Blood In Stool

Hi,

We have a kitten that is 8 months old. We noticed that she occasionally has drops of blood in her stool. Is this normal? What might be causing this?

She is otherwise very healthy and has always been an indoor cat. She has plenty of energy and a great disposition.

Thanks,

Mary Ann


Hi, Mary Ann

The cause of blood in the stool of a cat as young as your's (a kitten) is almost always intestinal parasites. Even if your kitty has been dewormed and/or had a fecal analyzed that was found to be negative, she can still have worms.

Since the chances of it being worms are so much greater than anything else, the first step would be to have another fecal sample analyzed. Even if it comes up negative, your kitty should be given a general dewormer. However, there are some intestinal parasites that will not be killed by the general dewormer. If nothing shows up on the fecal analysis, and the general dewormer is given, yet she continues to have blood in her stool, serial fecals should be performed. Results of the fecal results, she also could be given medication for the two most common parasites that are not killed by the general dewormer. Those two parasites are coccidia and Giardia.

I have never treated a kitten with diarrhea or blood in the stool that didn't respond to the above treatment and go on to live a healthy life.

Thank you for writing. Dr. Neely