Cat Health: Vomiting
It is not uncommon for your cat to throw up from time to time. With cat health, vomiting, like many things, can occur for a variety of reasons. Some may be minor and others may signal that there is something very serious going on.
Generally, intermittent or occasional vomiting is not an indicator of something serious. If your cat was eating and behaving normally just before and after he vomits, then it is usually not something serious. Frequent or regular vomiting, on the other hand, should be taken very seriously and should be evaluated by your vet, especially if other symptoms are present such as lethargy, withdrawal, pain, difficulties breathing, a temperature, or irritability. If there is blood in the vomit or simultaneous diarrhea, take your cat to the vet immediately.
There are many things that may cause a cat to vomit. One of the most common causes is hairballs. Cats groom themselves by licking and as a result, ingest small amounts of fur over time. These hairs form a ball in their stomach and in time your cat will throw it up. However, just because you see a clump of fur in your cat's vomit does not mean that the hairball caused the vomiting. This is because when your cat vomits, everything in his stomach will come up, including any hairballs. Be careful to pay attention to any other factors that may have caused the vomiting.
Another cause of vomiting in cats is what some vets refer to as the tendency to "scarf and barf". Some cats habitually eat very fast and when they eat too fast, this can result in vomiting everything they just ate. When this is the case your cat will still likely be hungry as none of the food he just ate stayed in his stomach. You may want to wait a half hour or so and feed him again, so he doesn't go hungry until the next meal. However, if you suspect he is throwing up for any other reason, more food or water may cause him to throw up more.
Cats will often vomit when they ingest something that doesn't agree with their stomach. This may occur when they eat rodents or something unusual. Outdoor cats will sometimes eat grass. This can aid them in throwing up a hairball, and it also provides nutrients and fiber. If there is any possibility that your cat has ingested a poisonous plant or substance, such as antifreeze, take your cat to a vet immediately.
A sudden change in your cat's diet may also lead to vomiting. If you are planning to change your cat's food to something different, it is recommended that you do so over a period of a couple of weeks, slowing mixing the new food with the old food and gradually reducing the amount of the old food. This will allow your cat's delicate system to adjust well to the new food.
Stress, nervousness, and excitement are also things that can cause your cat to throw up on occasion. Also, if your cat eats too much food he may throw up shortly after.
As your cat gets older, cat health vomiting may be a sign of a serious illness, such as kidney decline, a tumor, liver disease, or thyroid problems to name a few. Regular checkups by your vet are especially crucial for aging cats to diagnose these things early and determine the best course of treatment.