New cat owners may become distressed seeing their cat vomiting, but in most cases, it is common and nothing to worry about.
Your cat might be vomiting to get rid of undigested food or hairballs. But, that’s not always the case, and some severe illnesses might be associated with it.
If you see your cat vomiting more than once a month or constantly, it is likely something to worry about, and taking immediate action may be the best idea.
Without further ado, let’s see what you can (and should) do if your cat is vomiting.
Remove The Food For Some Time
Several reasons are linked to vomiting in cats, and overeating stands first in line.
If you see your cat vomit, the best idea is to remove the food for at least 12 hours, or at least re-think the amount you are feeding it. However, that also depends on how long your cat can stay hungry. If you prolong hunger, the cat’s stomach may produce excess acid, which may worsen the situation. The best option is to try you can giving smaller quantities of food.
During the process, don’t forget to provide access to clean drinking water all the time.
It will help digest the food properly without causing weakness in your feline friend.
Analyze Your Cat’s Vomit
Yeah, we know, this step is a bit cringy, but you’ll have to do it for the sake of your cat’s health.
A cat’s vomit will say a lot about its overall health as the primary reason often lies in the colour of the vomit.
Here is a breakdown of different types of vomits in cats:
Clear Vomit
Clear vomit usually means that the cat is throwing up water. It may have drunk too much water at once and vomited.
You may also see other stomach contents in the vomit. Although it may seem normal, it isn’t always the case.
You should determine why your cat drinks too much water at once, which can be diabetes or kidney disease.
Food
Some cats will vomit food soon after eating it and there might be two reasons for this
The cat has overeaten.
The food contains indigestible items.
This type of vomit often occurs when you’ve changed your cat’s food, and it doesn’t suit it.
However, the cat might also have some stomach problems that are becoming a barrier to digesting the food.
Blood In Vomit
Seeing blood in the cat’s vomit isn’t good at all, and the best idea is to get them to the vet as soon as possible. The same happens with a black and brown colour in the vomit.
White Foam
Throwing up white foam usually indicates inflammation of the stomach or intestine.
Mucus
Throwing up mucus may mean that your cat is regurgitating and not vomiting. The two terms are quite similar and often make us confused, and that’s why it’s essential to determine if the cat is vomiting or not.
Green Vomit
A green vomit can indicate that your cat may have eaten Ratsak (rat and mouse poison).
The presence of bile also makes the vomit green.
Check For Other Signs
If your cat is vomiting due to some health issue, you’ll also notice other symptoms like:
Change in behaviour
Lethargy
Diarrhoea
Fever
Loss of appetite
Vomiting also causes dehydration in cats, and you’ll see your feline friend drinking more water than usual and using the litter tray more often.
Check The Frequency Of Vomit
The frequency of the cat’s vomit will also reveal whether it’s something to worry about or not.
If you see your cat throwing up regularly or twice a day, you must take it to the vet as soon as possible.
Some cats will barely vomit once a month or so, and that usually consists of hairballs and undigested food. It is acute vomiting and isn’t worrisome. In saying that though new research is finding that cats bringing up hairballs is a possible sign of gastrointestinal issues.
Chronic vomiting indicates a severe underlying health issue, and only a vet can determine the root cause.
Final Words
Before rushing to the hospital, it’s essential to check whether the cat’s vomit is acute or chronic.
Cats often vomit to get rid of hairballs and undigested food items, and it’s a typical case most of the time. However, consistent vomiting followed by blood in the vomit and other behavioural changes can indicate chronic vomiting.
The best idea is to take it to the vet to diagnose the primary reason. Also, don’t forget to take a sample or a photo of the vomit with you!
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