Why does a cat constantly vomit food

A kitten who has recently switched to complementary foods may experience temporary nausea due to the change from mother's milk to more solid food. His stomach needs time to adjust to the new food. This reaction is completely normal and does not require veterinary care.

Cat vomiting after eating – possible causes.

The occurrence of vomiting in pets is a signal of problems in the body systems. Ejection of gastric contents – a peculiar defense mechanism, resulting from a variety of factors.

In representatives of the cat family, the department of the brain responsible for vomiting attacks is remarkably developed. Sometimes the owner notes this phenomenon, when the cat vomits foam or undigested particles of food.

The gag reflex results from the simultaneous contraction of the muscle fibers of the abdomen and diaphragm, changing the intra-abdominal pressure. As a result of muscle contraction, food from the stomach rises sharply up the esophagus.

Vomiting is a defensive reaction, so it should not go unnoticed by the owner. It is important to understand the causes of vomiting and only then prescribe treatment. Independently identify the cause of vomiting in a cat is quite problematic and without the qualified help of a specialist can not do.

Manifestations and causes

In the clinical practice of veterinarians there are cases where vomiting in cats is a one-time phenomenon. But it also happens that the eruption of gastric contents occurs with enviable regularity, acquiring a chronic course.

Making an accurate diagnosis is necessary, because the condition of the pet can worsen, and if there is no help, the pathological process can end in death. Symptoms, the appearance of which requires the intervention of the veterinarian:

• Vomiting in the cat lasting several days;
• frequent attacks of vomiting in the cat (several times a day);
• cat vomits after eating undigested food;
• Vomiting in the cat, even without prior food intake;
• concomitant vomiting with drinking water;
• vomiting in a cat accompanied by admixtures of blood, mucus, bile, or other fluids in the spewed mass.

There are many causes of vomiting and spewing undigested food. The main factors why a cat vomits are:

• Diseases of the liver and kidney structures;
• Inflammatory processes in the pancreas;
• gastritis of a chronic nature;
• malignant and benign tumors of the digestive tract;
• parasitic diseases (helminthiasis), provoking inflammation in the mucous membranes of the digestive tract;
• intestinal obstruction;
• pathological processes in the large intestine;
• severe intoxications of the body;
• Dirofilariosis (cardiac helminths);
• uremia and ketosis;
• highly contagious viral infections (in which the cat has diarrhea and vomiting).

Rarely can the cause of vomiting be determined independently. But if there are helminths in the vomit, the cause is intestinal worm infestation and intoxication of the body as a result of their activities. If a cat vomits frequently, the cause may be intestinal obstruction and if untreated in time, the animal will die.

