Blood in My Cat's Pee: What It Might Mean

 

Blood in My Cat's Pee: What It Might Mean

Hematuria is a common reason cats are brought in. Often, bloody cat urine involves my patient urinating outside the toilet. This behavior usually makes it easier for pet parents to find the problem, but it is not the only sign of  possible urinary problems.

What Color Is Cat Pee?

Cat urine is yellow in animals that are healthy. The cat's urine can be light or amber in color, but it must be readily apparent as though it weren't murky. You might have hematuria if you detect hazy, orange, or red cat urine (blood in the urine).

What is Hematuria (Blood in the Urine)?

Hematuria may be the cause of altered urine color if you see it in your cat (the medical term for blood in urine). Hematuria can occasionally be plain to observe. For instance, the urine from your cat can be darker or redder. However, occasionally there is just a trace of blood in the urine, so your veterinarian will need to look at a sample under a microscope to be certain.

Hematuria Symptoms In Cats

Cat owners frequently find blood in their feline friend's urine when they also notice other odd bathroom behaviors, such as:

• urinating outside of the toilet
• more or less frequent urination
• Changes in the urine's volume
• meowing and urinating
• changes in the urine's flavor and color
• more licking or cleansing of the area around the genitalia

What Leads to Cats' Bloody Urine?

Urinary tract infections, urine crystals, and interstitial cystitis are the three most typical causes of bloody urine. In order to pinpoint the precise cause, a urine sample can be required.

Urinary Tract Infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections of the bladder, kidneys, urethra, or ureter (the tube that connects the kidneys to the bladder) in cats (or humans). The infection may be confined to the bladder, and in more severe cases, it affects one or both kidneys. In older cats, blood in the urine may be a sign of  UTI. In advanced cases of kidney infection, the owner / caregiver may say, "My cat has his head hanging in a water bowl, but he doesn't drink much."

If a cat has a UTI, you may notice symptoms like:

• Visible blood in the urine
• Weight loss
• Poor appetite
• Increased thirst
• Increased frequency of urination
• Straining to urinate

Treatment: Fortunately, bacterial urinary tract infections can usually be cleared with appropriate antibiotic therapy. In cases of kidney infection, antibiotics will need to be administered for at least four to six weeks.

Crystals in Urine

In younger cats, a common cause of bloody urine is the presence of crystals in the urine (crystalluria). These crystals can lead to a medical emergency when left undiagnosed and untreated.

Blocked urethra: In some male cats, crystals can cause blockage of the urethra. Because they can’t urinate through a blocked urethra, this creates a medical emergency, rapidly leading to kidney failure and even death within 48 to 72 hours.

Stones: In female cats and some male cats, mineral crystals in the urine (typically, either calcium oxalate or struvite) can lead to the formation of stones but not urethral blockage.

These stones may be in the kidneys, ureters, or bladder. Stones can cause symptoms like:

• Blood in urine
• Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection
• Loss of the kidney “upstream”

Treatment: Fortunately, ureteral stones are relatively rare. Special diets can help manage crystalluria and stones. However, calcium oxalate stones may require surgery.

Cystitis (FIC/FUS/FLUTD)

The third and most common reason for bloody urine is cystitis, which results in the inflammation of the bladder and urinary tract system. You may also have heard this condition called feline interstitial cystitis, feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), feline urologic syndrome (FUS), or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD).

Signs of feline interstitial Cystitis include:

• Blood-tinged urine
• Increased frequency of urination
• Straining to urinate
• Meowing while urinating

Treatment: This disease is diagnosed by excluding crystalluria, urinary tract stones, and urinary tract infection via analysis of urine, urine culture, and abdominal radiographs (x-rays) or ultrasound.

It is managed by diet modification, specifically by increasing canned food to increase the cat’s hydration and thereby decrease the concentration of his urine.

Pain management can be an important part of treating cystitis. Additionally, environmental enrichment (more toys, cat perches, less stress) may help reduce the frequency of episodes of painful and bloody urination caused by interstitial cystitis.

Other causes of blood in cat urine

While rare, hematuria could also be a symptom of other conditions, so it’s important to see your vet if you notice changes in your cat’s urine. In addition to UTIs, stones, and cystitis, bloody urine can be a sign of several other conditions, including:

• Pandora Syndrome
• Bacterial infection
• Cancer of the bladder
• Anatomical abnormalities in young cats
• Urethral obstruction
• Diabetes
• Hyperthyroidism
• Constipation
• Tumors
• Injuries

Diagnosing Bloody Urine in Cats

To better understand your cat’s health, your veterinarian will collect information through the following:

• Medical history: Questions about past health concerns and any physical or behavioral changes you’ve noticed
• Physical exam: Careful examination of your cat’s eyes, mouth, ears, fur, and stomach
• Bloodwork: Small samples of blood will be taken and tested in a lab
• Urinalysis and urine culture: Testing your cat’s urine to help identify or rule out certain conditions (like UTIs)
• X-rays and ultrasound: Equipment used to take pictures of the inside of your cat’s body can help your vet locate stones

What to Do If Your Cat is Peeing Blood

While the cause of hematuria is often easily treatable, bloody urine can be a sign of a medical emergency or a more serious condition. So, if you see blood in your cat’s urine or notice other behavioral changes, don’t wait to get them checked out by your veterinarian.