What should you know about cat coughing up blood?

Blood brought up with a cough is called haemoptysis. It may appear as streaks mixed with mucus, pink or red sputum, or a larger amount of blood. Causes include inflammation after a chest infection, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, a blood clot in the lung, tuberculosis, or lung cancer. The source may sometimes be the nose, mouth, or throat rather than the lungs, so the appearance alone cannot identify the cause.

Notice whether the blood is new, whether it is increasing, and whether you also have fever, chest pain, breathlessness, dizziness, or a fast heartbeat.

Contact a clinician promptly, even if the blood is only streaking mucus. Keep a note of when it began, how much you saw, its colour, and whether you take medicines that affect clotting. Do not smoke, and avoid strenuous activity until you have been assessed. If possible, take a photograph of the sputum to show the clinician.

Call emergency services or go to an emergency department if you are coughing up more than a small streak, the bleeding is ongoing, or you have trouble breathing, chest pain, faintness, confusion, blue lips, or marked weakness. These symptoms can occur with serious bleeding or a pulmonary embolism and should not be watched at home.

Ask: Where might the blood be coming from? Do I need a chest examination or imaging? Could an infection, bronchiectasis, or a clot explain it? Should I change any regular medicines while this is investigated?