It is important to get professional care for your cat quickly, as blood in your cat’s feces can indicate a variety of serious conditions, including infections and poisoning. A vet can narrow down the list of possible causes and create a treatment plan. Expect the vet to take a blood sample and conduct a physical examination on your cat. They may also order ultrasounds or additional tests.
It’s okay if you get a bit of litter in the bag as well, that is to be expected and won’t interfere with the testing. Your vet may give your cat an in-office fecal test, too.
With some medications, such as very powerful antibiotics, it is possible that your vet will want to administer the medicine personally and will keep your cat under observation until the treatment is complete. [4] X Research source
For example, you might ask, “What is the recovery time for a surgery of this nature?” Or, “How will you put my cat under for the procedure?” If no foreign body is detected, your vet will typically recommend an endoscopic exam before any surgery. This allows your vet to look at your cat’s internal organs and further assess the major issues.
For example, the average cost of treating a cat suffering from blood in their stool is $800. This cost can rise if long-term care is needed.
You can find an emergency vet in your area by entering “emergency vet” and your city into a search engine. You can also call the after hours number for your standard vet. [8] X Research source
You can also give your cat a 50-50 water and Pedialyte solution in their bowl. Talk to your vet first, though, to make sure that the combination won’t mess up your cat’s electrolytes. Be aware that dehydration can hit senior cats particularly hard. Don’t be surprised if your vet suggests an IV if your older cat gets dehydrated.
You should not keep your cat on a home cooked long-term bland diet, as it is not nutritionally complete. Talk to your vet about recommendations for how long you should keep your cat on a specialized meal program. It is possible that your vet will ask you to withhold food from your cat for up to one day. You can give your cat water during this period, but the temporary food stoppage is intended to allow your cat’s digestive system to “reset. ”[11] X Research source Your vet may also recommend a modified diet if they think that a food intolerance is causing your cat’s bloody stools. [12] X Research source
If you give your cat a supplement, make sure to talk with your vet about any potential warnings or side effects. For example, slippery elm can cause abortions in some animals and may also trigger an allergic reaction. [16] X Research source
Try to watch your cat use the litterbox to observe any signs of stress as they pass stools. If your cat appears to strain or is shaking, or if they make repeated trips to the litterbox without producing any stools or urine, then that can be a sign of a problem. [18] X Research source