Cat Sneezing Blood: Veterinary Urgency
If your cat sneezes and a spray of blood comes out, or you see bloody discharge from one nostril, go to the vet immediately. Unlike humans who get nosebleeds from dry air, cats almost never get spontaneous nosebleeds without a pathology.
Top 3 Causes
1. Foreign Body (The Blade of Grass)
This is very common in outdoor cats. A blade of grass or a seed gets inhaled and stuck in the nasal passage. The body sneezes violently to expel it, rupturing blood vessels.
2. Dental Abscess
The roots of a cat's upper teeth sit right below the nasal cavity. A severe tooth root infection can eat upward into the nose, causing pus and blood to drain out the nostril.
3. Nasal Tumors (Lymphoma/Carcinoma)
In older cats, chronic unilateral (one-sided) discharge that turns bloody is a hallmark sign of a nasal tumor.
- Good News: Nasal lymphoma is treatable with radiation.
- Bad News: It needs a CT scan to diagnose, not just an X-ray.
Other Causes
- Rodenticide Poisoning: If they ate a poisoned mouse, their blood stops clotting. A nosebleed is often the first sign of internal bleeding. This is fatal without Vitamin K1 treatment.
- Fungal Infection: Cryptococcosis (from bird poop) destroys nasal tissue.
Conclusion
Do not wait. Do not apply ice. Put the cat in the carrier and go.