illness. If you notice that your cat has pale gums, is lethargic, is collapsing, and/or has other signs of anemia, seek emergency veterinary attention.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Lethargy | Cat is lethargic, weak, and uninterested in food |
| Breathing | Cat is short of breath and breathes rapidly even when lying still |
| Gums | Cat's gums are pale |
| Blood loss | Cat has a bloody nose, blood in the stool, urine, or vomit |
| Heart rate | Cat has an increased heart rate |
| Blood pressure | Cat has low blood pressure |
Lethargy and weakness
If your cat is anemic, it may also show signs of blood loss, such as a bloody nose, blood in the stool, urine, or vomit. Pale gums are another indicator of anemia. If you notice these symptoms, it is important to seek veterinary attention.
The severity of the anemia will depend on the duration and the underlying cause of the illness. If your cat is experiencing rapid blood loss, it may go into shock and could even die if more than a third of its blood volume is lost. Therefore, it is important to act quickly if you suspect your cat is anemic.
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Loss of appetite
Anemia in cats is often a medical emergency and can become life-threatening. If your cat is showing signs of lethargy, weakness, and loss of appetite, it may be suffering from anemia. Anemia refers to a decrease in the number of red blood cells and haemoglobin in your cat's blood. If your cat seems uninterested in food or treats, it may be suffering from anemia.
Cats with anemia have little stamina or energy, so they seem listless or tire more easily. They may also exhibit signs such as weakness and shortness of breath. If your cat is breathing rapidly even when lying still, it may be a sign of anemia.
If you notice any of these signs, it is important to seek emergency veterinary attention. Anemia in cats can be caused by several factors, including blood loss, a bleeding disorder, or parasites. Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose anemia through blood tests, such as a complete blood cell count (CBC) or a packed cell volume (PCV) test, also called a hematocrit (HCT) test.
It is important to note that the signs of anemia in cats can vary depending on the severity and duration of the condition, as well as the underlying cause. While anemia is not a disease in itself, it is a symptom of another disease or condition.
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Pale gums
Anaemia in cats can be a medical emergency and can become life-threatening. It is characterised by a decrease in the number of red blood cells and haemoglobin in the blood. If your cat is anemic, they may also have little stamina or energy and seem listless or tire more easily.
If your cat has pale gums, it is important to take them to the vet for a blood test to diagnose anaemia. Several tests can be performed on blood samples, including the packed cell volume (PCV) or hematocrit (HCT) test, which is the most common test to diagnose anaemia.
The signs of anaemia in cats can vary depending on the severity and duration of the condition, as well as the underlying cause. Sudden anaemia can result in shock and even death if more than a third of the blood volume is lost rapidly and not replaced. After rapid blood loss, cats usually have an increased heart rate, pale gums, and low blood pressure. The cause of blood loss may be obvious, such as a major injury, or it may be internal or hidden, such as a ruptured tumour on the spleen, a bleeding disorder, or parasites.
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Rapid heart rate
Anemia in cats is often a medical emergency and can become life-threatening. If your cat is anemic, you may notice that they have an increased heart rate, pale gums, and low blood pressure. This is especially true if they have experienced rapid blood loss. Other signs of anemia include lethargy, weakness, loss of appetite, and shortness of breath. If your cat is exhibiting any of these symptoms, it is important to seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.
Anemia refers to a decrease in the number of red blood cells and haemoglobin in your cat's blood. If your cat is anemic, they may also seem listless or tire more easily. They may have little stamina or energy and may be uninterested in food or treats. In some cases, anemic cats may also exhibit signs of blood loss, such as a bloody nose, blood in the stool, urine, or vomit.
If your cat is showing signs of anemia, your veterinarian will perform blood tests to diagnose the condition. The most common test is the packed cell volume (PCV) or hematocrit (HCT) test, which measures the percentage of red blood cells in the blood. In a normal cat, 25% to 45% of the blood will be red blood cells.
It is important to note that the signs of anemia in cats can vary depending on the severity and duration of the condition, as well as the underlying cause. Sudden anemia can result in shock and even death if more than a third of the blood volume is lost rapidly and not replaced. Therefore, if you suspect that your cat may be anemic, it is crucial to seek veterinary care as soon as possible.
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Blood loss
If your cat has lost a lot of blood, it may go into shock. Signs of shock include an increased heart rate, pale gums, and low blood pressure. If more than a third of the blood volume is lost rapidly, it can even result in death.
If you notice any of these signs, take your cat to the vet immediately. The cause of the blood loss may be obvious, such as a major injury. If there is no evidence of external bleeding, your vet will look for a source of internal or hidden blood loss, such as a ruptured tumour on the spleen, a bleeding disorder, or parasites.
Anaemia starves the body of oxygen, so lethargy is often the first sign. Your cat may have little energy to play or may sleep more than usual. Its gums may appear almost white or even yellow (a condition called jaundice) due to red blood cell destruction. In extreme cases, your cat may have trouble breathing, and its respiratory and heart rates may increase as its body tries to compensate for the lowered oxygen delivery by the red blood cells. Depending on the cause of anaemia, fever and loss of appetite may occur due to an infection or inflammatory response.
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Frequently asked questions
If your cat is anemic, they will have a decreased number of red blood cells and haemoglobin in their blood. Signs of this include lethargy, weakness, shortness of breath, pale gums, and loss of appetite.
If you think your cat is anemic, you should seek emergency veterinary attention. Your vet will be able to perform blood tests to diagnose anemia.
Anemia can be caused by blood loss, either internal or external. If there is no evidence of external bleeding, your vet will look for a source of internal bleeding, such as a ruptured tumour on the spleen, a bleeding disorder, or parasites.
Anemia in cats is broadly categorised as either regenerative or non-regenerative. Regenerative anemias occur when the bone marrow produces enough red blood cells to correct the anemia.
