Why does my cat have black stool? White feces in a cat: causes and diagnostic studies of possible diseases

The color of normal feces in pets is usually brown (various shades). And too dark feces in a cat may well be a symptom of some kind of illness. But sometimes a cat develops black stools for completely harmless reasons, for example, due to the characteristics of its diet.

It will be useful for every owner of a cat to know what a normal stool should be like for his pet. Usually it is a fairly thick, homogeneous paste, which has different shades of brown - from light to the darkest.

Before you head to the veterinarian because you're worried about the color of your pet's poop, it's worth taking a closer look at it. Perhaps due to a change in diet, their color simply became very dark. In this case, there is no cause for concern; the situation will soon return to normal. It is necessary to run to the veterinary clinic as soon as possible if your pet’s stool turns out to be deep black, liquid, and especially if it contains blood. The latter may indicate that bleeding has opened in the upper or lower parts of the animal’s gastrointestinal tract. In this case, there is no point in delaying medical help for the cat. Otherwise, a quick death is possible.

It is also very dangerous if a cat’s black feces are accompanied by abdominal pain (this can be noticed when palpating this area), diarrhea, vomiting, poor health, lethargy and lack of appetite. In all these cases, it is very dangerous to independently treat an animal. This may worsen his condition further. Therapy should begin only after the pet has been examined by an experienced specialist under his guidance.

The safest option for changing the color of an animal's stool to black is due to the large amount of natural meat ingredients in the diet, such as raw meat and blood meal. In this case, there is no need to worry about this phenomenon. Of course, if nothing bothers your pet.

If we consider black feces in a cat as a symptom of any illness, then it may indicate the development of, for example, traumatic gastritis or colitis in the animal. Most often this occurs due to damage to the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, from sharp bones or other foreign objects.

Ulcerative gastritis, gastroenteritis, intestinal and stomach tumors lead to the same result. All these dangerous diseases cause bleeding, which results in blackening of the stool. To get rid of such ailments, long-term complex treatment under the supervision of a specialist will be required.

Also, helminthic infestation can lead to the appearance of black stool in a cat. In this case, the presence of blood, which after digestion turns the stool dark, is caused by the activity of helminths, which, living on the back wall of the intestine, damage it.

To diagnose an animal, a specialist will most likely order a test to determine occult blood in the feces. If it is discovered, then the cause of this phenomenon will be clarified. For example, with the help of ultrasound examinations of various organs, as well as with the help of additional laboratory tests. You will need to regularly submit them to the veterinarian to monitor the progress of treatment throughout the entire therapy. Home treatment in this case will not bring any positive results.

Most often, to solve the problem, an animal whose feces are black will be prescribed special drugs that stop the bleeding. For example, "Vikasol" or "Aminocaproic acid". Sometimes a cat may even need to be in a hospital permanently.

If you notice the problem in time, then almost any disease in your pet can be eliminated. Therefore, it is very important to evaluate the color and texture of his stool from time to time, and always carefully monitor the condition of your pet.

Unfortunately, our pets are also susceptible to various diseases, in particular, pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Some diseases in them may acquire varying degrees of severity, and be accompanied by clinical manifestations that characterize them. For example, one of the signs of serious digestive ailments is black feces in a cat, indicating that the disease is taking an unpleasant turn. The faster you respond to this symptom, the less severe the consequences will be. We will consider what this manifestation may mean in this article.

A change in the shade of a cat's feces, of course, is an indicator of various kinds of changes occurring in the animal's body. In principle, these changes could be:

• pathological;
• not dangerous.

In the first case, darkening of the stool indicates that there are some disturbances in the functioning of the organs of the digestive system, in the second, that some non-dangerous external influence was exerted.

Normally, the feces that your pets defecate should:

• have a brown color, while various shades are acceptable, for example, light or dark brown;
• have a medium density consistency;
• clearly defined sausage shape.

However, deviations from any of these parameters may often occur due to the influence of some reasons that are not dangerous and those that may pose a threat, for example:

• change of feed;
• organ diseases;
• introduction of new products;
• taking medications;
• various pathologies and other phenomena.

However, a serious pathology must necessarily be accompanied by other symptoms, letting the owner understand that everything is not as rosy as it seems to him.

