What this means
Cats bleed for many reasons: after a fall or a road accident, after a fight with another animal, from a sharp object or a burn. We learn mostly from what we can see, but the coat hides a lot. A small bite mark can be barely visible while a deep injury lies under the skin, and blood on the fur sometimes comes not from the skin at all but from the nose, the mouth or the urinary tract.
It matters to notice where the blood is coming from, how much there is and whether it keeps flowing. It is also worth looking at the cat itself: an injured cat may hide its pain, retreat, stop eating or breathe harder. Even when a wound looks small, injuries inside the body cannot be judged from the outside.
Bleeding that will not stop is an emergency that needs action straight away, not waiting to see. In every other case it is worth having a vet examine the cat the same day, because the wound or its cause can be more serious than it looks.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your cat.
-
A fall or road accident
After a fall from a height or a collision with a car, bleeding can come from the skin, paws, nose or mouth. Injuries inside the body may not show even though the cat looks fairly well.
-
A fight with another animal or a bite wound
A bite mark in the fur is small but can be deep under the skin. A painful lump can appear a few days after the bite.
-
A cut or puncture from a sharp object
A sharp object, glass or metal can cut the skin or the paw pads deeply. The wound can be hidden in the fur or between the toes.
-
A burn or other skin injury
After a burn the skin can split, weep or bleed. Sometimes the depth of the damage becomes clear only after a few days.
-
Skin scratched or licked raw
A cat can scratch or lick an itchy or painful spot until it bleeds. It shows that the skin or the area underneath is bothering the cat, and the cause needs finding.
-
Blood from the nose, mouth or urinary tract
Sometimes blood on the fur or in the litter comes from inside rather than from a wound. In that case only a vet can find the cause.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- Where the blood is coming from, and whether it drips or keeps flowing
- Whether a wound is visible or blood is found only on fur, floor or litter
- Whether the cat limps, licks one spot or will not be touched
- Whether the cat hides, refuses food or is quieter than usual
- Whether it breathes faster or harder than usual
- Whether the wound swells, turns painful or becomes moist over a few days
When to book a routine visit
Have a vet examine the cat the same day, even if the wound looks small or the cat seems fine. If the bleeding will not stop, or it followed a fall or a road accident, go straight away.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
Body systems: General health