Because cats typically use litter boxes, you might not be overly familiar with what their healthy pee looks like — it's usually yellow, clear and doesn't have gritty or sandy material in it.
Why is that important to know? Keeping an eye on what’s normal versus abnormal with your pet's bodily functions can help you detect when something's off — like if there's blood in your cat’s urine. If you notice that your cat or kitten is peeing blood, it’s always best to contact your vet to figure out the underlying cause. In the meantime, we spoke to a veterinarian to get more information on why you might find blood in your cat’s urine and how to help them get relief.
The color of a cat’s pee varies depending on how much blood is present. According to Dr. Emily Singler, VMD, it can have a pink or brown hue or you might even see clumps of blood in what is otherwise healthy-looking urine.
“Blood in a cat's urine can make the urine look bright red if there is a lot of it,” Dr. Singler adds. “If there’s just a very small amount, however, the urine may look totally normal with no signs of blood.”
Blood can appear in cat urine for many reasons. Here’s a breakdown of four common causes:
The underlying cause of blood might present changes in your cat’s bathroom habits, including urinating more frequently (but producing less urine), going outside of their litter box or straining or crying while they pee, Dr. Singler explains.
"Being completely unable to urinate because of an obstruction in any part of the urinary tract can result in severe pain and can cause bladder rupture, cardiac arrhythmias and kidney failure," Dr. Singler shares. "This condition is typically fatal if it isn't treated."
If your cat is peeing blood but seems to be acting normally, remember that cats are known to hide their pain. Monitor your cat while they're peeing to ensure that urine is coming out (as some will just pass blood). Contact your veterinarian if your pet is having difficulty going to the bathroom.
If your cat or kitten is peeing blood, the solution often depends on the underlying condition, Dr. Singler says. Antibiotics and sometimes pain medication are used to treat cats’ bacterial infections.
Cystitis will usually clear up naturally, but your veterinarian will likely recommend pain or anti-inflammatory medication, a prescription diet (or canned food), increased water consumption or stress therapy to treat it.
Bladder stones can dissolve when pets eat a prescription diet and take medication, although they might need to be surgically removed, Dr. Singler explains.
“A bladder tumor or cancer may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and anti-inflammatory medication, but this will be very case-dependent,” Dr. Singler adds.
You should always talk to your veterinarian about the proper treatment plan for your cat. However, Dr. Singler says that following directions for administering medication, using a drinking fountain to encourage water consumption and reducing stress at home are all ways to make your cat more comfortable during this time.
The Dig, Fetch Pet Insurance's expert-backed editorial, answers all of the questions you forget to ask your vet or are too embarrassed to ask at the dog park. We help make sure you and your best friend have more good days, but we’re there on bad days, too.
Save up to 90% on unexpected vet bills
Use any veterinarian in the U.S. or Canada
Rated 'Excellent' on Trustpilot
The most comprehensive pet insurance
Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash
up to 90% of vet bills – covered.
Every 6 seconds, a pet parent gets a $1000+ vet bill. Care for your pet & your wallet with Fetch.
Get your price