Blackening of stool is in any case only a symptom

Table 1. Safe causes of darkening of feces in cats

Cause	Description
Taking medications containing iron	For example, most often darkening of the stool in healthy pets, provided that other aspects of their health are completely normal, occurs due to the animal taking special medications containing iron. The fact is that under the influence of this substance, stool oxidizes in the intestines, and it darkens; therefore, it comes out completely black. This change is not dangerous and goes away within a couple of days after the animal finishes taking these medications.
Eating large amounts of food containing iron	You will be surprised, but stool can also darken from food containing large amounts of iron. We are talking mainly about products such as: red meats; liver; other meat products. Provided that the animal often eats the above-listed food products raw, consuming not only iron, but also raw blood, which darkens as it undergoes digestion processes, it is not surprising that the cat’s feces acquire dark shades. There is nothing dangerous in this, the main thing is not to forget to feed your cats vegetables and dairy products so that his diet is complete.
Eating a lot of dyed foods	As you know, some foods that end up on a person’s table have the ability to turn stool black if they are overeated. However, it is no secret that if the food is healthy and suitable for consumption by animals, our pets can also try the foods that attract them. For example, some cats love cherries, which can turn their feces dark even if the animal eats only a few berries. The color of the feces will return to normal within a couple of days after the coloring product is removed from the animal’s food.

As you can see, in three situations there is a change in the shade of feces, which does not in any way imply any pathological processes. Therefore, if the darkening of the animal’s stool occurred only once and lasted no more than 2-3 days, and the cat’s well-being did not change in any way, you don’t have to worry: the pet is completely healthy and will soon recover. However, it is better to monitor your pet for a while just to be sure that he really feels well.

However, it is also necessary to monitor the clinical manifestations associated with blackening of the feces, which imply the development of any pathological processes in the cat’s body. Let's look at these symptoms in the table.

Table 2. Symptoms characterizing the pathological course of any hidden ailments in the cat’s body

Symptom	Description
Changes in stool characteristics	So, the first and main symptom that will be most noticeable to the animal’s owners is a change in such fecal characteristics as: color; form; consistency; presence of inclusions. So, provided that your cat still has some kind of gastrointestinal disease, the parameters of his feces may change as follows: the masses may acquire a black tint; the consistency will become liquid; the shape of the sausages will disappear, in other words, the feces will become shapeless; blood may be detected. Provided that the above changes occur, it is best to immediately seek help from a veterinarian.
Pain syndrome	Any pathological disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract are characterized by a manifestation such as pain. At the same time, unpleasant sensations bother the cat in the abdominal area. Unfortunately, you are unlikely to be able to find out their exact location, however, you can understand that the animal is experiencing pain by the following signs: the cat will tremble, either constantly or intermittently; the animal will try to move as little as possible; the cat will refuse hugs from the owner; periodically she will meow pitifully; sometimes animals hide in places that are difficult for humans to reach. However, there may also be manifestations of pain that are understandable only to you, and at the same time atypical for cats. The more attentive you are to your pet, the faster you will see them.
Change in body temperature	Provided that the darkening of the stool is associated with any pathology, the pet’s body temperature will most likely change upward, exceeding the normal limit of 38 - 38.5 degrees, and reaching higher levels.
Dyspeptic disorders	Provided that there are any pathologies and disturbances in the functioning of the cat’s body organs, various dyspeptic disorders may occur, such as: loose stools; flatulence; vomiting; in especially severe cases, streaks of blood can be seen in the vomit. As you can understand, such manifestations are very difficult to miss, and in any case they will indicate that your animal is sick.
Change in general condition	Provided that the darkening of the feces is associated with a disease and poses a danger, a change in the general condition of the animal will most likely also be observed. For example, it will become: behave sluggishly, even apathetically; there will be obvious weakness in the animal’s limbs; the cat will prefer sleep to wakefulness; weight loss will occur; the wool will become dull; other changes that characterize a serious illness will arise.
Appetite disorders	Another manifestation, very characteristic of serious illnesses, is refusal to eat food, or simply reducing its consumption to a minimum. Usually the animal stops eating so as not to cause activation, for example, of the digestive system, thereby protecting itself from repeated pain or other attacks, but continues to drink. Although, in some cases, the animal refuses water, which makes the situation critically dangerous due to the potential for dehydration.

The symptoms listed above, to which black stool is added, may indicate that bleeding has opened in some part of the gastrointestinal tract. Most likely, due to the blackening of the stool, bleeding will be found in:

• cat esophagus;
• stomach;
• small intestine.

