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Blood in the Urine in Cats
Written By Darlene Stott
Published: 08/18/2016Updated: 10/08/2021
Veterinary reviewed by Dr. Linda Simon, MVB MRCVS
What is Blood in the Urine?
Veterinarians use the word hematuria to describe blood in your cat’s urine. Blood in the urine can be a sign of infection, a hereditary condition, or a more serious health issue.
If your cat develops a problem in the urinary tract, you may see some blood in his urine. This can be a sign of a mild condition or it may be a sign of a more serious, underlying condition.
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From 439 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,500
Average Cost
$500

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Symptoms of Blood in the Urine in Cats
The signs associated with blood in the urine depend on the cause of the condition. Here are some of the most common signs that can accompany blood in your cat’s urine:
  • Red colored urine
  • Passing urine more frequently than normal
  • Palpable mass in cats who have tumors
  • Pain when urinating
  • Licking of urinary area
  • Strong odor of ammonia in urine
  • Prolonged squatting or straining while in the litter box
  • Avoiding the litter box
  • Urinating in unusual places inside
  • Distended abdominal area
  • Excessive thirst
  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
Types
There are several different types of conditions that could cause your cat to have blood in his urine. Some of the most common are:
  • Infection
  • Sterile cystitis (FLUTD)
  • Bladder stones or crystals
  • Physical abnormalities of the urinary tract
  • Bladder cancer
Causes of Blood in the Urine in Cats
A variety of conditions can cause hematuria to occur. They range from mild to very serious and include:
  • Abnormality of the urinary tract
  • Infection
  • Blood clotting disorders
  • Trauma
  • Cancer of the urinary tract that may occur with e.g. a transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder
  • Bladder stones
  • Abnormal urine pH leading to crystal formation
  • Medications
  • Idiopathic, or of unknown origin
Diagnosis of Blood in the Urine in Cats
Your veterinarian will need information from you before examining your cat to determine the cause of hematuria. He will begin by asking you some questions about your cat’s health and behavior. Be sure to give as much information as possible regarding your cat’s history, pre-existing medical conditions and any trauma that may have occurred. Your doctor will also ask you when the signs first started and if they have increased in severity recently. 
After taking a medical history, your doctor will examine your cat. A blood sample will be taken from your cat, as well. A CBC, or complete blood count, biochemical profile and urinalysis may be run at this time. Your veterinarian may also use a strip to determine if red discoloration in his urine is actually blood. 
Diagnostic tests such as in-house X-rays may be used to diagnose the cause of hematuria in cats. A urinary tract ultrasound may also be performed to provide additional information, depending on what your doctor suspects the problem may be. A CT scan with contrast dye may also provide a detailed picture of your cat’s urinary tract. If your doctor palpates a mass in your cat’s abdomen, he may want to schedule a biopsy. During this procedure, he would take a small tissue sample of any detected mass and send it to an outside laboratory. This is the procedure used to determine if a growth is benign or malignant. 
Treatment of Blood in the Urine in Cats
It is important to treat the cause of hematuria as soon as possible to avoid serious complications. Cats that have blood clotting diseases can lose a great deal of blood in a short period of time. Conditions such as bladder stones or 'sludge'  can completely obstruct the bladder and cause it to rupture. This is a life-threatening situation for your pet, and this is why blood in the urine is never something to ignore.  
The treatment for blood in your cat’s urine depends largely upon the condition causing it. If infection is causing hematuria, your veterinarian may place your cat on antibiotics until the infection clears. Cats that are dehydrated or unstable will be treated with IV fluids. Conditions causing blood in your cat’s urine such as diabetes must be treated accordingly to clear hematuria. If the reaction is suspected to be a medical side effect, the vet may decide to stop the medicine. It is dangerous to stop some medications quickly, so your doctor may have to taper your cat from them. In some instances, this is enough to stop hematuria from occurring. 
If your doctor finds bladder stones or tumors in the urinary tract, surgery may be recommended.

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Recovery of Blood in the Urine in Cats
Your cat’s recovery will depend on the cause of the condition and the treatment your doctor prescribes. It is important to attend all follow-up visits if necessary, give your cat all prescribed medications and report any negative changes in his condition to your veterinarian. With prompt diagnosis and proper treatment, many cats go on to recover from blood in the urine. Certain conditions may require ongoing treatment and management, but it is well worth it if your cat goes on to lead a happy, long life.
Blood in the Urine Average Cost
From 439 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,500
Average Cost
$500
Top
Blood in the Urine Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Mainecoon mix
Ash
1 Year

24 found this helpful

24 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
My 1 1/2 year old male house cat Ash has been using the litter box but he has also been peeing on the blankets on the floor. Today he peed on a white sheet and I noticed blood in his urine. He has been a little more irratible lately but no other personality changes. My husband says if this continues I have to get rid of him. I LOVE my Ash and think there my be a problem.
Sept. 9, 2018
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domestic short hair
Strider
16 Years

25 found this helpful

25 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
My 16 years old male cat now has had blood in his urine 2 times in the past 3 months. I've taken him to my vet and my vet found no infection at all. Also, my cat does this 1 time and that's it, what's causing this ?
Aug. 24, 2018
25 Recommendations
The presence of blood may be attributable to various conditions, notably urinary tract infections; however other conditions may also cause blood in the urine which may include urinary stones, trauma, clotting disorders, poisoning, tumours among other conditions. Keep an eye on the blood and think about having a thorough examination and ultrasound if the blood keeps recurring. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 24, 2018
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tabby
Lula
4 Years

