No owner is comfortable seeing their feline unwell especially when there is frequent vomiting in cats.
It is natural to witness cats throwing up due to indigestion but if that is a red signal to bad health then finding out more about chronic vomiting in cats is the need of the hour.
Even if your cat vomits once, to ensure your pet’s safety it is advisable to see a veterinary and thoroughly get the issue diagnosed.
That being said, why cats throw up often is not just because they gobble down food quickly, it could even be linked to health concerns such as food poisoning, bowel diseases, diabetes, cancer, etc.
In this article we have covered the causes of cat vomiting frequently and how to treat them during such a distress.
Contents
Vomiting In Cats
Cat vomiting frequently – is it in a bad state or not? Clearly depends on the underlying causes and cat vomit color.
For the most part, a cat swallowing down hairballs or eating fast is not a serious situation. Cats tend to swallow hair while they are engaged in grooming themselves.
When cats vomit they end up drolling or retching and end up throwing out whatever they ate or drank. On the contrary, when a cat suddenly throws up despite being fine and showing no symptoms, he/she is regurgitating.
Vomiting or Regurgitating? Which of the two is bad? and when to worry? Let’s find out further
Vomiting In Cats: When to Worry
Vomiting in cats is problematic when your feline removes mucus, piles, or blood. Besides, even how the vomit appears is what determines whether you should be worried about your cat or not.
When your cat’s vomit color is green/black/red/pink/brown and along with vomiting, if your playful kitty feels lazy, behaves abnormally, picks different litter box habits, has a fever, refuses to eat, that’s where you as a pet owner have to pay more attention and get your cat treated.
Causes Of Frequent Vomiting In Cats
If you’ve been in a situation pondering over – why is my cat throwing up? Get to know it all!
1. Eating Quick
Rushing food down the throat is bad whether in humans or cats. To begin with, one of the simplest causes for cats to vomit frequently is mainly due to their habit of eating too quickly.
While it seems to us like cats throw up, that’s not the case. Technically, they regurgitate when the stomach wall expands trying to fit food in one shot.
2. Allergies
Not every cat’s body has an accurate mechanism to digest all kinds of food. Yet another cause for frequent vomiting in cats is an allergy to certain foods.
Apparently, when cats are allergic to a certain chemical or pollen, along with throwing up they tend to cough or sneeze too.
Precisely foods such as tea, coffee, chicken, beef, milk, cheese, and butter are likely to cause food allergies in cats.
3. Poisoning
Cats are unaware of certain household products that are a threat to their health and when they end up consuming those products, it results in chronic vomiting.
To ensure your cat’s safety, keep him or her away from chemicals such as pesticides, detergents, bleach, anti-freeze, etc.
4. Hairballs
You might find your cat vomit frequently if he/she ingests a hairball(even known as fur ball), this is nothing but the cat’s fur.
Accidentally or knowingly when hairball goes into the stomach it disturbs their digestive system.
5. Feline Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Feline inflammatory bowel disease is another major cause of cats throwing up.
This condition directly impacts a cat’s gastrointestinal tract, the stomach, and intestines with extreme irritation and inflammation resulting in poor digestion.
Along with vomiting, cats tend to have an upset stomach and lose weight too.
6. Pancreatitis
Cats could even vomit due to an inflammation in their pancreas known as pancreatitis.
Usually, for cats, their pancreas is a small organ located in the abdomen and it weighs around 8 ounces.
This organ’s main function is to keep good health. The other ill-effects of this medical condition are fever, loss of appetite, loss of energy, fever, and diarrhea.
7. Kidney Disease
Frequent vomiting in cats, weight loss, excessive urination, etc are signs of issues in the kidney.
Kidneys are responsible for keeping the blood pressure in check and eliminating waste from the blood.
It is recommended to take your cat to the veterinary in case of any issue in the kidneys.
8. Diabetes
Diabetic cats throw up often. So if you’ve noticed this symptom in your cat, it could be diabetes. Have it checked with your vet to be sure.
Besides vomiting, cats suffering from diabetes experience muscle weakness, loss of energy, and the need to drink water often.