The fact is that if bleeding occurs in the upper segments of the digestive tract, then the blood, by the time it reaches and mixes with the feces, darkens, giving the feces a shade that worries us so much. If bleeding were to occur in the cat's large intestine, the masses coming out would not be colored black, but:

• crimson;
• pink;
• or scarlet shade.

In any case, just because bleeding has started in the upper gastrointestinal tract does not give you reason to think that the problem is not particularly serious. In fact, if you do not have time to help your pet in time, everything can quickly end in death.

Please note: If black feces and one of the accompanying symptoms listed above in the table are detected, it is strictly prohibited:

• hesitate;
• independently diagnose your pet;
• begin treatment for a self-diagnosed diagnosis.

By giving the animal the wrong medicine, you can only increase the intensity of the bleeding, which, in turn, can only lead to the animal leaving this world even faster, and at the same time with greater suffering.

Remember: Even if you have a veterinary education, it is very difficult to diagnose the disease without the ability to conduct hardware research.

Causes of blood in stool

At this stage, we already know that the reasons for darkening of stool can be:

• dangerous;
• not dangerous.

If in the second case we are talking mainly about taking medications containing iron and eating appropriate food, then in the first case we are talking mainly about bleeding. It is blood that gets into the feces and mixes with it until a homogeneous mass makes the stool black, and thus you will know that something is wrong in the cat’s body.

Blood in the stool is a bad sign indicating that your pet is experiencing negative processes in the body.

The bleeding we are talking about now can open in one of the segments of the animal’s digestive tract. Other segments cannot be involved in this case (their disease is not excluded, but they were not the cause of the darkening of the stool), since the blood from them would in no way get into the gastrointestinal tract.

Bleeding may occur:

• in the esophagus;
• in the stomach;
• in different segments of the intestine.

In any case, no matter which segment of the gastrointestinal tract is involved, bleeding poses a fatal danger, so we do not advise you to brush it off. Next, we will look at a table within which the causes of bleeding in cats will be indicated. It is very important to understand that the reasons can be very different from each other, and which one is found in your case will depend on:

• medications required for use;
• prognosis for recovery;
• amount of time until death;
• duration of therapy, etc.

So, let's get started.

As you understand, the presence of helminths, if left untreated, can lead to the death of a pet, but first it will be weakened and poisoned.

When attached to the walls of an organ, as we have already said, helminths begin to destroy it, which, in fact, provokes bleeding from its walls. Flowing further along the gastrointestinal tract, the blood is digested and becomes black, mixing with the feces and giving it the same shade. Thus, one of the reasons for darkening of feces in cats may be the presence of helminths.

Traumatic colitis or gastritisColitis and gastritis are pathologies that affect the following organs of the gastrointestinal tract in the appropriate order:

small part of the intestine;

stomach.

We talk about traumatic colitis or gastritis when their occurrence and development is caused by the entry into the digestive tract of a foreign object or food product that the gastrointestinal tract is unable to cope with. As a rule, we are talking about bones that careless owners give to their pets for food, and most often cause serious damage to the bones of cats:

fish;

avian.

Once inside the gastrointestinal tract, especially when cooked, when chewed, they turn into needles that are difficult for the stomach to digest. These same needles damage the delicate mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines. From the damaged areas, in fact, blood oozes, which enters the stool, giving it a black tint.

Peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum, enterocolitis, gastritisThe diseases listed in this case are inflammatory in nature. Their development is characterized by the appearance of bleeding ulcers, more or less developed, in such segments of the cat’s digestive tract as:

stomach;

12-persiculum;

jejunum;

ileum, etc.

Blood oozes out of such ulcers very actively. In addition, it should be noted that the presence of ulcers and illness with similar ailments in itself means that the disease can progress, more ulcers will open, and bleeding from these ulcers will become more profuse.

Oncological processesOncology that has invaded the cat's gastrointestinal tract can also lead to the formation of lesions such as ulcers on the surfaces of the cat's mucous membranes. In this case, tumors of the following nature may also occur:

benign;

malignant.

Whatever happens in your case, this disease can also cause the stool to darken and eventually become black. I think you yourself understand that the help of a veterinarian in this case is necessary if you want to save the animal’s life.

Gastroenteritis in hemorrhagic formThis disease can affect both the stomach and some parts of the intestinal tract. At the same time, as it develops, the following happens:

gradual peeling of the mucous surfaces of the inside of the stomach and intestines;

damage to small vessels and capillaries, resulting in bleeding.

