Why Is My Cat Throwing Up?

If you’re a new cat owner, your cat’s health must be your primary concern. Questions like “why is my cat throwing up?” or “Why is my cat looking so ill?” always seem to haunt new pet parents. So, if you’re interested to find out the reasons why your cat is vomiting a lot, stick with us till the end. 

Causes of Cat Vomiting 

Cats can vomit for a lot of different reasons, and the reasons vary from cat to cat. In most cases, the vomiting is a short-lived affair and resolves without any treatment. However, there are cases when the vomiting is excessive and requires urgent treatment. A delay in these situations can cause the cat’s condition to worsen gradually over time and may need urgent medical treatment. So, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Let’s have a look at some of the reasons why your cats can throw up constantly – 

Food Allergies 

Just like humans and all other animals, your furry friends can also develop food allergies. This usually happens if you’ve changed your cat’s diet. After a change in diet, your cat may start throwing up constantly and can also experience bowel abnormalities. 

This is when you know that the food does not suit your pet. The best solution to this problem would be to withdraw any kind of diet that makes your cat feel sick. 

Hairballs 

A common vomiting pattern in cats is throwing up hairballs. In the majority of cases, it is a common phenomenon and usually nothing to worry about. 

Since cats have a habit of licking themselves constantly, they end up swallowing a few furs. Furs and hairs cannot be digested by cats, which causes them to vomit the undigested portions out in the form of hairballs.  

If the size of the hairballs is unusually big or if the frequency of vomiting is more, it is a good idea to opt for veterinary treatment. 

Gastroenteritis

Gastroenteritis is a common alimentary system disorder. It refers to an inflammation within the gut. Gastroenteritis in cats can occur for a different number of reasons, some of which include side effects of drugs, frequent changes in dietary habits, food toxins, etc. 

In this case, the bowel pattern becomes abnormal, and the cat vomits everything with a huge amount of bile. It is a serious medical issue and requires urgent treatment. 

Ingestion of Foreign Bodies 

This is a common reason why your cat throws up constantly. Kittens are very playful creatures and love to play with toys. Apart from toys, they often love to play with foreign objects like a hairband, string, plastic substance, etc. 

If your cat ends up ingesting any of these foreign bodies, it can cause serious health issues. The foreign bodies can impact the alimentary tract and cause severe discomfort. 

Usually, your cat throws up constantly, and the condition of your pet can deteriorate. If you find yourself in such a situation, immediately transfer your pet to a nearby health care facility. 

Inflammatory Bowel Disease 

Another medical disorder in cats that can cause severe vomiting is inflammatory bowel disease. Sometimes different toxins and food eating patterns can cause inflammation of the gut resulting in inflammatory bowel disease. In this condition, along with vomiting, cats also experience bowel abnormalities like severe diarrhea and loss of appetite. 

Chronic Illnesses 

If your cat is throwing up several times a week, there’s a high chance that it has an underlying chronic illness. 

Severe vomiting is a common symptom in chronic diseases like thyroid disorder, renal impairment, and acute pancreatitis. If you’ve been noticing a change in bowel habit, loss of appetite, excessive crying, along with vomiting in your cat, try to consult the right vet before the condition worsens. 

Cancer 

A serious condition where vomiting occurs every hour is cancer. Cats can develop cancers within any system. However, cancers of the gastrointestinal system are more common in felines. 

If the cancer is benign, it can be treated with appropriate medication. But with malignant cases, surgery may be required. In the case of cancer, cats experience indigestion, weight loss, along with vomiting. 

Cat Vomiting: When to Worry 

Vomiting in cats once or twice a month may not be an alarming situation. Especially if the content is hairball, there’s nothing to worry about. 

However, any change in the size of the hairball, frequency, color, consistency, or duration of vomiting can indicate something serious. Moreover, if multiple signs and symptoms accompany vomiting, it can be a matter of concern. 

Here are some symptoms that indicate a severe medical disorder in your furry friends: 

• Indigestion 
• Loss of appetite 
• Chronic diarrhea 
• Fever  
• Weakness and inactivity 
• Aggressive behavior 
• Constant meowing 
• Weight loss 

If you notice any of these symptoms within your pets along with throwing up, the best solution would be to consult your veterinarian. 

How to Prevent Cat Vomiting?

You can easily prevent your cat from vomiting if you’re careful about some of its habits. By following certain preventive measures, you can make sure that your cat remains healthy and does not throw up constantly: 

Maintain a Balanced Diet for Your Cat  

The best way to prevent any inflammation within the stomach and gut is to ensure that your cat eats healthy and does not eat too much. Talk to your vet to rule out any food allergies and come up with a meal plan that is well-balanced and nutritious.   

Keep an Eye Out for Foreign Objects  

Although you cannot stop your cat from playing with toys, a good idea would be to replace small and easily ingestible toys with larger and hard toys. This will prevent your cat from eating foreign objects and ensure maximum safety. 

Routine Health Check-Ups  

Take your cat to health care facilities for routine health check-ups once or twice a year. If your cat is experiencing different unusual symptoms, consult your vet and opt for blood tests or an X-ray to be safe. The earlier you can diagnose a medical condition, the sooner you can start the treatment. 

Prevent Cat Vomit of Hairballs 

If your cat falls into the category of long hair or extensive fur, it is best to consult your vet to prescribe some medication to prevent hairball vomiting. You can groom your cat or use some products to keep its hair growth at bay. 

Final Words

Bringing it to the end, it can be said that cats can throw up when they are going through some stress, medical disorder, systemic illness, or food allergy. To make sure your cats are healthy and in good shape, it is important to perform routine check-ups for them and follow their vets’ instructions.

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