Expert: Jessica - 3/27/2010

Question
Please tell me what is wrong and how to cure it. Our male cat has been having diarrhea and there has been blood in his pee. is this a disease? how do i cure it?

Answer
Hi Lindsay.  Your kitty definitely needs to be seen by a vet right away.  Conditions of the bladder which cause bleeding can lead to urinary obstructions in male cats, which can be fatal in less than 2 days.  Obstructions can be caused by urinary crystals, stones or mucus plugs and blood clots.

The diarrhea and blood in the urine are probably caused by separate problems, although some conditions such as interstitial cystitis and inflammatory bowel disease can both be stress-related.  Your vet will need to do a urinalysis on your kitty to determine if your cat has a urinary tract infection, urinary tract crystals, or if the condition is strictly inflammatory in nature (interstitial cystitis).  They will also want to see a fecal sample to determine if the diarrhea may be caused by parasites, bacteria or if THIS could be related to an inflammatory condition as well.  Treatment will depend on what the urinalysis and fecal analysis show.  It may range from antibiotics to a special diet to antidepressants or a combination thereof.

Best of luck!

Jessica