The ailments listed above, every single one, require:

• immediate assistance;
• correct diagnosis and determination of the nuances of the disease, such as the stage of development, for example;
• selection of the right drugs.

You cannot do any of the above on your own, as there is a high chance of harming the cat and aggravating the situation as much as possible. The only situation in which you can start treatment at home is helminth infestation. However, we do not recommend that you do this, as there is a high probability of relapse. The fact is that in case of severe helminthic infestation, anthelmintic drugs can be taken not once, but several times, supplemented by:

• putting the animal on a diet;
• taking enterosorbents;
• other procedures that make it possible to destroy not only very large worms, but also their larvae and eggs, as well as neutralize the damage caused to the animal’s body.

Such examinations, although they are aesthetically unpleasant, are of great benefit, since you can track the presence of helminths inside the cat’s body. There is only one minus: the segments of these creatures are noticeable in the feces only when the invasion can already be called serious.

Video - Blood in animal stool

Diagnosis and treatment of black feces in cats

Of course, black stool itself cannot be cured, since it is only a symptom of a disease. Therefore, in order to understand what therapeutic measures are appropriate to apply in a particular case, it is necessary to conduct a diagnosis. Here are the diagnostic measures we are talking about.

1. So, first of all, it is imperative to analyze the stool for the presence of hidden traces of blood in order to find out whether there really was bleeding, or whether your cat’s stool is black and liquid because he ate cherries and is now suffering from a sore stomach.

2. If blood is detected in the feces, the cat will have to be tormented a little more with diagnostic measures, such as:

• ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity;
• radiography;
• gastroscopy.

3. Provided that blood has been detected in the stool, it is also recommended to take biological fluids for analysis. Thus, the following studies are most often carried out:

• blood for clotting (coagulogram);
• general blood test;
• biochemical blood test.

Provided that at a particular stage the veterinarian decides that the time has come to make a diagnosis, because he has accumulated enough information for this, then further research will be carried out only at the insistence of the owner. However, even if you are the most caring and meticulous owner on earth, as a rule, subsequent studies only confirm the doctor’s earlier conclusions.

Provided that the doctor has decided on the diagnosis, depending on what pathology was discovered, a variety of medications may be prescribed. Let's see which ones in the table below.

Table 4. Medicines prescribed to cats for treatment of black stool

Area of ​​application of the drug	Description
Hemostatic drugs	So, first of all, drugs that are responsible for stopping the blood are prescribed. The fact is that loss of blood in any case aggravates the disease, therefore, in order to seriously improve the animal’s condition and give it a chance to recover, it is necessary to use a remedy to eliminate bleeding. Here are the medications veterinarians usually prescribe today. All of the listed medications are products originally developed for human use, so you can buy them directly in human pharmacies. The dosage in this case must be determined by the attending physician.
Antiviral drugs	Provided that the disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract of your animal was caused by some kind of virus, it is necessary to take remedies that directly destroy this virus, otherwise all other treatment will not make sense. So, the following medications are suitable for cats: "Cycloferon"; "Interferon".
Gastroprotectors	To protect your beloved pet's gastrointestinal tract from the negative effects of all medications taken, as well as from toxic secretions associated with the disease, it is necessary to use drugs called gastroprotectors - protectors of the digestive tract. These drugs will include: "Almagel"; "Phosphalugel"; "Maalox"; etc. Believe me, these products will have an extremely positive effect on the state of your pet’s digestive system.

You have no right to independently determine the medications your cat needs, as this will most likely only worsen the situation.

Let's sum it up

Black feces in cats are not a disease in themselves. This is just a symptom that is typical for certain circumstances. Thus, black feces often appear in pets taking medications containing iron, cats that eat a lot of raw meat or liver, as well as in those animals that with great pleasure eat foods that stain feces, often atypical for this family.

However, in addition to reasons that do not in any way affect the health of cats, negative circumstances can also lead to darkening of stool, such as bleeding inside the gastrointestinal tract, provoked by a huge number of different diseases. Provided that you try to cure the cat yourself, you may kill it. Stop experimenting and go to a veterinarian who is guaranteed to provide you with professional help.

White feces in a cat are a warning sign that any responsible owner will recognize. Daily cleaning of the litter box will not only help maintain cleanliness, but will also help identify health problems with your pet in the shortest possible time.