The main reasons why a cat vomits food

Closely observe the condition and behavior of your four-legged pet to understand the cause of his vomiting. The most common reasons for vomiting after a meal are the following. 1.Overeating When the owner does not feed him appropriately and gives him too much food, he eats more than he needs and feels unwell. Cats' stomachs are physiologically shaped like a hollow tube and their walls cannot stretch much. Cats are not familiar with a pronounced feeling of satiety: they can cram themselves in about a large amount of food and not even notice it. If we're talking about dry food, it gets soaked inside, swells up and begins to press on the walls of the stomach. This causes discomfort. So the best option for the pet to get rid of the discomfort is to get rid of the excess food through vomiting. 2. fast eating. Most whiskers eat with great appetite and too quickly, without chewing and swallowing their food. Large chunks clog the stomach and can injure it. As a result, the cat feels heavy and uncomfortable. To prevent cats from eating their portions too quickly, owners buy them special bowls with protrusions inside. These protrusions prevent them from swallowing large portions. Perhaps the cat also eats the food quickly because it is afraid of rivals – other pets. The presence of a congenie causes the purr to devour its food faster: it is afraid that the food will be taken away from it. 3. Food intolerance
It is not uncommon for pets to suffer from food intolerances. The problem may lie not in the food itself but in a particular food component. Only a visit to the veterinarian is usually sufficient to know what the cat is reacting to. 4. A sudden change in food Introducing unfamiliar foods into a cat's diet puts stress on the cat's body. Change food only when indicated and gradually add the new food to the old food. Increase the ratio of food toward the new food every day until the new food completely replaces the old food. 5. Expired, low quality and too cheap feed Always check the expiration date when buying and make sure the package is intact and undamaged. Carefully read the contents and choose the product, which contains high-quality selected meat in the first place. Such food will be more nutritious and healthier. Don't buy the cheapest foods – the quality of their ingredients leaves much to be desired. It will definitely affect your pet's well-being.
6. A mixed diet A combination of dry and wet food from different brands that don't mix well with each other, inappropriate treats and, most importantly, mixing ready-made food and products from the human table in the same diet can cause cat nausea. All of this should not be done categorically. Do not mix foods if you are not sure that they go together, and even more so do not give your cat your favorite delicacies. 7. Lack of fluids When a cat doesn't drink enough, he may vomit after a meal. The cat should always have a clean bowl of clean water readily available and it should be replaced every day. If the cat doesn't drink from the bowl, try replacing the bowl or moving it to a different location. Or get a special drinking fountain for your cat – it's a win-win! 8. Inappropriate food temperature Food that is too cold or too hot can also cause an upset digestive system. Food for the cat should be at room temperature or slightly warmer. 9. Poisoning If vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea, the cat is apathetic and lethargic, you may be dealing with food poisoning. It is better to go to the clinic immediately before the pet gets worse. 10. Gastrointestinal diseases. This may include gastritis, pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel processes. All of these pathologies/diseases should be treated at the veterinary clinic after testing and diagnosis. 11. Helminths The occurrence of helminths in the intestines and can cause intoxication and affect the normal function of the gastrointestinal tract. During this time, the four-legged dog can't eat properly, vomiting and throwing up. To avoid this, it is important not to ignore routine examinations by a veterinarian twice a year and to treat the cat for parasites at least once every 3 months. 12. Hairballs in the gastrointestinal tract. This is the No. 1 problem in long-haired breeds of cats and other pets with heavy shedding. Cats may vomit after eating if a large amount of hair has accumulated in the stomach. To prevent lumps in the stomach, the cat should be combed out regularly.

What to do if the cat vomits food

• Only feed your cat food that has been tested and that is suitable for him and that makes him feel good
• Give food in small portions, according to the feeding guidelines, but do not overfeed.
• Make sure the cat eats slowly and in a quiet atmosphere
• Make sure the cat drinks enough
• Do not mix brands that do not mix well, do not mix ready-made food with food from the table, give the cat useful treats
• Do not change lines without good reason and without consulting a veterinarian
• Food should be changed only when necessary and gradually, over several days. To do this, add new food to the old food, first in small proportions. Gradually replacing the old food completely with the new one.
• To reduce the amount of hair that gets into the cat's stomach comb it regularly. Don't forget about bathing. Even if the cat is not outdoors, experts recommend washing it once every 3-4 weeks. Renewal of derma cells is 21 days, hence the periodicity.

For bathing, use only professional shampoos and conditioners suitable for the type of skin and coat of the pet. Poor quality and unsuitable products can cause hair loss – and the cat will swallow it when washing.

If you've taken all the steps but your cat is still vomiting after eating, contact a professional immediately to find out the cause.

Causes of vomiting in cats

In most cases, vomiting in cats is associated with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. However, there are many more causes of malaise. For convenience, they are divided into two main groups: physiological and pathological.

Physiological causes of vomiting are caused by natural cleansing of the body from unnecessary or unfamiliar foods. Purification of the body occurs against a background of a lack of enzymes necessary for digestion, or irritation of the gastric mucosa. If you adjust the cat's diet and feed it digestible food, the vomiting will go away on its own. There is no need to treat the cat with medication.

– A sudden change in food. If a cat eats the same thing and then tries something new, the body reacts with vomiting and indigestion. The pathological process is associated with a lack of enzymes needed to break down unfamiliar food.

