As cat owners, it can be nerve-wracking to know that something isn’t quite right with our cat but not exactly knowing what the underlying issue is.
I’m sure many of us have gone through such an ordeal before.
One of the scariest things is noticing your cat leaving blood drops all over the house. Anytime when there’s bleeding, it is a cause of concern.
But what could be causing your cat to be leaving tiny blood spots?
There are a number of reasons that could be causing your cat to leave blood stains. It could be due to something as minor as a cat on its paw. Or in more serious cases, your cat could have a flea infestation or even bleeding from one of its orifices.
Let us take a closer look at the possible reasons that could be causing this.
1. A Minor Wound
Studies have shown that cats have the intelligence and mentality of a two year old toddler. If you have kids at home, you know what that means.
Trouble.
Children of that age are curious and playful which usually involves them getting cuts and scrapes at times.
The same thing can happen to your cat when it is out and about during the day.
It could have nicked its body against a sharp corner or stepped on some bits of glass that it broke.
If you have two or more cats at home, cat fights can happen over territorial disputes or with one cat just being an ass that day.
This can cause some minor injuries to your cat’s tail or body.
Cats that are allowed to roam outdoors are also more prone to get injured due to many environmental factors.
These wounds might not be serious to warrant a visit to the vet but they can definitely leave blood sports around the house.
2. Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections or UTI are very common in cats and almost every cat owner that I know has a cat that had it before.
A UTI happens when the cat’s urethra, which is the tube that transports urine out of the body, becomes inflamed and swollen.
This makes peeing for the cat very painful.
UTIs can be caused by many factors such as:
- Stress and anxiety
- Bacterial infection
- Spinal cord issue
- Crystals in the urine
The main reason why cats are so prone to UTI is that they don’t drink enough water. Cats just don’t have a strong level of thirst as compared to dogs.
This is due to their having evolved from desert dwellers. And when you’re in the desert, you don’t have the luxury of having a reliable water source.
Cats tend to get their hydration from the bodily fluids of the prey they consume.
Your cat’s urine is very concentrated due to the lack of fluids which also explains why it stinks pretty bad.
Symptoms of UTI in cats include:
- Peeing outside the litter box
- Straining to pee
- Having little to no pee
- Drinking more than usual
- Blood in the pee
- Meowing loudly when peeing
Apparently, UTIs are more common in male cats due to them having narrower urethras which are more prone to being blocked.
A few months ago, I brought my cat to the vet because he wasn’t eating well and drinking more than usual.
When the vet came out of the examination room, she showed me a pet diaper that was heavily stained with blood.
I could feel my knees start to weaken and my heart rate quicken.
She said that my cat is having a UTI.
Thankfully he made a full recovery after a course of antibiotics.
3. Bleeding From The Mouth
It might also be a good idea to check your cat’s mouth for signs of bleeding if you notice blood stains.
There could be a possibility of a mouth injury.
Your cat might have bitten into something sharp or hard that could have cut its gum or broken its tooth. Or if your cat only has one or two canines remaining, one of the tooth could be poking into its lip and causing it to bleed.
Did you know that up to 90% of cats aged four and older have some form of dental disease?
Dental diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis are two of the most common oral problems that your cat can suffer from.
Gingivitis is a gum disease that can cause the gum lining to become inflamed and start to bleed.
If left untreated it can transition into something more serious called periodontitis which affects the gum tissue which secures the tooth.
Common symptoms of dental disease in cats include:
- Bleeding gums
- Smelly breathe
- Excess drooling
- Tooth decay
One good way to prevent dental issues in your cat is to start brushing its teeth. I know you rather stand in front of a moving train than attempt to brush your cat’s mouth. But it is for the greater good for you both.
It will spare your cat the pain and discomfort of having dental issues. And your wallet won’t be screaming for mercy when you need to take your cat to a dental specialist.
If you have a kitten at home, bleeding from the mouth doesn’t necessarily mean dental disease. It is more likely that your cat is going through the process of teething.
Your kitten will have a set of baby teeth when it is about 3 weeks of age. And they look so small and cute, especially the canines.
Once they hit 3 months old, these teeth will start to drop out and be replaced by 30 adult teeth.
It is common for them to experience some discomfort and bleeding during this phase but it will clear up once all the adult teeth are out.
4. Bleeding From Anus
It can be worrying to know that your cat is bleeding from the anus but many of the ailments are treatable.
If your cat is dripping bright red-coloured blood from its anus, it is more likely due to a problem with the lower part of its digestive system such as the colon or anus.
The most common causes are constipation or diarrhea.
When your cat is suffering from constipation, it will be having problems pooping regularly. This is due to the stools being very hard and dry which gets stuck in the intestines.
Your cat will have to strain a lot to force out the poop and this can cause micro tears in its rectum.
The same goes for having diarrhea.
Instead of being hard to poop, your cat’s poop is flowing too freely.
