Mary Allen
When the cat vomits, the human suffers too. You can do this to make your darling feel better again quickly.
When the otherwise so quiet and graceful velvet paw crouches on the ground and makes rattling noises, most cat owners have an inkling of what is about to happen: she is throwing up.
Although cat vomiting often sounds horrible, it doesn’t have to be caused by a serious illness or lack of care. Many cats vomit despite being in the best of health. In fact, occasional vomiting is completely normal for many cats.
Take the vomit seriously
But if the cat spits, you should of course not ignore the “puke”, as it is colloquially called somewhat ugly, or even scold the cat. After all, she doesn’t do it out of bad faith, there are always physical reasons for throwing up. What nature doesn’t want to leave in the stomach always comes out with good reason.
With the following tips, you can treat the vomiting, identify the causes or even prevent it.
Look carefully
While it’s a bit unappetizing, it’s worth taking a moment to look at what your cat choked up. Because that is sometimes simply part of caring for your beloved cat and its health. Depending on the consistency and composition, you can already narrow down the cause of the vomiting.
- Cat vomits mucus
If the cat vomits mucus or “pukes up” hair as well, don’t worry. Because cats wash with their tongues, they always swallow a certain amount of hair, which can clump in their stomach. Almost all vomit these hairballs out at regular intervals without causing them any discomfort. Outdoor animals that hunt prey themselves may also contain feathers and the like.
- Cat vomits food undigested
If the cat vomits food undigested, this is usually also harmless and a sign that the kitty has simply gobbled down a meal too greedily. Only if this happens more frequently and the cat does not keep the food down after eating should you keep an eye on it. It might be worth changing the food so that the cat doesn’t keep breaking.
- The cat vomits yellow or black
However, if the vomit is yellowish or black in color, smells unusually strong or even smells like feces, or has worms in it, these are signs of illness that you should definitely take seriously. Then plan a visit to the vet as soon as possible! He is then your best advisor. The vet has to find the cause of the vomiting and can usually help your darling quickly.
Watch out for other signs of illness
In order to able to assess whether the vomiting is harmless or possibly a symptom of another illness, you should observe your cat closely. If yourself too
- her bowel movements have changed, e.g. B. gets diarrhea or constipation,
- she sleeps more than usual
- is conspicuous when eating or
- their behavior has otherwise changed,
this can also indicate that the cat is missing something. And that’s usually something that goes beyond a temporary upset stomach.
Don’t be fooled by an apparent indifference, because cats are excellent at not letting their illnesses show.
It becomes particularly critical when an otherwise lively cat lies there listless, has a fever, appears dehydrated, no longer wants to eat, has lost a significant amount of weight, or is obviously in pain. And you should also pay attention to these signs that the cat is sick. Then it is important to consult the veterinarian as soon as possible for competent advice.
Has it been checked out by a vet?
Even with comparatively harmless diseases, it makes sense for the vet to take a look at your four-legged friend when the cat vomits. Vomiting in cats (and also in dogs) is often triggered by worms, for example, without this being apparent to the cat owner. A wormer administered by the vet will then remedy the situation.
Food intolerances in cats can also manifest themselves through vomiting. The veterinarian will then give you tips for the right diet. He may also have flyers for you that you can take home with you as advice.
However, if a more serious illness such as If there is a stomach obstruction, metabolic problems, or a disorder of the internal organs, the veterinarian will of course immediately initiate the appropriate treatment to restore your cuddly tiger’s health.
If you have recently treated your cat for fleas and ticks, poisoning with permethrin can also be behind the vomiting. See a veterinarian immediately, as this poisoning can be fatal!
Adjust meals
Otherwise healthy cats are usually hungry again quickly after vomiting. Still, you should wait a bit before serving the next meal. This allows the attacked gastric mucosa to recover a little.
If you don’t do this, it can happen that the vomiting repeats itself or even further stomach problems develop from it. Of course, this does not apply to harmless hairballs, which cats usually regurgitate without much problem.
If your cat tends to gorge too much, you should break up the food into several smaller meals rather than just feeding your cat once or twice a day. This way she doesn’t develop cravings and never has too much in her stomach at once. Alternatively, you can use an anti-sling bowl that prevents your cat from choking down the food.
If your house cat tends to throw up or has other health problems, you should feed the cat special bland or diet food. Depending on the cause of the vomiting, your veterinarian will advise you which food is right for your darling.
Prevent hairballs
You can easily reduce the regurgitation of swallowed hair in cats if you regularly give your cat malt paste or a little butter as an additional treat. As a result, the hair clumps less and passes through the gastrointestinal tract along with the lining in the usual direction.
So that your velvet paw doesn’t swallow so much hair in the first place, you can of course also brush it regularly, which is particularly recommended for long-haired cats such as the Persian or Norwegian Forest cat. (These are things to keep in mind.) Many cats also find this type of grooming for better health and fun to purr.
We hope that this guide to vomiting will help you and wish your darling a speedy recovery!