If you find any brown spots on the bed after your pet cat leaves, you may feel stressed or grossed. The same thing gave me a headache when this happened to my pet cat Muezza. Turning a blind eye to this issue may result in further sickness for your pet, which I have successfully tackled.
But what in the world makes a cat leave brown spots on the bed? Usually, it’s something to do with anal gland issues or a urinary tract infection. Other common culprits are diarrhea, pesky flea dirt, or even territorial marking. And sometimes, it’s just plain fur shedding. On the more serious side, you might be looking at bleeding from external wounds, a swollen hematoma, a random nosebleed, or even dental problems. Oh, and for the ladies, pregnancy complications can sometimes be the reason too.
In this article, we’re going to shed some light on all these possible causes and, more importantly, what you can do about them, drawing from my own experiences and plenty of research. So, stick around till the end – you’ll be glad you did.
What Are The Causes Of Cats Leaving Brown Spots On Bed?
My pet cat’s name is Muezza which is a 2-year 8-month-old Mix-Persian cat. I have spotted brown or copper-colored marks on the bed several times where it was lying. To address this issue, I conduct necessary research to diagnose the actual reason behind this.
I have found urinary tract infections in my cat. But with extensive studies, I have found several more reasons, which I am going to share with you as well.
According to my research, if your cat is showing this behavior, there can be the following potential causes:
1. Anal Gland Issues
If you find a brown spot after your cat gets up, especially if it smells a bit fishy or strong, it could easily be anal gland fluid. You see, cats have these two tiny sacs, called anal glands, just inside their bottom, and they usually release a little bit of fluid when your cat poops. But sometimes, these glands get inflamed or impacted, which means the fluid can’t get out properly. When that happens, the fluid thickens up and can even lead to a bacterial buildup, making your cat super uncomfortable.
When your feline friend is dealing with this, they’ll often scoot their rear end across the floor or your bed, trying to relieve the pressure. This “scooting” can actually squeeze out some of that thick, brownish fluid, leaving those tell-tale brown spots on your bedsheet. You might also notice them licking their bottom a lot or a general foul odor.
2. Poop Stains (Diarrhea or Trapped Feces)
Sometimes, it’s as simple as poop getting stuck! Especially if your pet, like my Muezza, has thick, fluffy fur around their rear, soft or loose poop can cling to it. Then, when they settle down on your bed, it’s easy for that little bit of trapped poop to smear and stain your sheet.
And, of course, sometimes our feline friends just get a bout of diarrhea. When that happens, they might not have full control, leading to little leaks or incomplete clean-ups, which can definitely leave stains on the bedding. Diarrhea can be caused by all sorts of things, from a new food to something more serious, so keep an eye out.
3. Urinary Tract Infections
This one’s pretty common for many cats, and yes, my Muezza went through it too. My poor girl was clearly in pain while peeing because her urethra was inflamed. At first, I was completely baffled about what was wrong. It wasn’t until we visited the vet that they showed us a blood-stained pet diaper, confirming Muezza was indeed suffering from a UTI.
Stress, anxiety, cystitis (which is bladder inflammation), or a simple bacterial infection can all trigger a UTI in your cat. Plus, if your cat doesn’t drink enough water, their pee gets really concentrated, and tiny crystals can form. These crystals can irritate the bladder and urethra, making peeing quite painful.
Because peeing becomes so uncomfortable, your cat might start avoiding their litter box altogether. Instead, they might look for softer, more soothing spots to go, like your bed, which can leave a brown spot, especially if there’s a little bit of blood mixed in that then dries.
To get a better visual understanding of Urinary Tract Infections in cats, it might be helpful to check out an informative YouTube video on the topic.
4. Dental Issues
Did you know cats can have tooth problems that cause brown spots? It’s true! A common one is called Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions (FORLs), where the tooth enamel starts to erode. When these lesions get bad, especially where the tooth meets the gumline, it can cause the gums to become really inflamed and bleed a little. That tiny bit of blood then mixes with their saliva.
This mixture of saliva and blood often turns brownish as it dries. So, if your pet is dealing with a painful dental issue, you might just find small, dried brown spots on your bed after they’ve been licking or drooling a bit. Other signs to watch for are bad breath, drooling, or a reluctance to eat hard food.
5. Flea Dirt
Fleas are those annoying external parasites that just love to snack on a cat’s blood. “Flea dirt” isn’t actually dirt; it’s basically the flea’s waste product, mostly digested blood. You’ll often see these tiny, dark brown or black specks, almost like ground pepper, in your cat’s fur, especially around their tail base or tummy.
Cats are super clean creatures and groom themselves constantly. While they’re busy doing that, they can dislodge these little brown specks, which then fall onto your bed, creating those copper-colored or brownish spots. A quick trick to tell if it’s flea dirt: put a speck on a damp paper towel; if it smears reddish-brown, it’s flea dirt!
6. External Wound
If your cat gets any kind of external wound – a scratch, a cut, or a scrape – it can bleed. That blood, especially if it’s a small amount or has started to dry, will leave a stain on your bed that looks brownish as it ages.