– Hunger. Prolonged interruption of food intake provokes the active production of gastric juice, which corrodes the walls of the stomach and provokes irritation of the mucosa. The cat vomits before or during meals with white or light yellow foam. Such vomiting is called hunger vomiting.

– Overeating. If a cat eats more than it can digest and swallows large chunks of food, some of what it has eaten will spew out along with gastric juice and foam. When overeating, the cat may vomit both during and immediately after eating. The problem is solved by a strict dosage of a single serving.

– Lumps of hair. All cats are very clean, so they lick themselves after every meal or contact with another animal or person. As a result, hairballs accumulate in the stomach, which irritate the mucosa and provoke vomiting.

Usually a cat vomits fur once and the animal's condition quickly stabilizes. But if the vomiting turns brown, see your veterinarian immediately. It is likely that the hair has blocked the lumen of the intestine, and only surgery can get rid of it.

Treatment at home and at the vet

If you notice unusual vomiting in your pet, you should try to help even before you get to the vet. It is important to create a comfortable environment in the home. Never scold your pet for displaying uncontrollable physiological reactions! Monitor the cat carefully, mark in a notebook all unusual phenomena and accompanying symptoms – the veterinarian will be sure to ask about them.

A bowl should have clean, filtered water at room temperature, but food should be put away for the time being – especially if you suspect illness. Separate your pet from pestering from children and other animals. Prepare a comfortable carrier and a warm blanket for transport to the clinic (if it's cold outside).

First aid at home

The very first action is to restrict the pet from eating, unless we are talking about hunger nausea. For twenty-four hours you should not give food – this will reduce the strain on the body. Be sure to look closely at the vomit, so you can describe everything accurately to the doctor. Ideally, take pictures of them. See if there are any accompanying symptoms: is the cat restless, does he spit up, do you hear any complaining noises, etc.

If the cat is vomiting because he is hungry, offer him just a little bit of boiled diet food – chicken or beef broth, a little wet food. Start with one tablespoon of food, then gradually, over two days, increase the portion to a regular portion. At this time, the interval between feedings should be minimal, up to 3 hours.

During the starvation diet, water should be freely available. It is worth using only bottled or filtered liquid – water from the tap will only hurt more. If the condition stabilizes, you can give some boiled rice.

If nausea persists, provide first aid to prevent dehydration. Most likely, the vet on the phone will recommend the following:

Preventive measures and nutrition

To avoid digestive tract problems and other ailments, you should know and follow preventive measures:

1. Vaccinate your pet every year. Deworming should be done every three months.
2. Pay regular visits to the veterinarian, so you will be safe for your pet's health. Healthy animals should have a scheduled visit once a year, while older animals or pets with chronic diseases should have more frequent visits.
3. Choose good veterinary clinics and trusted specialists. Only they will be able to give the right advice and prescribe the right treatment if necessary. Ideally, the pet should have its own therapist.
4. An important preventive measure is a well-formulated diet. It must be of the highest quality possible: Only buy food that has been tried and tested. Do not forget to give herbs for cleansing and recovery.
5. Periodically take good care of the cat's fur. You need to brush, bathe, and clip your cat, especially if he has a long and thick coat. Pay extra attention to your cat's fur during the moulting period.
6. Keep an eye on safety. Keep small and sharp objects, which may be swallowed by the cat, out of easy reach. Put everything in a locker and check the floor regularly.

Don't always panic if your cat vomits white foam – it may well be a one-time physiological reaction. If the attacks recur repeatedly and are joined by suspicious symptoms – consult a veterinarian.

The article is for information purposes only. Contact your veterinarian!

Vomiting or regurgitation?

The more detailed you describe the symptoms, the more accurately and quickly the vet can make a diagnosis.

Not everyone knows that spewing digestive contents out of the mouth is not necessarily "vomiting". It can also be "regurgitation," a slightly different process occurring for other reasons.

