No cat owner enjoys hearing the vomiting sounds from the next room, which signals that they will now have to clean up a mess that their pet made. Every feline will vomit now and then, but there is a popular myth that puking up is the usual activity among cats.
Throwing up on a regular basis or repeatedly is not healthy for your pet. It might signal that your feline has consumed a harmful substance or is suffering from a severe disease. You should take your pet to the vet if she vomits more than one time a week, sometimes every two weeks.
How can you differentiate vomiting and regurgitation?
Vomiting isn’t necessarily vomiting; it’s often regurgitation, and understanding the difference might allow your vet to figure out what’s wrong. Regurgitation is sometimes confused with vomiting; however, regurgitated foodstuff is not actually processed by gastric acid, which is the opposite of vomited food.
Vomiting releases gastric contents such as meals, water, and/or mucus. Vomiting is a physical experience usually followed by dizziness, gasping, and stomach muscular contractions (heaving). Before vomiting, the feline may communicate, drool, or start coughing.
However, regurgitation occurs when the materials of the throat or mouth are thrown out. Food, drink, or other consumed things do not get it to the gut before coming straight up, and no muscular work is necessary. Regurgitation is a non-verbal, non-retching procedure in which the feline just bends its mouth and foodstuff or other items come out. Regurgitation usually occurs 30 minutes to 2 hours after having a meal.
How to know if your cat is vomiting?
Your feline may become sick before vomiting. She may be agitated, drooling, or swallowing continuously. Vomiting begins with severe stomach muscular spasms in your feline. The contents of their gut or esophagus are then released.
Chronic cough in felines might appear to be the same as vomiting. A feline will bend down on all her legs and extend its head out whenever it coughs. Your pet will cough up mucus or bubbles, which she may quickly ingest again.
There is a clear differentiation between regurgitation and puking. Regurgitation requires less energy from your pet and typically does not result in stomach spasms. Regurgitation is common after having a meal, and it might indicate an issue with the feline’s esophagus.
A recording of your feline vomiting might assist your veterinarian in distinguishing between throwing up, coughing, and regurgitating.
Chronic and acute vomiting in cats
There are two types of vomiting: chronic and acute. Chronic vomit is defined as puking on a frequent basis (at least once a month, although it might be every day) for an extended length of time. Each time the feline vomits, it generally only does so either once or twice.
The acute form occurs when a feline that normally does not vomit begins to do so. It would usually be only a matter for pet parents and veterinarians if a feline vomits several times. Acute and chronic vomiting require different medical procedures and remedies, but so does the seriousness with which the feline should be taken to the vet.
A feline with acute vomiting typically requires more immediate attention. A feline that has only thrown up 1-3 times but is otherwise healthy is another case. If the feline still enjoys eating and without vomiting, is acting normally, and appears to be in good health, she does not have to be sent to a veterinarian facility, provided you know she didn’t consume anything poisonous.
If your feline vomits consecutively thrice, is unable to hold back food, or appears lethargic, she should visit a veterinarian immediately. It’s likely that she’s just having a terrible case of nausea, and if there is anything more severe, medication should be started as early as possible. Only if the feline is in immense pain or refuses to walk, would she need immediate medical care.
Even if she appears to be worsening fast over the night, rush her to the hospital. Cats that are constantly throwing up and refusing food are susceptible to a variety of additional problems, the most serious of which is inflammation of the liver, so delaying therapy can be deadly for them.
A cat that has been vomiting for a long time should always be checked by a specialist; but, it isn’t necessary if the feline is still consuming food, staying hydrated, exhibiting no indications of weakness, and appears to be in good health.
What causes your cat to vomit or regurgitate?
1. Your cat is eating very quickly
Sometimes felines eat too fast, resulting in the regurgitation of undigested food. Slowing your animal down by serving them using a puzzle toy might benefit you. Food puzzles provide your feline with both entertainment and nutrition. An increasing number of widely sustainable food puzzles excite your creature’s aggressive and hunting impulses.
Food puzzles, on the other hand, have the additional advantage of slowing down the eating session, preventing a feline from eating too fast and becoming ill as a result. Consult your vet if your pet feeds from puzzle feeders on a regular basis and continues to throw up her food.
2. Food
As previously mentioned, some felines might eat extremely fast or suffer from food intolerance. If your feline has a tendency to barf or if she has digestive intolerance, she may throw up half-digested or undigested meals. However, vomiting shortly after consumption might indicate a more significant health problem, like pet hair, gastrointestinal system blockage, dehydration, or throat problems. If your feline vomits regularly after consuming, it’s time to get her checked by a vet.
If your veterinarian has checked out some other health issues and believes your pet’s vomiting is caused by food, he might recommend that you feed your pet a specialized delicate systems food. If your pet continues to throw up food while on this particular diet, you might need to switch to an easy-to-digest protein diet.
Is it safe for my cat to eat shrimp?
I love cheese, can I give it to my cat also?