Cats are naturally playful and curious little explorers, so they can easily pick up minor injuries from everyday adventures or even a rough-and-tumble play session. Plus, sometimes they get into territorial squabbles with other cats, which can definitely result in wounds and some bleeding. Always check your cat carefully if you suspect this is the cause.
7. Hematoma Of Ear
Ever seen a cat with a swollen, puffy ear? That could be a hematoma, often caused by intense scratching or head shaking due to ear mites, an ear infection, or severe allergies. All that scratching can break tiny blood vessels inside the ear flap (the pinna), creating a pocket of blood.
If your cat then scratches at this swollen, painful ear, the hematoma can burst. When that happens, old blood can ooze out and, as it dries, leave brown spots on your bed when your cat is resting. This is a painful condition for your cat and definitely needs a vet visit right away.
8. Idiopathic Epistaxis (Nosebleeds)
This fancy term, Idiopathic epistaxis, simply means nosebleeds in cats that seem to happen suddenly without an obvious injury to the nose itself. Usually, this kind of nosebleed can be a sign of an upper respiratory tract infection, some kind of trauma to the nose area, high blood pressure, or even certain underlying health conditions.
Your pet might just suddenly start bleeding from its nose because of this epistaxis. And naturally, that blood from the nosebleed can drip onto your bed, leaving brown spots once it dries. If you notice a nosebleed, especially if it’s heavy, won’t stop, or keeps happening, it’s really important to get your cat to the vet quickly.
9. Territorial Marking
Cats can definitely spray urine to mark their territory, and yes, this can be the reason for spots on your bed. The color of this spray can vary from a faint yellowish to brown, and how concentrated the urine is will affect how intense the color is on your bed sheet. You’ll usually know it’s spraying because it has a very distinct, strong, and pungent odor.
Besides urine, when cats rub themselves against things like your bedsheet, they actually secrete their special scent from tiny glands on their skin. While usually invisible, this oily secretion, mixed with a bit of dirt or oils from their fur, can sometimes leave faint, oily brown smudges on your bedding, especially if they rub the same spot often.
10. Fur Shedding
You might be surprised, but sometimes those brown spots are just from your cat shedding a lot of fur! The brownish color can come from dirt, skin oils, or other tiny particles sticking to the shed hairs. When these hairs fall onto your bed, they simply transfer those little bits of grime.
Generally, your cat will shed excessively if they’re allergic to something in their environment, like certain pollens, or even a detergent or fabric softener you’re using for your bedding. When these allergies cause a lot of irritation, your cat might scratch themselves way more than usual. This intense scratching can lead to more hair loss or even tiny scrapes that might bleed a little, contributing to those brown spots.
11. Pregnancy Complications
If your female feline is pregnant, it’s important to know that vaginal bleeding or discharge can occur due to various pregnancy complications, and yes, this can definitely result in blood stains on your bed sheet.
Generally, if you see bleeding early in the pregnancy, it’s a very serious sign and often points to a miscarriage or that the kittens aren’t developing properly. However, if bleeding happens closer to the end of the pregnancy (near their due date), it most likely means your cat is starting to experience labor or is having some difficulties with the birth itself. In both these scenarios, you need to get your cat to the vet immediately – no waiting!
Find Out: Can Neutered Cats Ejaculate: Myth or Reality?
How To Address Cats Leaving Brown Spots On Bed Issues?
As you already know the causes behind this behavior of your feline friend, it will be easier for you to deal with it. Here are some solutions that you should follow.
I also did the same when my Muezza got the UTI issue.
FAQs
In this FAQs section, we will answer several familiar questions about cats leaving brownish spots on bedsheets.
Should I Punish My Cat For Leaving Brown Spots On The Bed?
No. You shouldn’t punish your cat as it can create stress in your pet. This may worsen the situation further. Thus, instead of yelling, you need to search for the underlying reasons for this occurrence. Then, address these issues while focusing on positive reinforcement.
Can The Brown Spot On My Cat’s Period Blood?
No. Unlike female humans, female cats don’t bleed during their oestrus. Thus, whether the cat is male or female, if you notice blood near the urinary tract, it’s never normal. In this case, the cat most likely has an infection in its urinary tract.
Will The Brown Spot On The Bed Always Be Smelly?
No. Whether the spot will be smelly or not will depend on the reason for that spot. The strong unpleasant smell will come from the spot if it occurs due to the cat’s anal gland issues. Yet, if a pet’s external injury causes the spot, you won’t get any smell.
Conclusion
Generally, excessive fur shedding, scratching, external wounds, and flea dirt are responsible for the spot-leaving behavior of your cat. Alongside, those spots can be an indication of severe issues like dental problems, urethane or anal gland infections, hematomas, and nose bleeding.
You can change a cat’s diet, clean litter boxes, brush teeth or fur and use hypoallergenic bed sheets to address this issue. But you can’t take proper steps if you can’t identify the specific causes behind the issue. In this case, you should consult a vet to diagnose its underlying health issues.
