Blood in Urine (Hematuria / Hemoglobinuria / Myoglobinuria) in Cats

Blood in the urine is a common symptom in cats and it can have a multitude of causes which vary from mild to deadly if left untreated
Urinalysis, blood work, and physical examination can determine the root cause
Treatment and prognosis depend on the underlying cause

Are you concerned?

Connect with a vet to get more information about your pet’s health.

Book an online vet

A closer look: Blood in Urine (Hematuria / Hemoglobinuria / Myoglobinuria) in Cats

Bloody urine in cats is fairly common and the causes of blood in the urine can vary in severity from mild to dangerous. Once blood is observed, pet parents should contact a vet as soon as possible.

Blood in the urine can be divided into three categories which are determined through laboratory analysis of the urine:

Hematuria: the presence of whole red blood cells in the urine.

Hemoglobinuria: the presence of hemoglobin (from broken down red blood cells) in the urine.

Myoglobinuria: the presence of myoglobin (from the breakdown of muscle tissue) in the urine.

Connect with a vet to get more information

With verified licenses and excellent reviews from pet parents like you for this type of symptom

Possible causes

Blood in urine is associated with a number of different conditions.

Examples include

Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC)

Kidney and Bladder Stones (Uroliths) in Cats

Urinary obstruction

Lower Urinary Tract Infection (Bacterial) in Cats Prostate Inflammation (Prostatitis) in Cats Chronic and Acute Kidney Disease (Renal Failure) in Cats Congenital Kidney Disease in Cats Urinary Tract Cancer in Cats Rodenticide Poisoning (Anticoagulant) in Cats Coral Snakebite Poisoning (Elapid Envenomation) in Cats Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia in Cats

Injuries

Immune mediated thrombocytopena

Severe muscle damage

Risk factors

Severity of illness indicated by blood in urine varies widely based on the root cause. For example, FIC is common and can be managed with relative ease and lifestyle monitoring, while ingestion of rat poison is deadly and requires rapid intervention.

Severity can also vary based on the origin of the bleeding. Blood may originate in the urinary tract but may also be vaginal, uterine, prostatic, or the result of a bleeding disorder.

Testing and diagnosis

After a medical history and physical examination is done, diagnostics for blood in urine include:

Bloodwork
Urinalysis
Diagnostic imaging

Most cases of bloody urine in cats are the result of FIC and are treated with medications including analgesics and antidepressants, and other medications along with nutritional management and environmental modification.

Surgery is necessary for stones and urethral flushing is necessary for obstructions.

Treatment varies widely for the other, less common causes of bloody urine.

Similar symptoms

Bloody urine can be confused with normal bleeding from the uterus that occurs when unspayed female cats are in heat or experiencing the life-threatening condition pyometra. In healthy cats, the color of urine varies widely and other urine colors might be mistaken for bloody urine.