The main difference between vomiting and regurgitation is that vomiting is an "active", i.e. "abrupt", "violent, forceful" discharge of vomit. Vomiting involves a sharp contraction of the abdominal wall. Vomit usually contains gastric juice (which can be recognized by an acidic odor). Before vomiting, the cat will usually vomit, which is signaled by, for example, gagging or excessive salivation. The cat swallows saliva, licks its mouth, makes a characteristic sound and sometimes vomits to no avail.

Regurgitation is a "passive" process, occurring without effort and often without any preceding symptoms. While vomiting most often contains components of undigested food, this is rare in regurgitation. If regurgitation occurs frequently, it is important to see your pet's physician. Sometimes regurgitation can indicate a disorder of the esophagus, such as dilation (megaesophagia), stenosis, inflammation (esophagitis), or a foreign body lodged in the esophagus.

Both regurgitation and vomiting can occur before and after feeding, either immediately or after some time.

Why a cat vomits

We've already talked about some of the causes of vomiting above – we'll try to give a fuller overview here.

Causes related to food or eating inedible objects

What kind of problems can food cause? If it is of poor quality and poorly digested, the cat's intestines may not cope with it, and digestive disorders may develop. If the food spoiled Improperly stored or expired or if it has been contaminated by toxic substances – It can cause poisoning of varying degrees of severity.

If the cat is fed the right quality food, possible causes of vomiting include overeatingcaused by starvation (e.g. in a cat rescued from the street). Other possible causes are switching to new food or "night hunger": food that has been in the bowl all night becomes unattractive to the cat, so that when the owner pours a "fresh" portion of food in the morning, the cat eats it greedily, swallowing large quantities of air. This process is not pathological but behavioral, and the problem is solved by adjusting the eating rate (shape and size of the croquettes) and establishing a proper feeding regimen.

Overeating can also result from behavioral disorders. For example, if there is a lack of attention from the owner, lack of play together, or lack of stimuli for species behavior, the cat may stay at the bowl for long periods of time simply out of boredom. This behavior also occurs in cats that Do not have free access to food at all times. If possible, dry food should be in the pet's bowl on a regular basis. Not being able to "eat when you want to" can lead to neurosis. However, you should not leave too much food. A "1/3 of the daily amount for the day and 2/3 for the night" pattern may be used. Food that has been in the bowl for a long time and left uneaten is likely to have become unappealing and may have gone bad, so it should be disposed of.

Why is the cat vomiting? The first thing to know is

There are many possible causes, but first let's answer a few questions:

• How often does the cat vomit – how many times per day, per week?
• Does vomiting occur after eating or after returning from a walk?
• When was our cat last screened? Is she an outdoor cat or not?
• Is there only water in the vomit or is there digested food, bile or plant debris, grass, hair?
• Has the vomiting started or increased after a change in food type?
• Is our cat vaccinated regularly?
• Is the vomiting accompanied by other symptoms, such as diarrhea, blood in the feces, lethargy, lack of appetite, irritability?
• Has the cat been given any medication?

Answering these questions will make it easier to figure out the cause of your cat's vomiting – whether it's a natural symptom or the beginning of an illness.

Possible reasons why a cat is vomiting

Clogging

The cause of vomiting is natural. Vomiting is necessary to rid the digestive tract of hairballs. Vomiting may include grass and hair ingested earlier during licking.

Eating grass irritates the cat's digestive tract and triggers the gag reflex. Some of the grass cleans the digestive tract like a toothbrush, pushing lint into the intestines and anus.

If the hairballs bother us, we can introduce a special food for long-haired cats, or use a regular paste to get the hair out. Also, feeding a cat wet food or meat helps maintain proper intestinal peristalsis and get rid of hair in the stomach.

Food intolerance

In this case, the food is not suitable for the cat and should be changed. Even the best food may simply not work for a particular cat, and switching to a different type of food will help.

With food intolerance, vomiting often occurs after a meal, contains digested food, and is sometimes accompanied by symptoms of feces with blood.

Eating too greedily.

In this case, vomiting usually occurs immediately after a meal, with the cat eating too much and too fast. This sometimes happens with cats who are hungry when they are kittens or who love to eat. Tip: Replace the food with one with larger croutons to get the cat to chew rather than swallow the croutons whole. It's also helpful to introduce food puzzles or special bowls for voracious cats with maze-shaped bottoms.

