Does my cat have hemorrhoids?
Has your cat been behaving a bit “off”? It could be happening for any number of reasons, but it’s always good to make a quick check on its backside, because the first tell-tale sign of hemorrhoids in cats is most often a swollen anus. And, like most conditions your feline friend may suffer over time, the sooner you seek professional help the better.
In this article we’ll delve into the causes of cat haemorrhoids and Proctitis, (swelling of the rectum or anus), look at how to treat them on your own if it’s safe to do so, and what you can do to stop the conditions reoccurring.
What is inflammation of the rectum and anus?
No one likes to see their pet suffering, and if your cat has a swollen anus, the sooner it gets treated the better, for both of you.
Hemorrhoids, like Proctitis, can be the result of a variety of factors, including food allergies, internal parasites, infections, or even an intestinal blockage.
The good news is that the conditions are treatable, but because of how painful a swollen anus or rectum can be for your feline friend, it’s important to get them to a vet right away. Not just to make them more comfortable, but also to treat the underlying cause of the condition.
The anus is the opening where your cat’s feces is passed through, while the rectum connects the anus to the colon. If your feline friend has Proctitis, you’ll probably notice them struggling to poop, or crying in pain while they’re doing so.
Be sure that when they do poop you look at the feces itself – it may be a bit smaller than usual and could well contain fresh, red blood. You may also notice that the tissue is swollen and bright red.
Symptoms of a swollen cat’s anus
Proctitis, or inflammation of the rectum and anus, can leave your cat in a lot of pain and discomfort, especially when they try to poop. Here are some of the symptoms you should keep an eye out for:
- Your cat is having a hard time pooping
- There’s fresh blood in your kitty’s feces
- Excessive licking of the rear end
- Scooting, or dragging their bottom across the floor
Causes of inflammation of the rectum and anus in cats
There are many different factors that can cause a cat’s rectum and anus to become swollen. Some of the most common causes for this include:
Food allergy
Tumors or polyps in the rectum
Rectal polyps in cats are pretty rare. These small growths can bleed, but they’re usually not harmful and don’t spread. Tumors are a lot more common, and about one in five cats develop cancer. Tumors in cats often affect the skin or tissue just beneath it.
Inflammatory disease
Feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) happens when your cat’s digestive system becomes irritated and inflamed for a long time.
We don’t really know why some cats develop food allergies and others don’t, but what we do know is that beef, fish, chicken, and dairy are often the culprits. A cat must have been exposed to a food ingredient before they can develop an allergy to it.
Colon inflammation, (also known as colitis)
Colitis causes the colon to swell and can lead to diarrhea and blood in your cat’s stool. Stress or eating something hard to digest often trigger it.Parasites in the intestines
Parasites like tapeworms, whipworms, and protozoa are pretty common in cats — up to 50% of them get affected. Tapeworms are easy to spot because you might see little ‘grains of rice’ around your cat’s rear. But other parasites are harder to detect. You might notice symptoms like diarrhea, blood in the stool, weight loss, coughing, a dull coat, or your cat dragging their backside on the ground more than usual.
Presence of a foreign object
All kinds of things can get stuck up there. Maybe from your cat sitting on something, maybe even something that they’ve digested which has gone all the way through. The best advice in most of these cases is to let a vet take a look. Worried about how much it’ll cost to treat your cat? A Wag! Wellness plan could be the answer. You’ll get access to a 24/7 vet chat, annual booster shots and a yearly check-up.
Diagnosing your cat’s hemorrhoids
If you notice any signs of a swollen anus, proctitis, or hemorrhoids in your cat, it's always best to take a ‘better safe than sorry’ approach and visit the vet as soon as possible. Be ready to share the symptoms you've noticed, and when they started.
Having your cat’s medical history on hand will help, especially if you’ve made any recent changes to their diet. Also, if your cat spends time outdoors, let the vet know, as certain allergens could be causing the inflammation.
