Vaginal Discharge in Cats

PetMD Editorial

Published Feb. 5, 2009

Vaginal discharge refers to any substance (mucus, blood, pus) excreted by the cat's vagina. Because there are so many causes for this medical condition, consulting a veterinarian is highly recommended.

Vaginal discharge can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this disease affects dogs please visit this page in the PetMD pet health library.

Symptoms

Symptoms can include discharge (mucus, blood, pus) from the cat's vagina, spotting of blood, scooting of the hindquarters, and a higher incidence of male attraction.

Causes

There are many risk factors which can lead to vaginal discharge; some of the more common causes include:

Vaginal trauma
Vaginal infection
Urinary tract infection
Abnormal cells in the vaginal area
Retained placenta following a birthing
Fetal death (in cases of pregnant females)
Presence of a foreign object in the vaginal cavity

Estrogen medications given during some phases of the cat's heat or estrous cycle, medications containing male hormones and certain antibiotics can alter the vaginal cells, leading to excess discharge. There are also some antibiotics which can cause vaginal discharge.

Diagnosis

Upon examination, the veterinarian may find blood, pus, urine or feces in abnormal quantities. The veterinarian will need to review the cat's medical history and make a risk assessment. In order to properly treat the condition, radiograph or injection imaging may be used to examine the cat's body to identify the underlying medical condition causing the vaginal discharge.

Treatment

Outpatient treatment is sufficient under most circumstances. Medications in the form of vaginal douches and cat antibiotics will be used to treat the infected area.

Living and Management

The entire round of antibiotic treatment must be completed to ensure a full recovery.

Prevention

Spaying can help to reduce the likelihood of vaginal infections. For birthing cats, make sure that all of the uterine contents have left the cat's body, and be observant of excess blood or discharge after the birth.