My cat has had worm like things near her rectum for a while. Ive wormed hera few times and fed her diatomaceous earth(the foodsafe type) & now she is bloated and at night (usually when i check) she has a bloody rectum. Please help, i cannot afford a vet right now and she has me worried. Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Female | unspayed | 8.5 lbs

Hello there! Fresh, red blood in stool is usually due to irritation of the rectum, and yes, this could be caused by the worms. The soft stool can also cause this as well. A few drops of red blood in the stool is probably nothing to worry about, but I highly recommend having Lilu's stool checked for the type of worms she has as not all dewormers treat all worms. If the soft stools or blood continues, if she starts vomiting, or becomes lethargic, please bring her to the vet as soon as possible as she may have something else more serious going on. Good luck, and I hope Lilu gets better soon!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Lillith. Blood in the stool is concerning, but if it's an emergency depends on any other symptoms. Certainly it needs to be checked out by a vet, but you don't have to rush her into a vet if she is eating, drinking, and otherwise acting normally. If she isn't eating, vomiting, has a loss of appetite, and/or is lethargic, take her into a vet immediately. Otherwise, have her seen by a vet in a day or two. Best of luck.