Cat with red blood streaks on stool

I have an 8-month old Bengal kitten. When she was about 4 months old she began having chronic diarrhea; she simply could not tolerate any commercial food, canned or dry. I finally began making my own chicken/turkey cat food (and yes, I'm adding taurine) and her stools became normal. A few months ago I tried to slowly add some canned food (Natural Balance Ultra) and again she started with diarrhea, so I continued with just the homemade. Over the past two weeks, however, I've noticed that her stools are streaked with a small amount of bright red blood and mucus (usually at the end of the stool, the first part looks normal).  I have spoken to my vet, and he wants to try her on a prescription food for colitis. I'm willing to try it, but I have a hard time believing that she'll be able to tolerate the food with her history. Has anyone gone through something like this? Is the prescription food really going to be different or better?  I'm very worried about my sweet kitten.

[MariaLeigh]

Additional info:
She's tested neg for parasites, she's an indoor kitty. Healthy coat, weight, appetite, and energy.

[Tammy2009]

I would try adding in canned food with only a couple of indigrents like the natural balance allergy formulas (they have numerous flavours like duck, vension, turkey and chicken liver), your cat might have a food intolerance to something.  I believe many Bengals have a senstivive to fish, the pet store I work at has had a couple of litters that all were senstitive.  Since she was fine on chicken and turkey, stay with food that doesn't have anything else.  natural balance ultra has duck, turkey, chicken, and salmon in it.

However, because of the blood I would also vet check and do blood tests if necessary to check for other things.

Watch for cleaners you are using around the house, cats walk around and clean them so they do ingest many more chemicals than us.  

[PrettyKitty1]

Maria,

My Abby is an IBD cat, just like yours. My Abby has chronic colitis and the symptoms are what you described: Chronic diarrhea and blood in the stool. A Biopsy was the only thing that determined that. It is worth trying it, trust me. Your vet will have a better idea of what is going on once she/he sees your cat's colon. My story is a success, and I can help you, but you have to trust me. Not everyone likes what I do but it is the only thing that works for IBD cats. My best advice is, do not waste money on prescription foods. But, if you want to try them just because your vet recommended them, then go ahead. Hopefully, her symptoms will vanish. But if they don't, just know that your cat's condition has a fix, and it is called Raw Food. I have been feeding my cats raw foods since I had enough of Abby's bleeding and discomfort. He was giving up on me. He started at a very young age, only 3 or 4 months, to have awful diarrhea with blood (very common in IBD cats, they start at a very young age). As far as IBD (Chronic Colitis) goes, your cat will eventually, hear me on this, she will eventually end up with cancer if you do not act on it soon. Medication does not kill the cause but the symptoms, only for a while, and you want to be able to get to the root of the problem and make it go away.  You've seen how she gets better with homemade foods. So, who's to say she will not get cured on raw foods, just like my Abby? Right?

I have cried over this, and have had sleepless nights with a cat in pain and, trust me, not knowing what to do su cks. Be careful with the meds, if you're willing to try them. Prednisone causes diabetes if used long term, and IBD cats require prednisone long term. The blood just means the wall in the colon, or the mucosa is just too sensitive, swollen, the slightest touch will make it bleed, and eventually that is what causes cancer. There is a very kind lady in this forum who had to put her IBD cat to sleep because of cancer. She can tell you all about it. I'll contact her.

I can help you, or at least try, but you'd have to do exactly as I tell you if you're willing to try the raw foods. There is a lot of information to provide. You'd be amazed how you yourself can get rid of your cat's Colitis!

Good Luck, and yes, I'd take her to the vet just to make sure it's really IBD.

[PrettyKitty1]

Oh, take a look. I asked a vet (Jim Humphries replied) why IBD in cats was followed by cancer, and this was the response, and you can look it up on the cancer community right here on the Pet's Forums:

The short answer is chronic irritation.  This is known to cause cancer in various body systems in animals and people (one example is skin cancer from sun exposure).  

Gastrointestinal disorders are among the most common problems encountered in cats. Most vomiting and diarrhea episodes occur suddenly and resolve quickly. The causes are usually such as eating an unfamiliar food. However, some cats may have vomiting and/or diarrhea over a period of weeks to months. Veterinarians will want to ensure that the cat is not suffering from an illness such as chronic kidney failure, pancreatitis, or hyperthyroidism which can also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

When all non-gastrointestinal illnesses are eliminated, the various gastrointestinal disorders need to be considered and IBD is the most common.

IBD is actually a group of gastrointestinal disorders, usually chronic, which are characterized by an increase in the number of inflammatory cells found in the lining of the stomach or intestinal tract.

A diagnosis of IBD is only possible by intestinal biopsy usually with an endoscope.

Once diagnosed, the disease can be controlled to prevent pain and discomfort to the cat. Treatment is also aimed at preventing possible complications of the disease, such as damage to the liver, malnutrition, ulcers, and in some cases, the future development of cancer.  And as this is your question, it is probably the chronic inflammation of the bowl that causes the development of lymphoscarcoma in these cats.  

Many medications can be used to control IBD. These include prednisone (the treatment of choice in many cases), some antibiotics, and antiemetics (drugs that suppress vomiting). A newer drug, budesonide (Entocort®) is currently being investigated for treatment of IBD in cats. Although it is a corticosteroid drug like prednisone, it is metabolized differently and may reduce the potential for long-term side effects that can be associated with corticosteroids. Once therapy is started, it is usually continued for two to three months, before attempts are made to decrease the amount of medication. In many cases, a hypoallergenic diet may be recommended to aid in control of the disease.

Any cat with unexplained vomiting or diarrhea, especially chronic and intermittent in nature, should be examined for IBD. This disease is often overlooked and is under-diagnosed, leaving many cats to live in some measure of discomfort. With fibreoptic endoscopy, diagnosis is safe and minimally invasive. Treatment will not only avoid serious future complications, but will improve the cat's quality of life.

Sorry to be so long, but your cat developing cancer from IBD is not a sure thing.  But because of the chronic inflammation of those sensitive tissues it is a concern.  

[MariaLeigh]

Thanks, PrettyKitty. I have Crohn's Disease myself, so I'm all too familiar with what IBD can do.  Right now I'm trying to mix in Natural Balance Duck and Green Pea with my homemade food (I talked to a different vet, and he thought this was a good thing to try). Two feedings, and she's still okay, which is a good sign. She only has the diarrhea when on commercial foods (maybe a fish allergy? They all had fish...). For now, shes quite stable, and the blood on the stool happens every few days. This morning the stool was good, no blood.

If this food doesn't help, I'll look into a biopsy and official IBD diagnosis. God knows I'm familiar enough with it. Ugh.

Thanks!

[zodiacqueen]

Hi, I personally know ALL the details and heartache that PrettyKitty went through with her cat.  Actually, I asked her to help you because she personally lived through this nightmare w/ her cat.  You might have to get your cat totally off of commercial foods, since we know 100% that it caused blood stools in her cat.  As soon as she switched to homemade foods-the very same day-the bleeding totally stopped!  That was pretty convincing of the cause of the bleeding.  Some cats just can't tolerate commercial foods at all.  Even the so-called prescription foods sold at the vets will cause bleeding.  

If you wind up having to go the natural homemade route w/ foods, I know that PrettyKitty is willing to help you.  It's a little tricky trying to make sure that all the vitamin supplements are added, but soooooooo worth it, if it totally stops the bleeding and cuts out the constant inflammation that could later turn into cancer.

Good luck to you, and please come back with some updates.