Normally, cat feces are dark brown in color. Changes in the color and consistency of feces indicate improper functioning of the digestive system or some organ. Light-colored feces in a cat often indicate problems with the liver, more precisely, with the gall bladder. The fact is that bile turns feces brown. When food enters the small intestine, a catalyst is needed for its complete digestion, which is bile. If there is not enough bile, its consistency is changed or disturbed, food is not digested as it should be, and accordingly, bowel movements look abnormal.

White stool in a cat is a sign of illness. It is important to understand that the outcome of treatment may depend on your efficiency and attentiveness. The lack of bile in the intestines is not only a symptom, but also a guarantee that the cat will not digest food properly. As you know, it is from the small intestine that the body takes the main amount of nutrients and vitamins. You should see a doctor even if you see feces just light (not white). Colorless feces are often dry, which leads to intestinal injury. As a result, the owner observes mucous with blood, but as you understand, this is a consequence, not a cause.

The speed of the owner's response plays a very important role, since almost all the root causes that led to stagnation of bile are very serious. Having discovered that the cat’s feces have turned white, you need to establish strict observation for 1-2 days. Your task is to understand whether your pet eats and if the answer is yes, then whether he has a sharp reaction to high-fat food. You need to monitor the amount of water consumed and the frequency of stool. During bowel movements, the cat should not strain, and if you observe this, you need to check the moisture content of the stool. Dryness may indicate improper feeding or dehydration.

Important! and their fragments consumed by the cat often result in loss of color in the feces. Based on the experience of owners who actively discuss the health of their pets on forums, it has been established that the consumption of bones leads to problems with the liver and digestion of food.

Try to analyze your pet’s behavior, observe its mood and well-being. When a cat doesn't feel well, it becomes lethargic or irritable. If such changes are observed, you need to tell your veterinarian. The fact is that during the examination they try not to prescribe medications to cats, but if the animal is in pain, then this rule is not entirely relevant. Gallbladder problems may be obvious if you pay attention to the right things. When your cat is unable to digest certain foods, you will experience decreased appetite and weight loss.. Aversion to junk food is a reflex to which the cat obeys unquestioningly.

Read also: Feline immunodeficiency (FIV): what it is, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Under certain events, a small amount of bile and, accordingly, a decrease in its outflow can be considered normal. When dehydrated, all available moisture is used to form blood and protect mucous membranes. After undergoing treatment, and other conditions that have a detrimental effect on the liver, a decrease in the activity of the gallbladder is also predictable.

The owner should not treat the cat themselves, but a detailed history will never harm the diagnosis. Write down all your observations and assumptions, even if they seem insignificant to you.

Read also: Hematuria in cats is a hidden threat to the urinary tract

When faeces are discolored, the root cause of the condition may be oncology. If the disease is not in a severe stage, it is quite difficult to confirm the diagnosis. A small tumor, especially if it is located in intestinal loops, may not be visible during examination even with modern equipment. It is worth understanding that an oncological tumor does not need to reach gigantic sizes in order to metastasize. Metastases, in turn, can affect all organs and not only those nearby.

Diagnostics

They begin to look for oncology if none of the above diagnoses are confirmed. If the case is not complex, the tumor is found in the liver, gall bladder or ducts. Secondly, the stomach, small and large intestines are examined. If there are no results, that is, as a last resort, the doctor may suggest diagnostic surgery. It is worth noting that in this way it is possible to identify oncology even in the early stages.

Before agreeing to such drastic measures, you should ensure that all alternative options have been exhausted:

• Expanded– violation of norms may indicate the development of ailments of any organ or vital system.

• Biochemical blood test– Abnormal liver function tests indicate that the problem is in the liver or gallbladder.

• Stool analysis– is one of the first to be carried out, since the excrement may contain tissue debris (inflammation), sand (cholelithiasis), bone fragments (a cat can steal a bone from a trash can), atypical toxins (poisoning with liver damage), etc.

• Urinalysis– shows the general condition of the body.

• abdominal examination– if the cat constantly has white feces, several ultrasound examinations are performed (on an empty stomach, after drinking water, after eating, etc.). Using ultrasound, you can identify cysts, neoplasms, degeneration of cells into fibrous tissue, obstruction of the bile ducts, stones and sand in the gallbladder.

• Radiography– allows you to identify tumors, cysts, changes in the shape of the liver, etc.

