As a caring pet parent, you always want to see your cat joyful, and seeing them throwing up makes you worried as well as puzzled as to what should be done next. Although occasional vomiting is usually not so serious if your cat is vomiting now and then, it could be a sign of an underlying condition that needs to be addressed proactively.
Through this blog, let’s learn the causes of cat vomiting when to call for help, and the treatments.
Causes of cat vomiting
Cat vomiting can be caused due to several reasons, some of the most common among them are mentioned below:
- Hairballs: Frequent grooming leads to the shedding of hair leading to hairball formation in the stomach. Cats then expel these hairballs through vomiting.
- Infections: Several viral or bacterial infections in the stomach can also lead to vomiting.
- Allergies: Food allergies can cause upset stomach and inflammation in the gut and trigger vomiting in cats.
- Overeating: Overeating or eating too quickly can lead to undigested food particles in the stomach that cause vomiting.
- Gastrointestinal obstruction: If your cat ingests toys, bones, or any other foreign objects, it can lead to intestinal blockage, causing vomiting.
- Intestinal parasites: Various intestinal parasites such as roundworms and giardia can upset the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in vomiting.
- Stomach cancer: Cancers, especially in the digestive tract can cause vomiting in cats.
Color of cat vomiting
The color of cat vomit may not determine the actual problem but can help you get a clue about an underlying condition. You can tell your veterinarian about the vomit color which will help them determine the problem precisely.
When to seek help?
Mentioned below are a few signs that you should look out for if your cat is vomiting frequently and speak to the vet to provide immediate treatment to your feline companion.
- Stress or lethargy
- Unexplained weight loss
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Changes in behavior
- Decrease in appetite
- Weakness
- Pain or discomfort
- Blood in the vomit
How to treat cat vomiting?
Let’s have a look at some of the simple ways to treat your cat’s vomiting:
- Feed timely meals: Not eating enough or staying empty stomach can lead to vomiting issues in cats. Setting fixed meal timings and feeding small portions before sleeping and after waking up improves digestive health and helps prevent gastric issues. Moreover, a specially formulated diet for cats with sensitive stomachs may help in treating the condition effectively.
- Increase water intake: Frequent vomiting can lead to dehydration which makes them eat and drink even less and vomit more. Therefore, focus on keeping your cat hydrated which helps in flushing out the toxins from the body and allowing them to eat and drink gradually. Encourage your cat to drink water at short intervals to recover effectively.
- Reduce stress and anxiety: If your kitty is stressed or anxious, it may aggravate the digestive problems, leading to more vomiting. Use anxiety supplements to keep your cat relaxed which will help in solving digestive issues, thereby reducing stress-induced vomiting.
- Timely grooming: Keep your cat well groomed to prevent shedding and hairball formation. Moreover, feed them with a fiber-rich diet to minimize hairballs.
- Routine vet visits: Taking your cat for regular vet visits may help in the early detection of the underlying condition causing vomiting and treat it effectively before it worsens.
- Antibiotics: Certain antibiotics and antacids may help relieve digestive problems and frequent vomiting issues. Make sure you speak to your vet and only give prescribed treatments to your cat.
Last Words
There are a lot of reasons that can make your cat vomit, be it common or uncommon. We have covered the possible causes of vomiting in cats and the relevant line of treatments you can utilize to provide relief to your feline friend. Always seek veterinary help to treat the problem effectively.