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Why Is My Cat Puking?
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Every cat owner recognizes the warning signs of an upset feline stomach: the mournful meow, gagging and the heaving retch. But just as suddenly as it began, your cat returns to good health while you’re left scrubbing the carpet.
For some cats, recurrent puking is a concern, and pinpointing why cats vomit might be difficult. Throwing up due to hairballs is common because of a cat’s meticulous grooming habits. However, when you notice your cat vomiting because of other reasons, this signals a more serious medical problem. Malnutrition and esophageal irritation are two complications of frequent vomiting, which should not be overlooked.
For an accurate diagnosis, understanding the differences between coughing, regurgitation, and cat vomiting can help.
- Coughing: Coughing is a type of exhalation that results in a loud, rapid ejection of air from the lungs.
- Regurgitation: Regurgitation is the throwing up of food from the esophagus or stomach without any nausea or abdominal muscular contractions. It happens quickly and repeatedly without any warming. The cat is fine one minute and then spits up without retching or heaving.
- Vomiting: Vomiting is the expulsion of stomach contents, usually following a series of gagging or retching motions. Vomiting is a prolonged process in which the cat may appear ill, drool, retch, demonstrate belly heaving, and finally vomit.
The scenario is a familiar one for Cynthia Bowen of Cleveland, Ohio. As the owner of four Maine Coons, Bowen has cleaned her share of messes. “It would happen every couple of months or so,' she says. 'Otherwise, they were perfectly healthy.'
Although it's not a pleasant subject, vomiting is something cats seem to do on cue. Many cat owners accept this as a natural part of owning a pet, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Knowing what triggers an upset stomach and what you can do about it will make for a better relationship with your cat.
It is recommended that you consult your veterinarian if you notice your cat vomiting many times each day, or if you detect an increase in the frequency of vomiting.
Why Do Cats Vomit?
Many owners attribute their cat’s vomiting to hairballs, but that’s not the only culprit. “It’s careless to assume that most cases of vomiting in cats are due to hairballs,” says Dr. William Folger, a DVM from Houston. Two other frequent causes of an upset stomach are eating too fast and curiosity.
Other Causes Of Cat Vomiting:
Before you go on to treating your furry friend, you must know the different cat vomiting reasons:
Toxins
- Ingestion of a toxin from the fur is the most common cause of cat vomiting.
- Cats have a proclivity for chewing on attractive house plants, which can lead to plant poisoning.
- If the cat is present when the owner cleans their living space with a high fume chemical agent, the inhalation of toxic chemicals - such as cleaning agents - can cause poisoning in cats.
Diet
- If your cat skips a meal or eats later than usual, it may regurgitate the undigested food.
- Another reason why cats vomit frequently is their rapid change of food. It is recommended that you transition your cat to a new diet slowly over a one to two-week period, gradually reducing the amount of current cat food while gradually increasing the quantity of new cat food.
Gastric problems
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Dietary indiscretion, pollutants, or medication side effects might cause gastric problems such as an upset stomach.
- Some cases are minor and can go away on their own, but others can be serious and require medical attention from a veterinarian.
Intestinal issues
- Ingestion of a foreign object, such as a string or a small toy that becomes lodged in the stomach or intestines, is a common cause of intestinal blockages in cats.
- An intestinal blockage is a highly serious ailment that requires immediate attention. It can be caused by underlying health concerns such as a tumor or difficulty with intestinal movements.
- Some of the common signs include your cat puking frequently or its inability to keep down water or food.
Organ dysfunction
- Prolonged disorders such as pancreatitis, kidney disease, and hyperthyroidism can all cause nausea and chronic vomiting in cats due to numerous reasons.
- Identification of the underlying ailment is required to address many causes of cat vomiting with many of these conditions requiring lifelong therapy.
Endocrine issues
- One of the most prevalent feline endocrine illnesses is hyperthyroidism (sometimes known as an overworked thyroid).
- Thyroid overactivity is caused by a tumor (usually benign) in the thyroid gland that pumps too much thyroid hormone into the bloodstream.
