Medically known as hematemesis, a condition in which a cat throws blood. When you see your cat throwing up blood, it is not something that can be dealt with easily in most cases. It is a medical emergency that needs immediate care. Vomiting blood is not a disease but a symptom that can be caused by multiple factors.
Disclaimer
If you see your cat is throwing up blood, and it is more than a tiny streak, also she’s very lethargic, has pale gums, and is showing shallow breathing or an elevated heart rate. Stop reading this article and call the vet immediately or reach a nearby pet clinic as soon as possible, as it is a medical emergency. This condition should not be taken lightly. This could be a life-threatening technique due to excessive blood loss, and your pet could experience shock or severe organ failure.
Types Of Vomited Blood
Not all the blood vomited is the same. The colour and texture of vomited blood indicate where it is coming from and what its source may be. Here is a brief about the different types of blood vomited by your cat.
| Type of Blood | Appearance | What It Suggests |
|---|---|---|
| Bright Red Blood | Fresh, red streaks, clots, or liquid blood | Bleeding from the mouth, throat, esophagus, or possibly the upper stomach. |
| Dark Red / Brown (“Coffee Grounds”) | Grainy, dark brown, or black material resembling wet coffee grounds | This usually points to the stomach or upper small intestine. |
| Blood-Tinged Foam or Liquid | Pink, frothy fluid mixed with blood | Often irritating; it comes from the stomach lining, or the lungs, and is then swallowed, appearing in vomit. |
Causes
There are multiple causes for your cat to vomit blood. This could be due to gastrointestinal irritation, stomach ulcer, or any foreign body in the trachea, oesophagus, or stomach. Other reasons might include human NSAID toxicity, which is the use of Panadol or any other human NSAID. These drunks directly or indirectly act as poison for your cat because the feline family does not have receptors for these drugs.
If you have used poison to catch rats, and by mistake, your cat eats that poison. This could also be a fatal reason for bloody vomit. In case of liver failure or severe liver inflammation, your cat can vomit blood.
Feline inflammatory bowel disease IBD is another condition where inflammatory cells invade the stomach and intestinal lining, and in severe cases, this could lead to vomiting accompanied by blood or severe diarrhoea.
The following are the different causes of blood vomited by your cat, along with the key signs in each case: the appearance of blood and the level of urgency, whether it is life-threatening or not.
| Causes | Typical Blood Appearance | Key Accompanying Signs | Urgency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stomach Ulcer / Gastritis | Coffee grounds or bright red | Repeated unproductive vomiting, sudden anorexia, and painful abdomen | High |
| Foreign Body | Bright red, may be intermittent | Coffee grounds are often profuse | Critical (Surgical) |
| Rat Poison (Anticoagulant) | Variable, often fresh | Pale gums, nosebleeds, large bruises, blood in urine or stool, weakness | Critical (Life-Threatening) |
| Human NSAID Toxicity | Intermittent, often coffee-ground specks in clear fluid or food | Lethargy, abdominal pain, possibly collapse, increased thirst/urination | Critical (Life-Threatening) |
| Liver Failure | Coffee grounds or dark | Jaundice (yellow tint), swollen belly, weight loss, extreme lethargy, behavior changes | Critical |
| IBD (Chronic) | Chronic intermittent vomiting, diarrhea, and gradual weight loss | Bad breath, drooling, difficulty eating, pawing at the mouth | High (but often chronic) |
| Severe Dental/Oral Tumor | Bright red, mixed with saliva | Repeated unproductive vomiting, sudden anorexia, and a painful abdomen | High |
Immediate Actions (Take at home)
If you see your cat is throwing up blood, immediately search if there is any human medicine missing, red poison, or if your cat has eaten poisonous plants like lilies. In such a condition, take a picture of the blood vomited by your cat and immediately consult a veterinarian, and try not to give any of the human medication to your pet.
Steps Taken By Vet
If you are a veterinarian, immediately perform a physical checkup, including CRT, oral mucosa, and gums, and an initial CBC (complete blood count) to determine whether there is any injury or if your patient is anaemic. Also, check the clotting time, which is a clear indication of rat poison or any liver injury.
Quickly perform an abdominal X-ray and an abdominal ultrasound to check for a foreign body. If the foreign bodies are confirmed by the diagnostic imaging technique, perform it immediately to rule out that cause.
Conclusion
This is a complete guide to help you determine why your cat is vomiting or throwing up blood, based on the type and color of the blood. If you are a veterinarian or a pet owner facing a similar issue, share your thoughts in the comments and let me know if you have tried any remedies and whether they were successful.
Thank you for your time reading this article. See you soon with some new and fresh knowledge about your pet.
