There are many causes that can cause vomiting in cats, in fact, we should know that they are a fairly common problem in cats and that are not always caused by serious pathologies. However, if they are very frequent, they may indicate that something is wrong and that we are facing a he alth problem that requires urgent veterinary assistance. Therefore, whenever they are recurrent, we must visit the specialist immediately.
Remember that vomiting is a reflex action that causes the active elimination through the mouth of the digestive content, especially the food that is in the stomach. It is important not to confuse vomiting with regurgitation, which is a passive rejection, without active contractions of the abdomen, of undigested food or saliva.
But then, Why does my cat vomit? Discover more than 10 causes that can cause vomiting in cats, the most what we will observe and what to do or how to act. Of course, let's remember that we should always go to the specialist and that in no case can we self-medicate our feline.
The Physiology of Vomiting
The digestive system has a natural and physiological movement called peristalsis. This movement ensures that the food bolus, which will later be the fecal bolus, go through the entire digestive tube.
When vomiting occurs, this movement is altered and becomes a movement that is medically called antiperist altic movement (since it follows the reverse path), the alteration of this movement occurs sometimes through the central nervous system and on other occasions through the defense mechanisms present in the digestive tract.
Vomiting may correspond to a detoxification attempt of the body or to pathologiesthat directly affect the digestive system. Let's look more specifically at what disorders can cause vomiting in cats below.
My cat vomits…
Observing rejected content is important to determine the severity of the case and help the veterinarian identify the possible cause of the problem. The expelled content can be: undigested food, gastric fluid, bile fluid (yellowish or greenish), blood (bright red or brown if it is digested blood), foreign bodies, plants and trichobezoars (hairballs) among others.
The Clinical signs reveal much about the cause of vomiting in cats although, of course, the veterinarian is the only person qualified to diagnose and prescribe treatment. Of course, in no case should we self-medicate our feline, since some pathologies have very similar symptoms, so we could cause serious and irreversible damage to your body.
Next we will talk about the most common signals that tutors can perceive and their possible cause:
Why is my cat throwing up the kibble?
It may simply be because your cat has eaten too much food too quicklyand his stomach hasn't had time to digest food and needs to expel it. If the food has not reached the stomach but only the esophagus, we will speak of regurgitation.
In any case, a cat that eats too fast will need its guardian to ration its food and offer small but more frequent portions, watching that he eat calmly and chewing correctly. If this is not done, we can purchase an anti-voracity feeder.
Why is my cat vomiting yellow?
Observing yellow vomit in cats many guardians suspect that "my cat vomits bile" however, what causes the actual vomiting? of bile? Sometimes we will talk about a prolonged fast, however, it can also be the result of a intoxication, the presence of a foreign body or various pathologies, such as liver problems or pancreatitis. There is no single cause that causes it, so diagnosis is essential in this case.
Why is my cat throwing up foam?
The vomiting with white foam are frequent and, as in the previous case, they can appear due to several causes, among which are that we highlight pancreatitis, liver failure, diabetes or kidney failure among others. Likewise, it can also be caused by a gastritis or the presence of a foreign body in the body of our best friend. A visit to the vet is essential.
Why is my cat vomiting clear liquid?
Cat Vomits water or performs Excessive salivationmay be due, among other causes, to the administration of some medicine or other foods that have caused great rejection in our feline. It is frequent, although it would be convenient to look for an alternative for the administration to be successful. We will speak with our veterinarian to explain what happened and request the prescription of another drug.
Why is my cat vomiting blood?
Vomiting blood is a very serious symptom, as the chances of a internal bleeding are very high. This may be due to trauma, caused by a fall, for example. However, if we observe that vomiting blood is accompanied by other symptoms, such as diarrhea or convulsions, we can also suspect possible intoxication Likewise, ulcers can also could cause these symptoms. Immediate veterinary assistance is required.
Why is my cat vomiting brown?
Brown vomit may suggest that the cat is also vomiting blood, although in this case we would speak of partially digested blood, which is known as hematemesis. The presence of internal parasites, neoplasms or gastric and intestinal varices are some of the many causes that can cause it. Once again we are talking about symptoms that require urgent assistance.
Why is my cat vomiting a lot?
If it is frequent vomiting, with or without diarrhoea, without loss of appetite or other symptoms, the cause may be a food intoleranceor a acute or chronic gastritisIf we suspect that this may be the cause, we can fast the cat for 24 hours, however, whether it continues to vomit or not, we must urgently go to the vet to confirm or reject the diagnosis and start a adequate treatment or a diet change In any case, during fasting we must monitor our feline because the absence of too much food time can cause harmful changes in the intestinal flora, so it is essential to be very careful and always consult the vet.
Why is my cat vomiting and feeling down?
Most of the causes that we have mentioned throughout this section can cause apathy in the feline, due to the discomfort caused by the own physiology of vomiting added to the suffering of a pathology. However, as you will see in the next section, there are more causes of vomiting in cats, keep reading.