Whenever it comes to diet sensitivities, the majority of felines are intolerant to protein rather than any other component. A solubilized diet concludes protein that has been divided into two or more distinct amino acid elements by a procedure. This stops your pet’s digestive response from mistakenly perceiving the diet as carrying an allergy.
3. Hairballs
Felines are inherently clean creatures who spend significant time grooming themselves. When your pet grooms itself, small hook-like shapes of its tongue capture stray and unwanted hair, which is eventually ingested. Most of the hair travels through the gastrointestinal tract without causing any difficulties; however, hair can sometimes become stuck in the gut and create a hairball.
Hairballs may potentially cause a feline to throw up digestive juices. Even though a feline throwing up a hairball from time to time is natural and not the reason for worry, hairballs must not be constant, unpleasant, or challenging for your feline to excrete. Longhair felines and those who groom themselves frequently are more prone to hairballs.
When your feline is struggling to get rid of stuck hairballs, she may make coughing noises or have contractions. Hairballs are quickly dragged up by felines in most situations; however, if your feline is having trouble releasing a hairball, it’s essential to contact a veterinarian. Hairballs can get stuck in the intestines and cause intestinal congestions, which could be deadly.
There are several nutritional medications in chew or gels type that can assist your feline to avoid hairballs. Brushing your pet daily and training them to get used to it might result in removing any stray hair in their coats that they could sometimes absorb while they groom themselves.
4. Food and Dietary Changes
Whenever your pet’s dietary pattern changes, if she skips a meal or if she eats a bit late, she might vomit undigested food. You might have changed your pet’s diet suddenly. When moving your pet to a new eating plan, gradually cut the level of existing cat food and gradually increase the quantity of the new diet plan over a period of 2-4 weeks.
Your feline may consume too fast, resulting in the regurgitation of partially digested food. Although vomiting by your pet caused by overeating is unlikely, giving your pet less quantity and more number of meals might help. You must also discuss how much quantity you need to feed your pet with your vet to ensure that they are not overfed and are receiving the nourishment they require.
5. Gastritis
If your feline is prone to snacking onto items they shouldn’t, it’s likely that whatever they ingested has hurt their gut. When something like this happens, you might notice throwing up undigested food as well as blood or mucus.
A reduction in hunger, a disturbed temperament, laziness, or dehydration could also be noticeable in your feline. If your pet is throwing up due to gastritis, your veterinarian would suggest to you what actions to take.
Other factors that may contribute to this are:
- Respiration Disorders
- Inflammation of the esophagus
- Parasites
- Diarrhea
- A blockage in the intestines caused by foreign substances
Read also: Constipation in cats, all you need to know
When are the signs that I should take my cat to the vet?
If your feline vomits repeatedly or occasionally, avoid feeding her anything for roughly 12 hours. Throughout this short fasting time, give a cat a few teaspoons of water per 30 minutes, or give her ice cubes. After 12 hours, start giving your pet tiny quantities of plain food and slowly continue with regular feeding if the vomiting has ceased.
If your feline has been throwing up on a regular basis, you should call your veterinarian immediately. Frequent or acute vomiting might indicate that your pet is extremely sick and needs medical attention right away. If your feline exhibits some of the following signs, please call your veterinarian:
- Distress or drowsiness
- Changes in appetite or eating patterns
- Weight loss
- Their vomit has blood.
- Their stomach hurts (they respond aggressively, whenever you try to touch them)
- Vomiting regularity
- Dietary changes
- Plants, meals, and other things are accessible.
- If any other felines or pets in your home are infected
Diagnosis
While bringing your feline to the veterinarian regarding vomiting, this could sound ‘gross,’ but it’s a wise idea to bring a specimen of your pet’s vomit so that your vet may run some tests. Your veterinarian would be able to analyze the specimen to identify what is causing your pet’s gastric distress.
The following are among the problems your veterinarian can observe if you give him a specimen of vomit:
- Secretions in your pet’s belly might be a sign of an infected intestine.
- Food that hasn’t been digested could be a symptom of a medical condition, stress, or just that your feline ended up eating a lot of food or too fast.
- If your pet’s vomit contains acid, it might be a sign of gastroenteritis or inflammatory bowel disease, according to your veterinarian.
- A vomit that contains red blood indicates that your pet’s gut is oozing pus.
- A vomit that also has a bad odor might suggest that your feline has a digestive blockage.
Treatment
The therapy will be determined by the underlying reason when it comes to controlling vomiting in felines. Treatment for your pet’s illness might be as easy as simply offering less food or even as complicated as chemoradiotherapy, based on what triggers the problem.
Final thought
Cats are fascinating animals that would explore every corner of your house and unintentionally ingest some items out of curiosity that could make them ill. Toxic flowers, human medicines, thread or wool, sweets, and other tiny things should be kept out of sight of your feline. These things may be eaten or swallowed by them, causing stomach problems. Brush your feline and keep her from frequently grooming to avoid hairballs.
If your feline throws up regularly, you should consult your veterinarian to find out what’s causing it. If you feel your pet is ill, don’t wait to seek professional help from a vet.