- This increase in your cat's metabolism can result in your cat throwing up.
When Vomiting In Cats Is Cause For Concern?
Repeated cat vomiting should never be ignored because it can lead to dehydration. But because vomiting is common in cats, how do you know what’s normal? “A general guideline is that if the cat is vomiting one to three times a month, we consider this normal,” says Dr. Folger.
He considers it serious if the vomiting occurs twice daily for two or three days. If your cat stops eating, seems to have stomach pain or retches continuously, or if the vomit is mixed with blood, take her to a veterinarian. And as always, if you’re suspicious that a lingering problem could be harmful to your pet, call your veterinarian. A visit to the office can help relieve your cat’s discomfort and your worries as well.
Treatment For Cat Vomiting
Once you know the reason behind your cat puking, you can start the right treatment for them.
Dietary Changes
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Dietary changes are one of the most important treatments for both severe and acute vomiting in cats.
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If your cat is experiencing severe vomiting, you may need to switch to a more easily digestible diet for a while.
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A change in diet can be both therapeutic and diagnostic for cats with chronic vomiting.
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If the new food stops the vomiting, it was likely caused by a food intolerance or allergy, or low-grade inflammatory bowel disease.
Fluids
- Even if your cat isn't acutely dehydrated, feeding water to flush the system and keep it hydrated can be beneficial. Dehydration is usually caused due to fluid loss from excessive vomiting and failure to retain water in the body.
- For practically every cause of vomiting, some sort of fluid treatment is used.
- IV fluids are frequently indicated if your cat is dehydrated or weak. A catheter is inserted into a vein to administer fluids.
Preventing Your Cat From Vomiting
Often, owners accept their pet’s vomiting as a natural part of their behavior, but just because cats seem to have more than their fair share of stomach issues doesn’t mean you don’t have options.
How To Diagnose The Cause Of Vomiting
The underlying reason of vomiting in a cat can sometimes be difficult to determine. A majority of cases of acute vomiting are temporary, respond to only symptomatic treatment, and can be managed over time.
Color of vomit
- Clear vomit can be caused by esophageal regurgitation or an empty stomach.
- Blood in the vomit indicates that the blood originated in the mouth, esophagus, or stomach.
- Yellow vomit is bile and may be a sign of liver disease. It could also indicate that the cat consumed something yellow.
- Regurgitation from the esophagus or an empty stomach is the most common cause of white, foamy vomit.
- Vomit with a coffee-ground appearance is caused by stomach hemorrhage, which is most typically seen with ulcers.
- Vomit that is brown and stinky can be caused by bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract or by eating anything brown and smelly.
- Partially digested food in the vomit indicates that the food was never digested. It is caused by food intolerances or blockages, allergies, or just about anything else that irritates the upper gastrointestinal system.
Help Your Cat Eat More Slowly
One simple preventative measure is to get your fast-eating cat to slow down or to simply eat less. Dr. Stephens recommends feeding smaller portions, elevating your cat’s food dish slightly or putting an object, such as a ball, into the dish. The cat will be forced to eat around the ball, thus slowing her intake. If you do this, make sure the ball isn’t small enough to swallow. And you may need to feed cats in a multiple-cat household at different times and places to reduce competitive eating.
If your cat vomits more than three times a month or has chronic stomach issues, you can take several steps to help resolve her discomfort. With your veterinarian’s help and a little effort on your part, your cat’s stomach issues can be a thing of the past.
FAQs:
- How Serious Is Cat Vomiting?
- What Does The Color Of Vomit Mean?
- What To Give A Cat For Vomiting?
- What Color Should Cat Vomit Be?
Vomiting that is severe or chronic is more dangerous. It can cause secondary issues, such as dehydration and electrolyte imbalances, such as salt deficiency. Minor digestive distress from causes such as eating plants, rotten food, or foul-tasting objects like certain insects, might also produce vomiting.
If the cat’s vomit is yellow, brown, or orange in color, it indicates the accumulation of partially digested food and bile in the stomach. If it is red in color, it indicates the presence of blood. Sometimes, the color of the cat’s vomit may be caused by the color of the cat’s food or treats.