Other causes of vomiting in cats
In addition to those mentioned above, there are other causes that can cause vomiting in cats, some of which are explained below:
Intestinal absorption disorders
Some disorders such as poor intestinal absorption can cause vomiting and malnutrition in cats. Similarly, metabolic disorders such as hyperthyroidism can also cause vomiting. Other causes are lack of digestive enzymes and diseases such as colitis or pancreatitis.
Furballs (Trichobezaors)
One of the most common causes is the formation of tricobezaores, more commonly known as balls of hairWhen grooming, the cat ingests a large amount of hair which then forms a ball in its digestive system. It is later expelled in the form of vomit. In this case, the vomit will be observed as a cylindrical plug with an accumulation of liquid.
To solve this type of vomiting you can brush your cat regularly, thus removing dead hair and accumulated dirt. You can also use m alt for cats, a great way to improve their intestinal transit and prevent the appearance of this problem.
Stress and anxiety
Another cause of vomiting in cats is stress Felines are animals that are very sensitive to change, let's talk about a change of environment or a dietary change. If you have moved, have recently done work on your house, have changed its food or have recently acquired another pet, your cat may be stressed and this is the cause of its vomiting. To help your cat you can make sure he has a safe and quiet space in which to take refuge when he wants to be calm.
As for food, cats prefer to eat 15 to 20 small portions a day. Leave your daily amount freely available. If you cannot help your stressed cat, you can consult a veterinarian specialized in ethology who can recommend guidelines or prescribe medication. It may also be helpful to enhance the home enrichment or make use of cat pheromones
Inadequate feeding
The feeding of the cat is one of the most important factors that relate to its he alth and shape it, therefore, it does not we will get tired of repeating that one of the most important decisions that the owner must make is to acquire a quality feed.
Many feeds contain ingredients such as bird beaks and feathers, animal skin, eyes, brains…, etc. Although we cannot stop considering them as proteins, they are proteins that are very difficult to digest, and since they cannot be completely absorbed, they cause vomiting. For this reason, we recommend that you inform yourself about how to choose the best food for your cat
Low quality prizes or snacks
As responsible owners we must care for and love our pet, for this reason we also want to recognize their good deeds and offer them appropriate treats as reinforcement of their behavioror, sometimes, simply because we want to pamper him through food. However, sometimes this action is not as benign or successful as it may seem at first.
If we look at the nutritional composition of these treats we can see that on many occasions they contain a large number of chemical additives that the system The cat's digestive system does not tolerate it adequately. If we want to use positive reinforcement in cats and give treats to our pet, we must first make sure that they contain a nutritional composition as natural as possible
If the vomiting is caused by these treats, it will be less frequent than when it is caused by poor quality feed and we will be able to identify them more easily because they occur when our cat sporadically ingests this type of product.
Other more serious pathology
If vomiting episodes are accompanied by other symptoms such as loss of appetite, fever, bloody diarrhea, constipation, the cause is probably a more serious condition: May be due to parasites, diabetes, leukemia, or cancer. Write down all the symptoms to help your veterinarian in his diagnosis.
It is always useful to take your cat's temperature, ideally it should not exceed 39 ºC. You should also observe your cat well to detect possible neurological alterations such as vertigo, seizures or alterations in consciousness. Increased thirst, recent jealousy in a cat, or urinary disturbances are important elements in diagnosing the cause of vomiting.
What to do if my cat vomits?
If the feline is an adult cat in good he alth that does not show other abnormal symptoms (such as dehydration, diarrhea or obvious discomfort) we can put it on fasting from 12 to 24 hours We will leave fresh, clean water at your fingertips at all times.
However, if during this period of time he vomits again or if after 24 hours and after eating a bland diet for cats vomits again, then we will go to the vet urgently. Likewise, it is important to point out that in certain circumstances it can be harmful for a feline to stop eating, such as cats suffering from obesity. That is why it is so important to always consult with the professional before making any decision.
If your cat vomits again and his level of consciousness is altered, be careful that there is no passage of digestive content into the respiratory tract. Move him away from the expelled digestive material, clean his mouth and airways so they don't get blocked. Note that in this state he can bite or scratch.
Treatment of vomiting in cats
The diagnosis of these pathologies can be easily established by veterinary physical examination and a blood test or a urine test The veterinarian will start by performing basic tests and, depending on the results, may order additional tests that help you find the cause of the problem. Hormonal tests, stool tests or ultrasounds, among others, may be necessary.
Thus, taking into account the cause of the problem and its severity, the professional will prescribe one treatment or another. In the most serious cases, such as poisoning, internal bleeding or dehydration in puppies, you can request hospitalization of the patient for intensive treatment.
In other cases, he will prescribe the drug or dewormer he deems appropriate to treat the underlying cause of the problem, thus acting on the disorder that causes it is originating. We remember once again that in no case should we self-medicate our feline, due to the serious consequences it can cause.