Blood when Eating

Q.      I have noticed blood on my cats bowl after she has eaten.   What could be the cause of this?

A.      Your cat should be examined by a vet, as she is likely to need treatment for this.  

Several diseases can cause bleeding from the mouth including dental disease such as periodontitis.   Infection and inflammation of the mouth (stomatitis) and autoimmune diseases of the lips could be other causes of the bleeding. 

In the worst-case scenario tumours of the mouth could cause the problem.  

Oral disease has been linked to lifespan.  Those cats with cleaner teeth (through oral surgery, brushing and dried foods rather than tinned) are more likely to live longer than those without.  This has been linked to the bacteria from the mouth travelling around the bloodstream to internal organs, which can be damaged to some extent.