• Biopsy affected tissues (most often the liver).

The appearance of diarrhea in a domestic cat is an unpleasant topic to discuss, but quite an important one. If the appearance of loose stool is observed only once, then there is no reason to panic. But, if this happens systematically, you may need to consult a veterinarian, since diarrhea is often a sign of a very dangerous disease.

All food that a domestic cat eats undergoes a specific treatment with gastric juice, after which a mushy mass - chyme - enters the intestines. Normally, chyme moves through the small intestine for 8 hours, and once it enters the large intestine, it begins to form feces.

The mass of feces and the nature of the stool are influenced by several factors: the quality of feed and the frequency of their use. If an animal eats dry industrial food, and the owner follows all the recommendations indicated on the packaging, it will defecate only once a day. If meat predominates in the diet, the need for a tray occurs once every 3-4 days.

Under normal circumstances, a cat should sit on the litter box about 1-2 times a day. The discharge should be well formed, moist and soft, but not loose. The color of the feces ranges from light to dark brown, again depending on the food consumed. They should not contain any impurities (mucus, blood or particles of undigested food). But if the stool becomes liquid or changes color, you need to be concerned.

Causes of bowel dysfunction

Manifestations of acute diarrhea in a cat, as a rule, occur rapidly and without outside intervention. In most cases, owners are not even aware that their pet is in trouble. A similar problem can arise if the animal the day before tasted food from the owner’s table or from the trash can. Diarrhea with different types of discharge can be caused by stressful situations - a change of environment, a long journey, being in crowded places, etc.

Regarding toxic poisoning, they do not occur often in animals, because the cat is considered a very finicky animal in terms of nutrition, and it will not eat anything. But such situations are still not excluded, because cats are clean and by licking their fur, he can swallow particles of chemicals that are on it.

Kitten has diarrhea

Many people know firsthand about such a problem as gastrointestinal disorders. This pathology brings many problems, both physically and morally. But if a person can go to a doctor and tell him about what is bothering him and what food he has eaten before, then the animal is deprived of this opportunity. Many cats experience health problems without their owners even realizing it. Many people keep pets at home, but most often people decide to buy a small kitten, because what could be better than a fluffy, playful kitten that welcomes you home after a hard day.

In order for your cat to grow healthy and always remain cheerful, you need to provide him with proper nutrition. But every owner wants to pamper his pet with some yummy food, without the thought that this may lead to the development of a digestive tract disorder.

You need to know in advance about all the factors that can provoke prolonged diarrhea. This could be poor nutrition, overfeeding, or processed food. The stress that animals may experience when moving or frightened is no less important.

Black feces in cats

Black feces in a cat may indicate areas of open bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach). Sometimes, a similar sign can occur after swallowing a large amount of blood, for example, if the cat is injured or has nose or mouth bleeding.

In such a case, immediate consultation with a veterinarian is necessary, since the presence of internal bleeding can lead to death due to massive blood loss.

But the presence of black stool does not always indicate a serious pathology. In some cases, it may be a simple side effect of taking certain medications that contain black licorice or iron. Food products that contain the above components have a similar effect.

Symptoms

If there are serious pathological conditions in the cat’s body, in addition to black stool, it may develop symptoms in the form of black or red vomit, bleeding from the anus, general malaise due to constant blood loss, nausea, and acute pain in the abdominal cavity. It is necessary to take into account the fact that black discharge is feces with admixtures of coagulated blood, which means the reason lies in problems with the upper gastrointestinal tract. Red stool, on the contrary, indicates problems in the lower gastrointestinal tract, because more fresh blood is released in the feces.

Sometimes, black stools may alternate with red ones. This happens when the color of the blood changes, which has interacted with digestive enzymes.

Typical causes of black stool

If your cat's stool contains blood, you should seek help from a veterinarian as soon as possible. This is a frequent signal of the presence of severe gastrointestinal pathology, which can lead to the most unpredictable consequences, including death.

The reason for the change in color of stool to black or red may be a foreign body present in the intestines. This is especially clearly noticeable in cases where a cat, trying to settle on a tray, meows loudly and behaves excitedly, as it feels severe attacks of pain and discomfort.

Foreign objects often enter the intestines, especially if the animal has been playing around with objects that are not suitable for play. A kitten or an adult cat can swallow a piece of fabric, sharp objects and anything that can damage their gastrointestinal tract.

