Your beloved feline friend is curled up on your pillow with you. They got up and left a surprise: a bloody liquid on the pillowcase. You know your cat is fixed, so it’s not. Why is your cat’s bottom bleeding?
Let’s look at some of the causes and treatment options.
If your cat’s rectal area is bleeding, it is important to have your cat checked by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Your veterinarian will need to determine if the bleeding is coming from the skin around the rectum, rectal tissue, anal sac, or something inside.
The 5 Possible Causes of Cat Butt Bleeding
1. Pain in the Anal Sac
Your cat has scent glands located in the rectum called anal glands or anal sacs. These glands are filled with pungent material that cats usually excrete as they defecate. For a variety of reasons, anal sacs can fill up and become inflamed or infected.
Sometimes, the anal sacs will tear, leading to a bloody discharge. You may see a visible hole when you lift your cat’s tail up one of the sides of the rectum.
Treatment
If your vet determines that your cat has an anal gland abscess or anal sacculitis, the vet will likely put your cat on antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory pain reliever.
Commonly used antibiotics include:
- Injectable Convenia
- Oral Clavamox
- Oral clindamycin
In severe cases, cats need to have their anal sacs flushed and medicated. Your cat may also need surgery to remove the affected anal sac.
2. Trauma
Traumatic injuries to rectal tissue can contribute to blood around the rectum. Cats can get scratches or bite wounds around the rectum. Foreign body injuries, such as perforated intestines or trauma to the colon, can occur secondary to eating bones and other materials.
Injury from a car crash can also cause rectal bleeding in your cat. If you suspect an injury, call the vet immediately.
Treatment
Treatment for rectal trauma depends on what happened and where. Depending on the injury, some cats will need surgery, and others will need antibiotics and pain medication. Your cat may also need stool softeners to help them poop without putting too much pressure on the tear area.
3. Rectal Prolapse
Some cats experience rectal prolapse when a portion of the rectal tissue protrudes through the anus. This is most common in younger cats with severe diarrhea, such as kittens with intestinal parasites.
Treatment
Rectal prolapses must be treated immediately because the outer tissue can dry out, lose its blood supply, and become necrotic. Your vet will need to anesthetize your cat and replace the tissue.
They will then use a purse-string suture pattern to partially close the anal opening and help reduce the chances of subsequent prolapse. If your cat has necrotic, unviable tissue, it must be surgically removed.
4. Tumors or Polyps
According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, rectal polyps are uncommon in cats. If they do occur, they are usually benign. Tumors or widespread cancer can occur within the anal tissues. Some cats develop anal gland tumors that can grow and block their anal opening.
Lymphosarcoma is usually a metastatic cancer that can spread primarily through lymphatic tissue found throughout the body, including the intestines.
Treatment
Surgical removal is the best treatment for localized polyps so they can be submitted for histopathology and tested to make sure they are benign. Some other tumors in your cat’s rectum can be surgically removed. A biopsy may be needed to identify a tumor and help predict its behavior and best course of treatment.
Chemotherapy is useful for some cancers, such as lymphosarcoma or lymphoma. Your veterinarian may refer you to an oncologist for further treatment.
5. Parasites
Parasites can also cause bleeding around your cat’s hindquarters. First and foremost, fleas can make cats so itchy that they scratch until they bleed, often around the tail. Intestinal parasites, such as hookworms, tapeworms, and roundworms, can cause intestinal cramps and diarrhea.
Along with that, or even just with parasites, your cat may have blood in their stool called hematochezia.
Treatment
Treatment for parasites involves determining the type of parasites. Fleas are treated with flea prevention products such as Revolution. Intestinal parasites can be treated with pyrantel, praziquantel, or other drugs, depending on the parasites noted in the history or fecal floatation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can You Tell if a Cat Has Worms?
You may find intestinal parasites in your cat’s stool. Roundworms generally resemble spaghetti noodles, while tapeworm segments resemble grains of rice. Cats with parasites often have diarrhea, and some kittens will also vomit.
Sometimes they even vomit worms. Some affected cats will also lose weight and may have a dull coat.
Can Cats Bleed From Straining to Defecate?
If your cat is constipated and has to strain to defecate, they may start to pass a little blood. Your vet will probably want radiographs (X-rays) to confirm this. They may give your cat an enema and put it on a stool softener. Certain foods, such as a fiber-response diet, may also help.
Conclusion
If your cat begins to have blood around their rectal area, contact your veterinarian. If your cat is actively bleeding, this is a medical emergency. Your vet will perform an exam to try and narrow down the possible causes and develop a treatment plan to help your cat and ease your anxiety.
Featured Image Credit: Hanna Taniukevich, Shutterstock