19 found this helpful

19 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
Hello, My cat has blood in her urine. The vet has ruled out a urinary track infection as well as stones in her bladder, they don't know what's wrong with her so I thought I'd come on here and ask if anyone would have any idea as to what may be the issue. My cat has blood in her urine. The vet has ruled out a urinary track infection as well as stones in her bladder, they don't know what's wrong with her so I thought I'd come on here and ask if anyone would have any idea as to what may be the issue She is constantly in the litter box and sometimes doesn't even she is constantly in the litter box and sometimes doesn't even pee, and when she does there is blood i Adventure she does there is blood in her urine. She has been on prescribed food, amoxicillin, and another type of anabiotic but nothing seems to help.
Aug. 15, 2018
19 Recommendations
There are a few causes for blood in the urine which may include urinary tract infections and urinary stones/crystals, but if they have been ruled out we will need to look at other causes which may include trauma, poisoning, cancer, kidney disease, reproductive tract issues among other causes. Without examining Lula I cannot say what the specific cause of the blood is, however further examination is required and I would start with an x-ray and blood test. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 16, 2018
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Tortoiseshell
Satine
11 Years

18 found this helpful

18 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
My cat is acting completely normal, and I've noticed no changes in her water intake. She's still happily eating, playing, and purring whenever being pet. But, I noticed a small amount of blood in her per this morning (a small pool sort of in the middle of the rest of her urine) and I started to freak out, because that's my child! But now, her pee is a dark honey or amber colour, and I'm really starting to become concerned. It is normal for cats to act the same as always when having bladder or kidney issues?
Aug. 5, 2018
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
18 Recommendations
It is possible, yes, for cats to act normally when they have infections or other bladder problems going on, Since you are noticing the blood in Satine's urine, it would be best to have her examined by a veterinarian, as they can look at her, analyze her urine, and get any treatment that she may need.
Aug. 5, 2018
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Calico
Rena and Gizmo
16 Years

9 found this helpful

9 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Seeing Blood All Over The Floor'S
I have 2 older cat's, and I am seeing spots of blood in different place's on the floor all over the house. Don't know which one is doing it because they both act fine. My female cat is so hard to take anywhere! We were in the fire in Pigeon Forge a few year's ago and had to leave our home and she about ate us alive!
Aug. 2, 2018
9 Recommendations
You should try to separate Rena and Gizmo so see which one is spotting blood so that you know which cat to pay extra special attention to; there are many causes for the presence of blood so there is no single treatment I can advise you that will cover everything. You should find out which cat is spotting and then see if they have any other symptoms (increased thirst, straining to urinate etc…) and visit a Veterinarian regardless to determine the cause. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Aug. 2, 2018
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domestic short hair
Pico
15 Years

0 found this helpful

0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
Our male cat, Pico, about 12 to 15 years old, was a stray who found his way into our yard as a pretty young cat. He has been inside ever since. For the past two years he has been peeing humongous amounts of urine in his litter box several times a day. He also drinks huge amounts of water. He eats normally. We assume that this is kidney failure due to old age and love him and care for him as best we can. He is not our first cat nor our only cat. We have been through this before. Our vet said that this is not unusual. Yesterday afternoon he started peeing blood tinged urine and some pure blood. He also vomited some blood. He was not eating nor drinking. I assumed that he was probably going to pass as he was lethargic and did not want to be touched nor cuddled (unusual for him). But by this mornin he was drinking copious amounts of water and eating normally as well as wanted to be petting and held. So . . . . what the heck was that all about?
Tabby Cat
Minnie
2 Years

0 found this helpful

0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
Nothing Else
I have a 2 year old, female, tabby cat. Here recently I have been changing her litter box and I can plainly see that there is blood in her urine. It is staining the pellets and I’m just a little worried about her. I would take her to the vet, but I don’t have enough money to do so. She doesn’t have any other symptoms that I can think of other than her just wanting to scoot her butt on the floor once she leaves her litter box. (I literally mop every other day just to ensure my floor is clean just incase she did it while I was not at home) What do I do?
Siamese
Snow
6 Weeks

0 found this helpful

0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
I got my kitten from a feed store that someone just threw to the store people to take care of, they said he was 10 weeks old but hes definitely at least 6 now. He eats fine, drinks fine, isnt quite potty trained so he has some accidents but just now I noticed some red tint in his pee. I dont know if it's from something else or if it could be the dewormer I've been giving him. Mind you when I got him he was covered in fleas and his belly was bloated like a balloon. Could I have been giving him too much? I will be taking him to the vet as soon as I can btw!!
Mancoon
There’s 8
1 Year

0 found this helpful

0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
I have 8 cats all in the house. We have noticed blood in urine and it’s in different places in the house. How do I determine which cat it is. Vet visits are outrageous and I surely can’t all of them in to be check. HELP!
Tuxedo
L
3 Years

0 found this helpful

0 found this helpful

My pet has the following symptoms:
Blood In Urine
Urinating Outside Litterbox
Trouble Urinating
Very Little Pee
Last year my cat was going in and out of the litter box without peeing. He didn't cry, didnt lick himself constantly, didn't change his mood, but it was weird so we separated him from the other one and discovered he also had a spot of blood in the tiny bit of pee. The vet took him in, gave him fluids, checked him out...nothing. it was still happening so they kept him overnight and said maybe he's allergic to fish? Try not feeding him seafood. Or maybe he was experiencing stress. Eventually his problem went away and we haven't given him any seafood food or treats since. I just went on a two week holiday and my dad noticed that he was peeing in weird places-the sink, tub, a bucket-and there was a little blood. We've separated him again and he isn't peeing much and he is having small bowel movements. It looks like he is exclusively going in the litterbox. It was crazy expensive to visit the vet last time, with disatisfying results. I am hoping it was just the stress of me being away. Any other suggestions to try? I will go to the vet if it persists.
Blood in the Urine Average Cost
From 439 quotes ranging from $200 - $2,500
Average Cost
$500

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