9. Hyperthyroidism
Typically, it is the middle-aged or old cats who suffer from hyperthyroidism(even known as thyrotoxicosis).
When the thyroid hormone increases from the thyroid gland present in a cat’s neck it gives rise to this condition.
Cats start throwing up, their fur gets messy, and they are irritated, weak, and highly thirsty due to an imbalance in their hormones.
10. Parasites
Around 45 percent of cats across the globe face gastrointestinal parasitism and this causes vomiting, bloody feces, pale mucous, pot-belly, faded hair coat etc.
The best possible way to get cats out of this issue is by giving them DE-worming medication as and when required.
11. Cancer
Bouts of vomiting in cats is a red flag and the reason could be cancer. Cancer in cats is more deadlier than in dogs. What is commonly noticed is that these cancers are found to disrupt the digestive system.
Cat Vomit Color Chart
The accuracy of your cat’s health is solely dependent on a vomit color chart. Vomit colors indicate if your cat is in danger or safe. Let’s read through what every vomit color means.
White Vomit
When your cat vomits white it means he/she has an empty. On the other hand, it could even be a food allergy if your cat hasn’t eaten in a long time and is throwing up white foam.
Green Vomit
When your feline tastes a green leaf or any other green substance for that matter ends up throwing up green vomit. Besides, in a cat’s body there is a fluid called bile. It forms in the liver but stays in the gallbladder. That being said, it is even bile that your cat is throwing up.
Black / Brown Vomit
As the color suggests, black or brown color vomit indicates seeing a vet ASAP as your cat’s digestive tract might be bleeding.
Red / Pink Vomit
Clearly, a cat vomiting pink or red is a sign that the lower digestive tract needs attention. Apart from this, your cat would have swallowed a dye or object.
Yellow / Orange Vomit
Yellow vomit could mean your cat is regurgitating from an empty stomach and it is even a sign of a liver disease. Thus, getting it diagnosed is a safe option.
What To Do If Your Cat Is Throwing Up?
If your cat vomited once and never after that, it could be due to indigestion or staying hungry for long. However, if you notice frequent cat vomiting, look into the following aspects :
(i)Check the cat vomit color – This indicator clearly defines how serious is the problem.
(ii)Try and find out what has your cat eaten – If it has eaten its own hairballs or toxic food, you need to visit the vet.
What happens next?
Once your cat is taken to the vet, along with a physical and history examination, the blood, urine, and fecel is tested to ensure there are no complications.
If your cat has ingested a foreign material, x-ray or ultrasound is done. Further, the vet even checks for food allergies if any.
Treatment For Cat Vomiting
Treating frequent cat vomiting begins with not panicking yourself. Since we are aware of the causes, let us read through useful ways to treat this condition
If cancer, kidney issues, or diabetes are the underlying causes for cats throwing up, necessary medication and treatment need to be given at the right time.
A balanced and monitored diet is another useful means to treat chronic vomiting in cats when it is caused due to an inflammatory bowel disease or allergy. In severe cases, the vet might prescribe medicines like maropitant or metronidazole.
When hairballs get stuck in a cat’s stomach, the veterinarian usually prescribes antacids. In situations when a cat swallows objects, the vet would take immediate action to operate the cat.
Conclusion
Cats throw up often either because they are dealing with a medical condition, they caught a food allergy or ingested an object. It can be as serious as cancer or as mild as just swallowing food quickly.
That being said, witnessing a cat vomit once in a blue moon can be taken for leisure but frequent cat vomiting is a clear indication that your feline needs to be taken to the vet even if you instinctively don’t find it important.
Since we have read about the causes and ways to treat chronic vomiting in cats, as cat owners, taking preventive measures to protect your cat from vomiting is sensible(at least in controllable situations).
Here’s what you can do :
- Feed your cat small meals at a slow pace
- Don’t let your cat taste even a bit of toxic foods
- Eliminate the risk of cats swallowing any toxic object
Visit our website TheCrazyCats to learn more about cat behavior, care, nutrition, and needs.