If you have gotten bad diarrhea before, you know how it can make your ass burn and bleed. Chronic diarrhea can also anal fissures in your cat which are tears in the anal lining too.
Issues with your cat’s anal glands can also cause blood to drip from your cat’s anus. You can’t see your cat’s anal sacs as they are located just behind the entrance of your cat’s anus.
The sacs contain an oily dark brown liquid that cats use to mark their territory and lubricate their poop.
The anal glands can become impacted when they aren’t emptied enough or by a bacterial infection. Besides dripping blood, your cat can also be leaking dark brown fluids.
Some cat owners like to rub vaseline on their cats’ sore bums to help heal and protect the tender skin in that area. However, it might not always work well depending on what is affecting your cat.
5. Hematoma Of The Ear
A hematoma is basically a blood pocket that can form on any part of your cat’s body including in the ears.
Hematomas can vary in size but you will be able to them on the inside of your cat’s pinna which is the visible portion of your cat’s ear.
The most common cause of hematomas in your cat’s ear is mainly due to trauma or injury related. An impact to the ear can burst the tiny blood vessels in the pinna and cause them to leak internally which forms the blood pocket.
Common causes of trauma to the ear include:
- Ear mites
- Fights with other cats
- Ear infection
- Skin allergies
Your cat’s ear will be swollen due to the hematoma. The pocket will be somewhat squishy to the touch due to the accumulation of blood.
Please do not attempt to squeeze it as it can be painful for your cat.
If your cat happens to scratch and break open a hematoma, that can leave blood spots around the house.
6. Bleeding From Surgery Wound
Has your cat been through any form of surgery recently?
If it has, then the blood spots could be coming from the incision site.
After the surgery has been completed, the vet will firmly stitch up the opening to allow the tissues to heal and stop the bleeding.
When your cat is back from the vet, it can break or loosen the sutures by running or jumping around. Or if your cat isn’t wearing a cone, it can accidentally break the sutures when grooming that area.
Any sort of infection in the wound area can also cause some inflammation and bleeding to happen.
It is always best to confine your cat to a room for some time to allow the wound to help properly. And let your cat use a cone or recovery suit so that it doesn’t loosen the sutures.
7. Pregnancy Complications
Having a cat that is pregnant is a joyous occasion. Cat lovers will understand that there’s nothing quite like having a bunch of kittens at home.
However, you do need to keep a watchful eye on your queen as complications can happen during a pregnancy.
Any form of vaginal bleeding from pregnant female cats is abnormal. It is also important to note when the bleeding occurs.
If the bleeding happens during the early to mid stages, there’s a high chance that your female cat has had a miscarriage or aborted the fetuses.
If the bleeding happens toward the end of the gestation period, that could mean that your cat is going into labor and is ready to give birth.
Being pregnant is a very stressful time for your cat and this additional stress can cause your cat to have cystitis.
Cystitis is a condition that affects your cat’s bladder and urinary tract. It is similar to having a urinary tract infection which can cause your cat to leak urine with blood in it.
8. Female Cat In Heat
If you have a female cat that is yet to be spayed, she still has the ability to go into heat when she is about 6 months old.
When she is in heat, she will start to display signs of being ready to mate like meowing loudly, spraying, being extra affectionate, etc.
This can happen once every few weeks which is why female cats are able to have up to 200 kittens in their lifetime.
During this period, cats do shed their womb linings like humans. But instead of discharging it, cats will reabsorb the tissue.
Bleeding during a heat cycle for cats is rare but it can still happen for your female cat when she’s ready to mate.
What Are The Blood Specs In My Cats Fur?
Last but least, if you notice blood specs in and on your cat’s fur, that definitely looks like a flea infestation.
Fleas are disgusting blood-sucking parasites that live in your cat’s cat and feed off its blood. Your cat can get fleas while it is roaming outside or from other pets like your dog.
If you notice your cat scratching itself more often, you might wanna take a closer look at its fur and scan for fleas.
Fleas are really tiny but you can spot them as little moving black dots on your cat. Look out for flea dirt too which is essentially flea poo.
After ingesting your cat’s blood, the fleas will poop it out which looks like dark brown crust.
The best way to kill these pesky buggers is to give your cat a shower with anti-flea shampoo and apply some form of medication like Frontline or Advantage.
This medication will only enter the surface of your cat’s skin and kill off the fleas when they feed on your cat.
You can also use a flea comb dipped in dawn washing detergent to remove as many fleas as possible.
What Should I Do If My Cat Is Leaving Blood Spots?
Unless your cat is having a minor wound that can be easily treated at home, any sign of bleeding should be taken seriously.
Get your cat to the vet immediately for a physical examination as there’s no telling how serious your cat’s condition is especially if the bleeding is coming internally.
Most ailments can be resolved with some antibiotics and rest. But surgery might be required if your cat has an issue with its internal organs.