If your cat gets a severe episode of vomiting, you may need to switch to a more readily digestible diet for a while. You may also want to reach out to your veterinarian immediately.
The color of a cat's vomit varies based on what the cat has eaten (even non-food items), any dyes in the treats or food the cat consumes, and a variety of other circumstances. As a result, color isn't a good indicator of the source of your cat's vomiting.
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- adp_description_block232Your Cat’s Language: What Meows, Chirps and Yowls Mean
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Listen up, Mom or Dad, because your feline definitely has something to say. Cats use more than 100 different vocal sounds to communicate. Here are nine of the most common sounds you’ll hear and what your cat’s unique language means.
Purr
While your cat’s purrs are usually a sign that they’re happy, comfortable or content, it’s important to point out that your cat might also purr when they are anxious, agitated or sick — because purring soothes them. The key to figuring out if it’s a “worry purr” is to check if their ears are folded back, if they seem tense or if they just aren’t acting normal. (If that’s the case, call the vet and grab the cat carrier.)
Meow
Why do cats meow? It’s simple: It’s their way of communicating with us!
Meows are your cat’s most common “word,” and every one means something different. For example, your cat might meow to greet you when you come home, to ask you to open your bedroom door so they can curl up on your pillow, or to say, “I’d like some more tasty kibble or a second serving of IAMS® PERFECT PORTIONS™ paté, s’il vous plaît.”
Chirps and Trills
Chirps and trills are the loving language of cat mothers. Chirps, or chirrups, are staccato, bird-like sounds mother cats use to say to their kittens, “Follow me.” Trills are higher-pitched chirps your cat uses to say hello or “Pay attention to me.” When your cat directs these sounds at you, chances are they want you to give them some love or follow them somewhere, usually to their food or water bowl. (Shocker, LOL.)
If you have more than one feline fur baby, listen closely. You’ll likely hear your cats talk to each other with these sounds.
Chatter
When your kitty spies an unsuspecting bird or squirrel frolicking outside the window, they might make a chattering sound at it. This distinctive, repetitive clicking noise is caused by a combination of lip smacking and your cat rapidly vibrating their lower jaw. This odd behavior looks like teeth chattering, and a lot of cats also chirp when they chatter.
This clickety sound is thought to be a mix of predatory excitement and frustration at not being able to get to the elusive feathered or furry prize. Some animal behaviorists even think the sound mimics a fatal bite used to break the bones of their prey. Who knew your li’l feline was so ferocious?!
Regardless of the exact reason cats chatter or chirp at birds and other small animals, most feline parents find it fascinating and amusing to watch.
Hiss
The unmistakable sound of a cat hissing is like a steak hitting a hot skillet, and it can only mean one thing: Your cat feels threatened and will put up a fight if they have to. Just as important as the hissing sound, however, is the cat body language that comes with it. Your cat will flatten their ears, arch their back, puff their fur, twitch their tail and usually open their mouth to flash their fangs — aka the classic defensive pose.
Snarls and Growls
In addition to a hiss, if your cat makes a deep, guttural growlsound, they’re saying, “Back off.” Similar to a dog’s growl, this noise means your cat is annoyed, scared or angry. Some cats even make short, higher-pitched snarl sounds before launching into a full-blown growl.
While these sounds usually signify an unhappy cat, it’s important to note that some cats growl because they’re in pain from an injury or a health problem. If you suspect this is the case, a trip to the vet is in order.
If your feline snarls or growls at you for any reason, though, it’s best to leave your feisty friend alone.
Yowl
A yowl, or howl, is a long, drawn-out meow that almost sounds like moaning; it’s your cat’s way of telling you they’re worried or distressed, or that they need you. They might have gotten locked in a closet, can’t find you anywhere or, heaven forbid, have discovered their food bowl is empty. Your cat might also yowl when they don’t feel well or when a new neighborhood cat trespasses on their turf.
Whatever the reason, make sure you immediately help your cat whenever you hear a yowl. Trust us — you’ll both be glad you did.
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