After swallowing sharp objects, serious damage can occur in the stomach and intestines, and foreign objects can be toxic, causing additional complications. A pet may well swallow toxic substances, household chemicals from the owners, rat poison, etc.

If the owner notices black discharge from his pet, he should not hesitate and self-medicate. Only an experienced veterinarian will be able to establish a diagnosis and prescribe treatment that will help rid the cat of an unpleasant illness.

Very often, a similar condition is observed in animals that were picked up on the street, and in cats that spend most of their time on the street, which means they come into contact with other animals (including stray ones).

Digestive disorders in cats are quite common. Especially in cases where pets have the opportunity to walk outside. There they can pick up and eat anything, and therefore there is no reason to be surprised at possible diarrhea. As a rule, all signs of indigestion disappear on their own within a couple of days, but sometimes it is necessary to urgently call a veterinarian. A particularly “good” reason is black diarrhea in a cat.

This phenomenon is called "melena". In most cases, it indicates the presence of a large amount of digested blood in the stool. And, as is easy to understand, in a healthy cat it should run only through the vessels of the circulatory system. It should be understood that melena and feces are not the same thing. If the stool is black, then the source of bleeding is somewhere in the upper parts of the digestive system. For example, this could be a perforated ulcer of the stomach or duodenum. Be that as it may, you urgently need to take your pet to a specialist.

Many of the causes of this phenomenon are so serious that your cat may bleed to death if he is not treated promptly by a veterinarian.

It’s not at all good when clots of pure blood are clearly visible in black stool. This indicates either very intense bleeding in the upper parts of the digestive tract (the blood simply does not have time to be digested), or structural damage to the intestines along their entire length. Here the clock can count.

Predisposing factors

The causes of melena are very numerous, but we will list the most typical cases often encountered in the practice of veterinarians:

• Infectious diseases. Viral infections that affect kittens and old pets are especially dangerous.
• Certain drugs. For example, if you “treat” a cat with aspirin, the appearance of black feces is almost guaranteed.
• Cancer. As malignant tumors grow, they destroy the surrounding tissue, so bleeding in such cases is common.
• Foreign bodies in the stomach or intestines. There are often situations when owners feed their pets “treats” like chicken and beef bones (which is strictly prohibited). They split to form sharp and long fragments resembling stilettos. The latter constantly scratch and cut the intestinal lining.
• Infiltrative and inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases. This also includes autoimmune diseases, with Crohn's disease considered one of the most dangerous.
• Swallowing blood. And this happens - if a cat has some kind of injury to the throat or esophagus, he will constantly swallow the incoming blood.
• Coagulopathies. These are blood clotting disorders. An animal may be completely healthy in other respects, but the lining of its intestines (and not only) will bleed at every opportunity.
• Hormonal pathologies, accompanied by the formation of poorly healing and bleeding ulcers. For example, the well-known diabetes mellitus.
• Postoperative bleeding. Perhaps this is one of the most “harmless” causes of melena, but only if the feces are not blue-black. The latter indicates very severe bleeding, which by definition cannot be normal.
• Gastrointestinal ischemia(lack of blood supply). Often occurs with intestinal volvulus.
• Poisoning with heavy metal salts.
• Finally, everyone's favorites helminths. Some of their species “eat away” the intestines so much (hookworms, for example) that its mucous membrane begins to constantly bleed.

Diagnostics and therapy

So we found out why cats have black diarrhea. If you observe, in addition to the melena itself, the following signs, you should immediately run to the vet:

• Diarrhea.
• Vomit.
• Pale gums.
• Presence of bruising or other areas of bleeding (indicates coagulopathy).
• Weight loss.
• Poor appetite.
• Excessive drinking and “exorbitant” volumes of urine.

To find out the root cause of what is happening to the cat, the veterinarian will resort to various diagnostic techniques, including radiography, ultrasound, blood and urine tests, as well as other methods. How is it produced? Since melena is not a disease, but only its symptom, the primary pathology that directly leads to intestinal bleeding is treated.

But in any case, the veterinarian will first solve the problem of blood loss. Of course, ideally, a sick pet needs a transfusion, but in a veterinary clinic this is almost unrealistic. We do not have centralized “animal” blood banks, and targeted blood collection is carried out only in the largest veterinary centers. So blood loss is partially replaced with plasma or even saline. The main thing is to prevent collapse and reduce the load on the body’s blood depots.