Hi,

Boomer has had bright red blood in his poo since the first week we got him (we are on week 4), I took him to the vets who said it would just be that his digestive system hadn't developed properly yet and prescribed him some probiotics which I have been using. Now he seems to be getting less blood in his poo and the vet didn't really seem to be that concerned where as I had read allsorts of scary things

Have any of your Bengal kittys experienced the same problem and it clear up with probiotics or have you any suggestions on what else I could do to help him?

Thanks :)

First of all, the vet should have tested a stool sample. They can't diagnose something without testing. It's possible your kitty has a parasite that needs to be treated with antibiotics! Shame on your vet for not wanting to test to be sure. Blood in a stool is a sign of something WRONG! Find a new vet!!!!! I'm sure the kitty needs to be on medication to clear up whatever this is. A probiotic can help. I'm giving Raiden one daily! Not sure it's for a new kitten, however. Next time your kitty poops, have a plastic container ready and take the sample before it reaches the litter. My vet stated that some littler on the sample doesn't affect it. Take the sample TO your vet -- without your cat. I paid $30+ for them to check the sample. Since they'd already seen my kitty a couple of times, I just wanted to make sure the coccidia was gone (and it was). This is not good for your kitty. And could be a serious condition. I'm sure cats can lose too much blood, just like humans.

Thank you I knew I had reason to be concerned I am there this Wednesday so will take in a sample and demand they test it! See how this visit goes and if they are less than helpful I will find a new vet there are plenty in my town.

The sample needs to be less than 24 hours old and you store it in the refrigerator! The fresher the sample, the better. I usually mark on the top of the lid the kitty's name and the date and time of the sample.

Yes one of my cats had blood in his stool for a little while, I took a sample to the vet who didn't find anything wrong, and eventually the blood disappeared. He wasn't displaying any sign of ill health during this time so it's a mystery as to what caused it.

Just because a vet doesn't find anything wrong doesn't mean there isn't something wrong. I'm glad the blood in the poo cleared up on its own, but it is a sign that there is a problem somewhere as blood is not supposed to be there. Sometimes I think things get missed in testing as well. Most vets test in their labs which may not be quite equipped and the techs may not be thoroughly trained to diagnose. I'm not really sure how it all works since cat owners aren't allowed back in there to see the tests being run.

I have been using wet food and currently using poultry - chicken, duck, etc and the blood has stopped?! Do you think it could be anything to do with the fish type food?! Like an intolerance or something? Tempted to test this theory out

Yes, that's quite possible. I took Hendrix to the vet because of blood in his poo. He was given a thorough exam and the vet asked me about his stools, odour etc, and then what I feed him. He is convinced it is a food sensitivity to the wet food and suggested I feed him only dry. Only problem is I have two bengals and jagger most certainly won't go for a dry food only diet. It took me ages to find a dry he would even touch.

I always suspected Hendrix had a sensitive digestive system, as a kitten I put him on royal canin sensible dry food which suits his tummy and he likes it, but he isn't playing on giving up wet! He also nicks Jagger's dry food, so he doesn't help himself!

In the end I worked out that I had started a new box of the wet and I think there was something 'off' with that batch. I've thrown the rest of the box away and all has been ok since (touch wood).

I wouldn't mind but all their food is high protein, grain free and expensive! And still he gets tummy problems! They won't touch anything other than chicken or turkey, and stopped eating anything fishy within weeks of coming to us so their diet is pretty limited!

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Clare
Hendrix and Jagger, Brown Marble Boys (born 18 August 2013)
Hampshire, UK

The problem could be diet related -- and if it has stopped with a change in diet, you may be fine! Raiden has never eaten seafood. He hates it! So, I stick with chicken, turkey and beef which he likes.