This is the procedure you can expect your vet to approach:
Digital rectal examination
The vet will gently insert their finger into your cat’s rectum to check the anal glands and see the condition of your cat’s intestines and stool. This will help assess the source of the issue.
Other examinations
Your vet may run a blood test (CBC), urinalysis, and fecal flotation tests to rule out different causes of the symptoms. They may also examine a stool sample for parasites.
X-rays and ultrasounds
If the results from the other tests aren’t clear, your vet may suggest an ultrasound or X-rays. These help assess your cat’s digestive system and can check for any objects that might be causing irritation or blockage in the rectum or anus.
Treating hemorrhoids and Proctitis in cats
The first thing your vet (or you) will focus on is making your cat feel better as quickly as possible. Once the immediate discomfort is relieved, the vet will work on treating the underlying cause of the swelling.
- If your cat’s anus is swollen, the vet will likely clean the area gently and apply a soothing topical ointment to reduce inflammation and calm the skin.
- If parasites or an infection are the cause, your vet will prescribe medication for you to give your cat at home. It's super important to follow the vet's instructions carefully. If you miss even one dose of antibiotics, the bacteria could become resistant, and the treatment might not work as well.
- Your vet will probably also recommend oral anti-inflammatory medication, even if the issue isn’t related to inflammation. This will help reduce swelling and make your cat feel more comfortable.
- In some cases, the inflammation is caused by a foreign object or tumor inside the cat’s body. If this is the case with your cat, the vet may well perform emergency surgery to remove the object or mass.
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Home remedies for treating a cat’s swollen anus
There are several things you can do at home to help your cat if you notice its anus is red and swollen. Try any of these home remedies:
- Feeding your cat stool softeners or fiber supplements. These can both be very helpful. Stool softeners help by softening the feces and make it easier for your cat to poop without pain.
- Fiber supplements and easily digestible foods will help firm up loose stool, resulting in your pet having to strain less if it has diarrhea.
- You can try using a warm compress to help soothe your cat’s irritated backside and soften the contents of its anal sacs, making it easier for them to express.
- If your cat has been licking the area around the swollen anus and rectum, the vet may recommend putting an Elizabethan collar on them to help.
Inflammation in the rectus and anus can be expensive to treat. If you suspect your cat has inflammation in the rectus and anus or is at risk, start searching for pet insurance today. Wag! Wellness lets you compare insurance plans from leading companies in seconds. Find the perfect plan in just a few clicks!
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Recovery of Home Treatment For Cat Hemorrhoids
You will need to closely follow the vet’s instructions when it comes to administering medication to ensure your cat recovers well. If you miss even one dose of an antibiotic treatment, for example, the bacteria could become resistant to the medication, making it less effective.
If your cat has been licking the area, the vet may recommend putting an Elizabethan collar on him to stop this behavior.
To combat any diarrhea, the vet will most likely ask you to change your cat’s diet to include more fiber and easily digestible foods. Make sure you have this conversation with your vet prior to leaving the office, and follow his instructions closely. Monitor your cat as he heals and take him back to the vet if the symptoms are still present after treatment is over.
As long as your cat receives treatment in a timely manner, rectal and anal inflammation is generally easily treatable by veterinarians.
Inflammation of the Rectum and Anus Questions and Advice from Veterinary Professionals
Domestic Short Hair/Tabby
9 weeks
57 found this helpful
57 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Inflamed Anus And Issues With Stool.
My wife and I recently rescued a kitten and she has some redness and swelling around her anus/rectum.
She's generally active as a kitten would be, uses the box, and was apparently given soft foods mostly. Her stool is of a semi hard consistency and "curls"
She is very sensitive to touch near that area but overall shows no other signs of discomfort anywhere else, including the abdomen as well as there seems to be no bloating.
What could we do to help until we can get her seen?
We also have an older cat (~12 years old, Creamsicle Tabby, neutered, chronic sinus issues, spondylitis)
Oct. 2, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
57 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. The most common cause for rectal irritation in kittens is parasites and stool consistency. The best thing to do initially would be to have her dewormed. Taking a fecal sample to a veterinarian will allow them to look at the stool sample under a microscope and check for parasite eggs, and treat for what they see. I hope that all goes well for the kitten!
