Why Cats Vomit

Cats often vomit as a result of hairballs, eating grass or other plant matter, or eating too rapidly. Eating grass and throwing it up is not usually a sign of illness if unaccompanied by other symptoms, and hairballs only require medical attention in severe cases. Usually, they can be treated by brushing the cat regularly and using medication or food formulated to prevent them. More serious causes of vomiting include:

• Intestinal parasites
• Kidney or liver disease
• Central nervous system disorders
• Feline panleukopenia (sudden vomiting with fever, particularly in young cats)
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Tonsillitis/sore throat
• Infected uterus (also called acute metritis)
• Ingestion of substances toxic to cats
• Peritonitis
• Chronic renal insufficiency (CRI), also known as chronic renal failure (CRF)
• Infectious diseases
• Hyperthyroidism

How to Tell if It’s Serious

An otherwise healthy cat that vomits just once or twice and is perfectly normal before the incident and afterward is probably not seriously ill. If the cat has not recently eaten food or grass, and is not vomiting up hairballs, there may be a more serious problem. Signs of serious illness include:

• Persistent vomiting – A cat that continues to retch or bring up clear, frothy liquid after initially vomiting may have ingested spoiled food or have a disease that irritates the lining of the stomach, such as infectious enteritis (persistent vomiting isn’t always an indication of a serious illness – hairballs or grass may also cause it).
• Sporadic vomiting – A cat that vomits on and off over days or even weeks and not directly after meals may have kidney or liver disease, chronic gastritis, heavy worm infestation, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetes mellitus, or a severe case of hairballs that requires medical attention. Sporadic vomiting combined with listlessness, a haggard appearance, and loss of appetite indicates a serious problem.
• Vomiting blood – A cat vomiting blood or material that resembles coffee grounds may be bleeding internally.
• Vomiting feces – When a cat vomits material that resembles and smells like excrement, the most likely causes are peritonitis, intestinal obstruction, or abdominal injury.
• Projectile vomiting – If a cat vomits so forcefully that stomach contents are ejected further in front of the cat than with normal vomiting, it could indicate a number of things, including hairballs, foreign objects in the stomach, tumours, encephalitis, or blood clots in the brain.
• Vomiting worms – Kittens that are severely infested with roundworms may vomit up adult worms.

What to Do

A cat that is vomiting regularly can quickly become dangerously dehydrated, especially if the cat also has diarrhea. If vomiting persists for more than 24 hours, the cat becomes dehydrated, or there are secondary symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, weakness, lethargy, or blood or feces in the vomit, seek veterinary care immediately. Kittens, senior cats, and cats with pre-existing medical conditions should also receive veterinary care as soon as possible.

Treatment for persistent vomiting in a healthy adult cat with no other symptoms involves withholding food for 12-24 hours. A cat that continues to vomit even when food is withheld requires a visit to a veterinarian or local animal emergency clinic. If the vomiting stops, when reintroducing food, it’s a good idea to offer a bland diet initially. A meat-based baby food that does not contain onions (which are toxic to cats) may be fed temporarily. This food is not nutritionally complete for cats and should only be used when initially encouraging the cat to eat again.

A cat that regularly vomits as a result of another medical condition such CRI may require prescription medications to correct salt imbalances, dehydration, and weakness. In severe cases, a hospital stay with intravenous fluid support is necessary.

When in Doubt, See a Veterinarian

This article is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a veterinarian who is aware of your cat’s medical history and can provide information based on your cat’s medical profile. If you have any concerns that your cat’s vomiting may be the result of a more serious condition, you should seek veterinary care immediately. A veterinarian may prescribe anti-emetics to stop the vomiting, antacids to coat the cat’s stomach, and/or medications designed to sooth the gastrointestinal tract.

References:

• Merck & Co., Inc., Eds. Cynthia M. Kahn, BA, MA & Scott Line, DVM, PhD, Dipl ACVB. (2007). The Merck/Merial Manual for Pet Health, Home Edition.
• Eldredge, D.M.,DVM, Carlson, D.G., DVM, Carlson,L.D., DVM & Giffin, J.M., MD. (2008). Cat Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook, Third Edition. Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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