The solution is to buy special bowls and bowls/toys for voracious cats in which the cat has to make a little effort to get food, and – feed quite often, but in small portions. Don't leave food within reach of the cat all the time.

Worm infestation

Worms, such as roundworms, may be present in the vomit. Worms in the cat's intestines poison the cat with their metabolic products, irritate the intestinal walls, move to the lungs in the course of their development, causing whooping and alternating swallowing or gagging reflexes. We deworm outdoor cats every 3 months and non-outdoor cats every 6 months.

What causes yellow vomiting?

You may have noticed that your cat's vomit is sometimes yellow in color. You may have even guessed that it is related to bile. But what is bile and why does vomit turn yellow?

Bile is a digestive fluid produced in the liver and goes into the intestines to help break down food for digestion.

The yellow color of bile is due to the pigment bilirubin. Bilirubin and the green pigment biliverdin give the poop its "famous" brown color.

This biological characteristic is also common to us humans: when you vomit, you can see streaks of yellow bile.

Vomiting is a natural response to gastrointestinal irritation, and when the contents of your stomach are emptied, it naturally takes some bile with it.

7 reasons why your cat vomits yellow fluid

1. Empty stomach.

Many things can cause your cat to vomit yellow bile, but the most common reason is simply an empty stomach.

When there is no food in the stomach to break down, the bile becomes concentrated and irritates the stomach mucosa, causing nausea and vomiting.

This is usually observed in the morning because the cat has not eaten since the evening. If your cat only occasionally vomits yellow bile and has no other symptoms, this is probably the cause.

2. Hairballs.

Cats spend much of their time licking their hair. While this keeps them clean, it also means that they may ingest a lot of hair.

Hair is poorly digested and can form balls, or trichobezoars, in the stomach. These balls can cause vomiting, nausea, and loss of appetite.

You will usually see hairs in the vomit in this case. If your cat is vomiting yellow fluid and has long hair, a hairball is likely the cause.

Brush your cat regularly, as this will help reduce the amount of hair she ingests during grooming.

Make sure the cat always has fresh, clean water to drink.

3. Gastritis

Another common cause of yellow bile vomiting is gastrointestinal problems such as gastritis or inflammatory bowel disease. These diseases can cause the stomach to produce too much acid, which irritates the gastric mucosa and prevents proper absorption of nutrients.

Acute gastritis in cats usually presents with vomiting and/or diarrhea. In most cases, this condition resolves within 24 hours without any medical intervention. However, if your cat's signs of gastritis persist longer than 24 hours, it is important to see a veterinarian as soon as possible to determine the need for medical attention.

Chronic gastritis, on the other hand, can last much longer, if it goes away at all. Cats with chronic gastritis may experience vomiting and/or diarrhea for weeks or even months.

Symptoms of vomiting in cats

The main sign of nausea in cats is salivation, salivation, the cat "chugs", licks, and often swallows saliva. Nausea may be accompanied by a gag reflex or be unproductive.

Salivation is the norm when riding in a car (cats get carsick, too), and some saliva may be secreted with pleasure, when a cat purrs, pats you on the cheek, and looks extremely satisfied. "Chomping" and constant tongue movements can be a symptom of dental disease. And inability to swallow and salivating can be a symptom of a dangerous infection, rabies.

Vomiting in cats can be confused with belching (regurgitation) and with coughing. If in doubt, videotape the process and show it to your doctor at your appointment. In true vomiting, the cat assumes a characteristic posture, it archs, its abdominal wall muscles contract, vomiting may be accompanied by specific guttural sounds, owners describe it with the words "cat vomits".

Varieties of vomiting

Previously, we tried to describe the most common causes of vomiting in cats. Let's try to look at the different types of vomiting and assume for which diseases they are characteristic.