Oct. 2, 2020
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Burmese
Six Years
38 found this helpful
38 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Excessive Licking Of Anal Area And Minor Diarrhea
Hello so our 6 year old female cat has started to lick her anal areas followed by diarrhea in then which she streaks across the floor. She has improved the past few days but now is at it again. We are wondering what could be the issue
Sept. 29, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
38 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. There are many causes for diarrhea, including parasites, GI upset, intestinal infections, infectious diseases, or foreign bodies. If she seems to be acting normally otherwise, you may want to try feeding her a bland diet of boiled white chicken and boiled white rice for a day or two, and see if that helps. If the diarrhea and the licking continues, then it probably would be a good idea to have her seen by a veterinarian, as they can examine her and see what's going on. I hope that all goes well for her.
Sept. 29, 2020
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Tabby
6 months
20 found this helpful
20 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Scooting And Soft Stool
two half a pea sized swollen pink lumps on cats anus and light brown soft stool
Sept. 29, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
20 Recommendations
Thank you for your question.
Those areas appear to be irritated rectal tissue, and are likely due to the scooting and irritation. Kittens are very prone to parasites, and having a fecal sample analyzed by your veterinarian for parasites would be a good idea. I hope that all goes well!
Oct. 2, 2020
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savannah kitten 9 weeks
9 weeks
3 found this helpful
3 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
None
9 week old kitten was accidentally given a second distemper shot today by vet. The cat breeder had already administered the first shot on 9/22/20. The vet did not look at health record I provided before giving it and did not ask me before giving. vet also said the kitten fecal test shows coccidia even though he was showing no symptoms of that. So the vet prescribed albon today. He said there should not be a problem with 2 distemper shots in one week time but described what to look for in case there was. He also said it was ok to give the Albon today. should I wait before starting it?
Sept. 28, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
3 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. Two FVRCP vaccines given very closely together should not cause any problems for your kitten, and you should only need to watch out for 'normal' vaccine reactions - swollen face, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy. Albon is not hard on the GI tract, and you should be able to start that any time, although if it makes you feel better, you can certainly wait until tomorrow.
I hope that all goes well for your kitten.
Oct. 4, 2020
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Shorthair
Fifteen Years
9 found this helpful
9 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Constipation
constipated, swollen anus when tries to defecate, vomitted while trying to defecate
Sept. 28, 2020
Answered by Dr. Michele K. DVM
9 Recommendations
Thank you for your question. Older cats can become so constipated that they need hospitalization, and it would be best for her to have her seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible, if she is to the point where it is making her vomit. They may be able to get her through this with fluids and enemas, but they will be able to let you know more once they see her.
I hope that she is okay.
Oct. 5, 2020
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DomestI longhair
Peaches
5 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Noisy Breathing
Yelp When Lifted
Constipation
Yelping
Sore Anus
Diarreha
Blood In Stool
Constipation Diarehha Pain When Poo
Hi guys, not sure if anyone can help, I've recently adopted a kitten and she had litter problems pre Hand but was willing to give it a go and get her better, the day I got her her anus area was covered in poo, looked quite sore and have diarreha, I've been to vets and they gave me worming stuff but that hasn't seemed to help, she is in agony when defficating, yelping and everything.she goes in her bed, next to her food bowel the lot. Has anyone got any tips on what I can do? I feel like vets aren't helping at all :(
N/a
Tux
4 Months
0 found this helpful
0 found this helpful
My pet has the following symptoms:
Irritated, Red, And Swollen Anus.
My rescue cat in which I have had for a few years, recently had a litter. Tux one of the kittens hasn’t been meowing or showing any signs of discomfort but I am worried. His anus seems red and Irritated, there is no puss coming out but it does not look right. I’ve tried searching a few things up but I can’t really come up
With anything. Can you possible help guide me in the right direction to get my kitten healthy again.
