Introduction
When your cat starts vomiting, it’s like an alarm bell ringing in your head. You may start questioning if they ate something wrong. Is it just a hairball? Could it be a situation that is just a bit more serious?
You are sitting comfortably with your kitten, watching a movie of your choice, and the next, you are wiping up a mess. Frustrating right? It may not be much of a problem to puke once in a while, but if vomiting reoccurs too often, there might be an underlying issue.
But don’t worry!
This problem can be easily addressed if you’re somewhat experienced and observant. Knowing the “why” behind your cat’s vomiting can solve all that problem.
This article will discuss cat vomiting, its causes, ins and outs, and how we can fix them. So, without further edo, buckle up and read this article till the end.
What Does Cat Vomiting Mean?
In particular, your kitty companion vomits to tell you something is wrong. What does that mean, though? Simply put, Your cat’s vomiting is simply an attempt to get undesirable or dangerous substances out of their stomach.
The first time, you might not give it much thought. Normal vomiting may be brought on by coughing, which is not concerning because it brings up hairballs.
But then again, if your cat frequently vomits, this may be due to something that cannot be overlooked.
They might point out systematic diseases such as chronic renal disease, gastrointestinal infection, or food sensitivity.
Causes Why Do Cats Vomit?
There are several causes of vomiting in cats. While some are harmless, others could need medical care. Let’s explore the most typical reasons.
1. Infections or Parasites
Other things, such as intestinal worms or stomach infections, can cause vomiting. Your cat’s food may change because of these illnesses, which may cause vomiting and affect the gastrointestinal tract.
2. Eating Too Quickly
This means that eating in haste will most likely in cat puking. If they take too many at once, especially if the person has a sensitive stomach, their food will only partially digest, and they’ll vomit.
3. Health Conditions
Specific: Certain viruses, severe diseases including kidney disease or pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism, or any other chronic diseases that affect a cat also cause vomiting. Vomiting and shaking should cease after some time; if they do not, it is best to consult the veterinarian.
What Does Your Cat’s Vomit Look Like?
Knowing what your cat’s vomit looks like is important because different diseases might cause the vomit to look more different. Here are examples of vomit color/consistency and possible causes for each.
1) Bile/Yellow:
When the stomach is empty, the cats will be vomiting bile. It can occur when your cat skips the meal to sleep the whole morning without being fed or it is anorexic.
2) Blood:
Cats can, therefore, vomit blood if they have ulcerations, or if the cat vomits several times, it churns the stomach lining and the esophagus, producing more acid.
3) White Foam.
White foam in cat vomit is observed since the lining of the stomach and/or small intestine is irritated due to some disease.
4) Water/Clear Liquid.
Well, vomit with clear liquid can be the contents of the stomach, or your cat just drank too much water.
How to Help a Cat That’s Vomiting
It might be distressing and stressful if your cat is puking. Thankfully, here are several short-term and long-term ways to deal with the matter.
Short-Term Solutions
1. Pause Feeding
Make your cat’s tummy very happy by allowing it not to eat anything for about a whole day (this only applies to adult cats). This rest period helps the digestive system recover from whatever triggered the cat’s vomiting.
2. Provide Fresh Water
When your cat vomits, it needs to stay hydrated. They might be at risk of dehydration after that. Make sure that your cat always has access to fresh, clear, and clean water.
3. Introduce a Bland Diet
Once your cat has had time to rest, you should feed it on a quality diet that is non-triggering to the stomach. Natural foods that can be safely offered to them include boiled chicken, which should not be seasoned or have skin on it, and plain white rice.
Long-Term Solutions
1. Switch to High-Quality Cat Food
Cat owners must consult their vet to switch their cats to high-quality cat food. When your cat vomiting becomes chronic, changing its diet might be the right time. Choose the best quality cat foods with small amounts of additives, preservatives, and processed ingredients that can cause cat allergies.
2. Brush Regularly
If hairballs cause vomiting, then grooming for the pet is necessary daily. You should groom your cat often, especially if the cat is long-haired, to avoid the cat swallowing much hair when grooming its body.
3. Control Eating Habits
On some other occasions, cats will experience vomiting because they take their food urgently or in large quantities. If your cat is a gobbler, you should get a slow feeder bowl to help slow your cat down as they eat. It will assist them in not taking large meals or eating and then becoming full and making themselves sick by vomiting.
FAQs
● Is occasional vomiting in cats normal?
Yes, hairballs or small dietary changes may cause occasional vomiting. However, frequent vomiting warrants investigation.
● Does stress cause my cat to throw up?
Of course. Stress, particularly during major transitions like relocating or bringing in new pets, might make your cat nauseous.
● What should I feed my cat after vomiting?
Use veterinary diets for sensitive stomachs or bland, easily digested foods like boiling chicken.
Final Takeaway
While occasional vomiting may not be alarming, frequent or severe ones demand attention.
By being aware of these typical causes, you may reduce your stress and take the appropriate actions to maintain your cat’s happiness and well-being.
So, the next time your kitty has an upset tummy, you’ll be ready to tackle the issue head-on—like a true cat parent pro!