Expert: Charlotte Sherrell, DVM - 2/25/2009

Question
I have a 4 month old kitten I adopted from a shelter about a month ago and
he's been having some stomach issues for a while. A lot of it is just gurgling
noises, but when he goes to the bathroom I think he alternates between
normal, hard stool and extremely runny diarrhea. I've also noticed blood on
his anus after he's had diarrhea; I don't know if there's blood on his anus
after a hard stool. The only reason I know that he has blood on his anus
after diarrhea is because he often poops enough that some of it oozes onto
his back paw while he's in the litter box, and I have to wipe it clean. I don't
see any blood in the stool itself, and I've only seen a little blood on his
bottom -- more a small smear than anything else. I did take him to my vet
and had a fecal test done which came back negative. He did have
roundworm when I got him, but I got him treated for that, and he's very
active otherwise, and I think he has a good appetite. Should I be concerned
about the blood I'm seeing? Also, what could cause this?

Answer
Emma -

You should have your kitty examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible to avoid more drastic problems.  If you are hearing gurgling sounds from his little stomach then he is probably a little uncomfortable.  Even though he has been treated for intestinal parasites once, there is still the chance that he may have intestinal parasites and may need to have the treatment repeated.  

Perhaps you should evaluate the foods your kitty is eating.  His food may not agree with him and it may be causing him have an upset stomach. Again, consult your veterinarian to determine what food is best for your cat.

Best Regards,

Charlotte Sherrell, DVM