A jelly-like substance with blood in your cat's urine usually signals urinary tract inflammation, often from stress (cystitis), urinary crystals/stones, or sometimes infections, and requires an immediate vet visit, as it can indicate a life-threatening urinary blockage, especially in male cats. The "jelly" is often mucus mixed with blood, and symptoms like straining, frequent trips to the litter box, or vocalizing mean it's an emergency.
Blood in cat urine (hematuria) can result from several conditions affecting the urinary tract. Common causes include urinary tract infections, inflammation of the bladder, bladder stones, or stress-related urinary issues.
The presence of a jelly-like substance in your cat's urine could be due to a variety of reasons, such as mucus from the urinary tract or dietary influences. In some cases, it might be related to more serious conditions like urinary tract infections or bladder issues.
Common symptoms of kidney disease in cats include decreased appetite, increased thirst and urination, lethargy, and vomiting. Kidney disease in cats can be managed with medications, diet, and hydration.
A small amount of mucus in your urine (pee) is normal. Too much mucus may be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI) or other medical condition. A urinalysis test checks a sample of your urine.
Kidney disease can affect the urinary tract and contribute to mucus production in urine: Glomerulonephritis: Inflammation of the kidney's filtering units, known as glomeruli, can lead to mucus in urine. Chronic kidney disease: As kidney function declines, various urinary abnormalities, including mucus, may occur.
The mucus plug is a clear or white jelly and may be streaked with a small amount of blood, making it pink . It could come away as a single blob of gel, about the size of a 50p piece. Or it could be in smaller pieces which come away over several hours or more .
Symptoms of Kidney Failure in Cats
Because the toxins build up in the cat's body, they may feel nauseous and stop eating their food. In general, your cat will appear to be lethargic and not very happy. General symptoms of kidney failure in cats can include: Dehydration.
Low Body Temperature
Healthy cats have a temperature between 37–38°C. As their organs begin to shut down, their body temperature drops. You may feel this in their ears, paws, or nose, which can become cool to the touch. You can monitor their temperature at home or speak with your vet for further care or guidance.
Testing your cat's kidney health from home
The first signs of feline leukemia (FeLV) are often subtle and include loss of appetite, weight loss, lethargy, and a poor coat, but many cats show no signs initially until the virus weakens their immune system, leading to recurrent infections (respiratory, skin, bladder), persistent fever, enlarged lymph nodes, pale gums, and chronic diarrhea. These symptoms stem from FeLV attacking blood cells and suppressing immunity, making cats vulnerable to other illnesses.
Unidentified Jelly-Like Deposits with Blood: Possible Cat Health Concern. Cats may experience anal gland issues or oral ulcers causing discharge or bleeding. Jelly-like deposits with a bloody center found near cats could indicate anal gland secretions, oral ulcers, or minor injuries.
What symptoms can cats show when they have urinary crystals?
Blood in the urine can be a sign of infection, kidney stones, or cancer, especially bladder cancer. Anyone with blood in their urine should have a doctor investigate the cause.
Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC)
Feline idiopathic cystitis is a very common cause of blood in cats' urine. The exact cause of this condition is unknown, but it isn't infectious, and stress, obesity and dehydration play a role.
With prompt diagnosis and proper treatment, many cats go on to recover from blood in the urine. Certain conditions may require ongoing treatment and management, but it is well worth it if your cat goes on to lead a happy, long life.
Signs That a Cat is in Pain
Litter box accidents, urinating outside of their litterbox. Tail flicking. Won't eat or reduced appetite. Limping.
Physical Symptoms – Certain physical symptoms can also signal that a cat is near the end of their life. Loss of appetite, weight loss, and poor coat condition are all common signs of illness in cats, as well as difficulty breathing or laboured breathing.
Your cat may vomit repeatedly, appear extremely tired, or develop a wobbly gait. Changes like seizing or blindness can occur due to toxin buildup in the bloodstream. Cats with severe kidney failure may also have noticeably bad breath with an ammonia-like odor.
Almost half of cats aged 6-9 years old are already showing signs of kidney deterioration on wellness blood testing, and some reach 40% function loss as early as age 3. For this reason, we want to start screening for kidney disease annually beginning when a cat is a young adult.
While early kidney disease often has few signs, three key early warning signs to watch for are changes in urination (more/less frequent, foamy, or bloody), persistent fatigue, and swelling in hands, feet, or ankles, all pointing to the kidneys struggling to filter waste and excess fluid. These symptoms, along with others like itchy skin, poor appetite, or trouble concentrating, signal a need to see a doctor for proper testing.
When kidneys start to fail, they become less capable of removing waste from the bloodstream. As this waste builds up, your cat's breath will smell worse. The bad breath associated with kidney disease may have an ammonia odor.
Excess amounts of mucus in the urine may be a sign of underlying health conditions, such as UTI, IBS, or kidney stones. A person should speak with a healthcare professional if they notice mucus in their urine or experience cloudy urine.
Sometimes, jelly-like discharge can mean a medical problem. Yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis can make the mucus thick or clumpy. It may come with itching or a bad smell. (STIs) like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or trichomoniasis can also cause this discharge.
Losing the mucus plug may not happen all at once. It may come out in pieces over time or as one piece. Since it sometimes happens during a trip to the bathroom, don't be alarmed if you see it either on your underwear or in the toilet bowl. You may also notice it coming out during a shower.