Mary Allen
Vomiting is one of the body’s natural protective responses in cats. Read here about when cats vomit, how to recognize if there is an illness behind the vomiting, and when a visit to the vet is necessary.
It is sometimes annoying for the cat owner. But it is vital for the cat’s survival: its highly sensitive vomiting center. Along with coughing and sneezing, vomiting is one of the protective reactions with which the organism defends itself against pollutants or pathogens.
With a few exceptions, this protective reflex should not be suppressed with medication. It is completely normal for cats to vomit. You can find out here when a cat throws up but urgently needs to go to the vet.
In These Cases, Vomiting in the Cat is Harmless
The occasional choking out of a few hairs and a little wet “yuck” is completely harmless. The cat has already done what is necessary to make it feel better. Especially when changing fur, cats regularly vomit the swallowed hair.
Even one-off vomiting after a meal that is perhaps a little too lavish or after eating cat grass is not a symptom that should be taken seriously.
A common worm infestation is often behind the discomfort – you can then use a wormer treatment to ensure that the cat gets better.
If the Cat Vomits Like This, It Needs To Be Taken to the Vet Immediately
However, vomiting can also be a symptom of a serious illness, even a life-threatening emergency. The cat must go to the vet immediately if:
- the vomit is discolored or smells bad.
- the cat vomits several times in a row.
- the cat cannot keep food down.
- there are accompanying symptoms.
If the vomit is dark in color or smells like feces, it could be an intestinal obstruction that needs to be operated on as soon as possible. Even if the cat vomits several times in a row, the veterinarian should be consulted quickly. Because it could be poisoning or a serious infection.
If the cat throws up regularly, i.e. several times a week or a day, it should also be examined.
Correctly Evaluate Alarm Signs When Vomiting
The accompanying symptoms are also decisive for the severity of a case of vomiting. The following side effects make an immediate visit to the vet necessary:
- fever
- dehydration (can be recognized by the fact that a skin fold that you pull with two fingers does
- not immediately go away again)
- pain (e.g. when lifting)
- increasing exhaustion
- glassy eyes
- listlessness or clouded consciousness
In these more severe cases, take some of the vomit with you to the vet if possible. Analysis of this sample can significantly speed up the diagnosis and potentially save the cat’s life.
With many chronic diseases, the symptoms are usually less clear, or these diseases develop so slowly that you get used to the weak signals at the beginning and no longer really notice a deterioration.
The Stomach is Not Always the Cause of Vomiting
With many insidious diseases, cats do not vomit all the time, but from time to time at regular, but also irregular intervals. Therefore, when experiencing a symptom such as vomiting, it is important to also look out for other changes in the cat’s health:
- Is she sleeping more than usual?
- Does she drink a lot?
- What are your bowel movements like?
- Is she nervous or unusually calm?
- Does she move confidently and elegantly, or has her gait changed?
Every detail you share with the vet will help them identify the cause of the cat’s discomfort. Not only disorders of the gastrointestinal tract cause vomiting, but also metabolic disorders, kidney diseases, brain diseases or injuries, fever, infections, and countless other serious and less serious diseases can be behind the symptom of vomiting. And only if the cause has been unequivocally identified can therapy provide long-term help.
This Will Help if the Cat Vomits
If it is uncomplicated vomiting of an otherwise healthy cat, the vet does not have to be consulted immediately. If the animal has vomited once and it wasn’t because of swallowed hair, your cat probably just has an upset stomach. After half an hour at the latest, she should be alert and happy again. She is often hungry again and begs for food.
If the cat has vomited, you should initially only offer small portions of wet food. This allows the irritated gastric mucosa to recover. It is best to offer your cat a stomach-friendly diet.
In addition to chicken fillet in lightly salted broth, there are also ready-to-eat stomach foods at the vet. In severe cases, the veterinarian can also provide cats with all the important nutrients via IV fluid.
If the cat tolerates the bland diet well and does not vomit again, you can feed it normally again.
Dieting After Vomiting is Dangerous for Cats
A cat should never be placed on a radical diet without veterinary advice. Especially young cats, chronically ill, overweight, or very old cats should not go hungry for long. The energy reserves of young and sick cats are too small to be able to do without food. In overweight and very old cats there is a risk of hepatic lipidosis – a life-threatening disorder of the lipid metabolism.
Remember: If the cat cannot keep food down or if it shows accompanying symptoms, it urgently needs to go to the vet. A light diet is only sufficient if she otherwise seems fit and has thrown up once.