IS VOMITING IN A CAT NORMAL OR A REASON TO CONSULT A VETERINARIAN?

Vomiting in cats is not always a sign of illness. Many animals specifically cause it when they feel heaviness in their body. However, if you can identify blood, bile or mucus in the vomit, then you should be wary.

But the owner will not always be able to distinguish whether the cat has a disease or whether it was a physiological need.

If vomiting is accompanied by additional symptoms - diarrhea, fever, then you should definitely show the animal to a veterinarian.

Vomiting is observed in cats with most infectious diseases, poisoning, and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Some of the most serious causes of vomiting in cats are intestinal obstruction and volvulus. In this case, only emergency assistance from a veterinarian can save your pet’s life.

Types of vomiting in cats and kittens:

A cat vomits blood - the most dangerous vomit!

Cat vomits white foam

Cat vomits yellow liquid

Causes of vomiting in cats:

The reasons may vary, but they are all indicators that your pet has health problems and will need help.

Sometimes, of course, cats themselves provoke vomiting in order to free the esophagus or stomach from a foreign object that has entered it, for example, trichobezoar is a common phenomenon (an accumulation of hair in the animal’s stomach and the formation of a coma from it).

If the cat is not bothered by the trichobezoar, then vomiting can be caused by:

• viral infections;
• diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
• banal poisoning;
• the presence of worms and other parasites;
• tumors;
• bacterial diseases.

In general, vomiting is a common accompanying symptom of almost all diseases. Even under normal stress, a cat can vomit.

Usually, vomiting is accompanied by a couple of other signs of a particular disease, for example, lethargy, apathy, diarrhea, poor appetite, and increased body temperature. The only thing that should be well remembered when vomiting occurs is that you should never try to cure the animal yourself; in such situations only a doctor can help.

Self-diagnosis

The appearance of vomiting and the behavior of the kitten cannot make a final diagnosis, but the owner can assess the general condition of the animal and make a preliminary decision on its treatment. If something changes later, the decision may need to be revised.

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Encouraging signs

You don’t have to worry too much and limit yourself to home treatment if the following easily noticeable signs are observed:.

• The kitten vomited undigested or poorly digested food once - this happens from overeating.
• The kitten behaves actively, does not refuse water and food, and no additional symptoms are observed.
• It was possible to see fur in the vomit.
• The kitten recently arrived in the house and vomiting is not accompanied by a refusal of water, convulsions, or an increase in temperature - most likely, the unusual diet is to blame. It’s worth analyzing it and asking the cat’s owner what kind of food the kitten previously needed.

It is almost certain that if such symptoms are present, the vomiting will stop quickly and there will be no consequences. If the symptoms persist, the help of a veterinarian will still be required.

Threatening symptoms

But there are signs when it is better to immediately seek advice from a specialist..

• A kitten vomits blood - a sign of mechanical damage to the esophagus or stomach or severe internal pathologies.
• Vomiting occurs repeatedly, and bile is present in the mass (it is yellow) - serious disturbances in the functioning of the liver and bile ducts are possible.
• There is white foam in the vomit - this may indicate infection.
• Worms were found in the mass - they should be removed immediately.
• Vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea - a sign of poisoning.
• A kitten refuses to eat and does not drink - a threat to life, whatever the reason.
• Vomiting is accompanied by convulsions, apathy, and fever.

Yes, kittens can vomit (just like children) for minor reasons, “in the mood.” But, if the owner notices at least some threatening signs, he should immediately begin to treat the animal, because otherwise it may be too late.

Cat vomits after eating

When a cat is provoked to vomit after eating, this may indicate problems with the stomach, intestines, and also a very dangerous disease - intestinal obstruction. If the cat vomits once, there is no need to worry; it may be a single reaction of the body to any irritant.

If a cat experiences vomiting more than once, then you should seek professional help from our clinic, since the sooner a cat’s disease is diagnosed, the greater the chance of curing it and saving its life (for example, in the case of intestinal obstruction, days and hours count ).

First aid

If a kitten vomits once, and there is no increase or decrease in temperature, diarrhea, weakness or other symptoms, the owner can try to alleviate the animal’s condition on his own. To do this, you need to put the kitten on a starvation diet and not give it any food (the duration of the diet should not exceed 12 hours). Once every 1.5-2 hours, your pet needs to be given small portions of clean water; this can be done using a syringe without a needle. You can also give the animal baby Smecta.

Once your fur baby feels better and begins to show interest in food, you can start feeding him. Food should be given to the kitten in small portions. To begin with, you can give your pet boiled lean white meat chicken, rice water, chicken broth or medicated food. After some time, the animal can be transferred to its usual diet, excluding from it all fatty, smoked, spicy, and sweet foods.

Treatment of vomiting in a cat

Our specialists begin treatment of vomiting in a cat by collecting anamnesis and additional research. Depending on the existing picture, the doctor prescribes blood and urine tests. If you suspect a particular disease, an X-ray examination, ultrasound, special tests, samples, and so on will be necessary.

Before your cat is taken to the hospital, you will need to relieve her condition. To do this, stop feeding and watering the animal.

Never try to induce vomiting in a cat yourself unless you are sure that it has not eaten any chemicals or liquids, because then the animal will only get worse, because poisons leaving the stomach through the esophagus have a destructive effect on the organs. Therefore, the only thing you can do is to make sure that the cat does not eat anything else until it is examined by a doctor.

Dietary food for vomiting: the kitten has eaten too much, what to do?

Vomiting occurs when the kitten has eaten too much. Then it is necessary to establish its nutrition. Undigested food often causes cramps. For the first 10 hours the animal remains without food. This is a beneficial fast that allows you to calm down an irritated gastrointestinal tract. Water is not excluded from the diet at all. It is necessary to water the kitten. If he doesn't drink himself, the owner takes matters into his own hands. After some time, you can introduce milk.

Diet for vomiting

Avoid heavy, salty and spicy foods. If the main food is dry food, then for the duration of the diet it is better to purchase special medicinal types. You can add boiled chicken, boiled rice or baby food to your diet.

Diarrhea and vomiting in cats

A single vomiting in a cat with fur is quite common, but diarrhea and vomiting in cats is already a reason to contact a veterinarian .

1. Try to remember when the cat first vomited, how often it occurs, what its consistency is, and whether there are any other symptoms.
2. Pay special attention to the color of the vomit: yellow and especially green, it signals that the cat has serious problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Also, vomiting with mucus indicates chronic gastritis and even worms. Especially if mucus is also present in the stool.

What to do when a cat vomits

What to do if your cat is vomiting depends on the nature of its manifestation. If a cat is tearing its hair, then it is worth monitoring it more carefully and combing it more often. If you are vomiting with bile and mucus, then you should contact a veterinarian who will check the condition of the gastrointestinal tract for the absence of pathologies.

A single vomiting of white foam is usually not dangerous, since it is caused by a lack of food in the stomach.

If your pet vomits blood, you should immediately contact your veterinarian. This may be a sign that the animal has swallowed a foreign body and it is scratching the walls of the esophagus.

As soon as you notice that your cat is vomiting, do not feed it. If the symptoms do not go away, then it is better to show the animal to a veterinarian, since it is impossible for a non-specialist to independently determine what the cause is.

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