• Vomiting white foam. White foam is gastric juice and saliva. Such vomiting is found in gastritis. It is white foam vomiting – a typical variant of "hungry" vomiting in cats.
• Vomiting transparent mucus. Most likely in such vomit masses is dominated by saliva. Severe nausea and salivation can be with gastritis, pancreatitis, and foreign bodies in the oral cavity.
• Vomiting gray masses.. Take a closer look, you will most likely notice wool in such a mass. Such vomiting may be a variant of normal if it does not occur frequently and is not accompanied by a lack of appetite and apathy. If gray vomiting is more frequent, the cat may be itching and licking too much, or it may have abnormal molting.

• Vomiting green liquid. Such vomiting can be a dangerous symptom of intestinal obstruction in cats, especially if the vomit has a strong foul odor.
• Vomiting with blood, vomiting red fluid. Scarlet blood in the vomit, most often a sign of burst blood vessels in the esophagus with severe tenesmus (straining when vomiting) and repeated vomiting. This vomiting can also be when blood is swallowed from the oral cavity (diseases of the gums, oral mucosa, neoplasms in the mouth).
• Black vomiting. Vomiting the color of coffee grounds is digested blood in the vomit. Such vomiting can be caused by severe diseases of the stomach – ulcers, neoplasms.
• Vomiting yellow fluid. This is vomiting with a mixture of bile. It occurs with cholecystitis, cholestasis (diseases of the gallbladder), with diseases of the liver, stomach and duodenum.

Treat simple cases at home

Start by reconsidering diet. If the pet is overeating or starving, the number of feedings and the breaks between them should be changed.

Purchase sprouted oats or special treats that dissolve bezoars to stimulate hair output. Never get grass from the street – it is often sprayed with chemicals during rat poisoning.

In case of pregnancy or a recent vaccination the nausea will pass on its own, so all that remains is to observe the animal's well-being. If the cat is vomiting more and more often – ask your veterinarian what to do. The medications recommended for first aid and the specifics of their use can be told right over the phone. This is very convenient if you cannot visit the vet clinic in the near future.

Position the pet's head slightly below the rest of the body. This will prevent backflow into the esophagus. Under no circumstances give antiemetics, as this will aggravate intoxication.

To restore the water balance is suitable Regidron, to eliminate painful spasms – No-shpa, and for the withdrawal of toxic products – Enterosgel or Smecta. Additionally give chamomile decoction, a beneficial effect on the mucosa. All the above drugs are given strictly after the doctor's permission and indication of the necessary dosage.

To restore the damaged gastric membrane will help starvation diet. Its duration should not exceed 2 days in an adult animal and 1 day in a kitten. During the first days, the diet should consist of mucous porridge, light broths and vegetable puree. When feeding dry food, a line of foods recommended for gastrointestinal diseases will do – ideally, it is better to change the dried food to pates or pouches.

Preventing gastrointestinal problems

To prevent new cases of vomiting in the cat will help to adjust the diet and prevention of diseases affecting the gastrointestinal tract. To do this, it is necessary to:

1. Avoid overeating and starvation. Follow your veterinarian's recommendations and avoid long pauses between feedings.
2. Keep hazardous substances out of the reach of pets. In addition to household chemicals and medications, keep trash cans that lure curious whiskers with their scent hidden away.
3. Avoid toys with small parts that can be swallowed.
4. Adhere to annual vaccinations and quarterly worming treatments.
5. Visit the veterinarian at least once a year. Regular tests and basic examinations will help to detect hidden abnormalities.
6. Avoid stressful situations. Be sure to use anti-stress medication before traveling in transportation or moving.

Remember, it's better to consult a veterinarian for all questions that arise, rather than trusting the advice of relatives or acquaintances. In most cases self-treatment leads to aggravation, rather than solving the problem.

If the cat or cat vomits – do not panic and try to assess the situation. If you follow preventive measures, the probability of pathological causes is extremely small, so you can handle the situation yourself.

But the owners of kittens should be more attentive. Dehydration in babies occurs much faster, so to be safe, it is better to confirm your assumptions at the veterinary clinic.

This article is for information purposes only. Contact your vet!