Why does a cat vomit after eating dry food

Why does a cat vomit after eating dry food? In fact, vomiting after eating can be a symptom of the following diseases:

Cat vomiting after eating dry food: causes and solutions to the problem

Today, most owners use ready-made dry food for their cats. This is convenient, economical and safe, and most importantly, it eliminates fatal errors in the composition of the pet's diet. But what to do if the cat is vomiting after dry food? First of all, you should think about why this happens. Vomiting can be caused by poor feeding habits or by more serious causes.

Not all owners follow the manufacturer's feeding instructions on the package. Some fill the bowl to the brim several times a day, counting the appetite of the animal as the only guide. This approach not only threatens the pet with obesity, but also creates complications in the short term. Once in the stomach, food pellets greatly increase in volume and weight, so an excess of them in a single serving often causes vomiting.

To be fair, it should be noted that cats in the majority are not prone to overeating. But there are exceptions: for example, animals found on the street and suffered a long period of malnutrition or even starvation, forever become inordinate in food.

If a cat vomits after dry food, the first thing to do is to establish a feeding regimen:

The cat swallows food quickly.

This can be a problem even when the cat eats strictly according to the norm. Swallowing food too quickly can be due to competition (if there are several pets in the house) or, again, to starvation once experienced. If the cat is vomiting from dry food and you notice excessive rushing when eating, the following advice can be given:

• Provide a quiet environment for the pet during feeding – away from passable areas of the house, in the absence of other animals (if any);
• Get a special bowl with a protrusion that will slow down the eating of the dry food, or reduce the portion size by dividing the daily food intake into three to four servings instead of two.

What may be the causes of vomiting

The following are possible causes if a cat vomits undigested food.

Hurried eating

Due to habit, cats may eat hurriedly but drink little. Lack of fluid in the body leads to vomiting. In this case, a little water is added to the food. But do not wait for the pellets to swell, as such a treat may not even be to the cat's taste.

Please note! Food diluted with water will swell in the stomach. Consequently, the standard portions should be slightly reduced.

Overeating

Can a cat vomit after eating dry food? Cats don't have a stopcock that will stop them when their stomachs are full. They will eat as much as there is in the bowl. When overeating, the pet's stomach doesn't have time to stretch to accommodate the incoming food volume and gets rid of the excess in a simple way.

This phenomenon is especially common for owners of several pets who fight over food. Everyone tries to get a bigger piece for himself and no longer cares about the amount of food.

Important! After vomiting the cat may ask for food again. In this case it is necessary to limit the food intake. It is important that the pet chews food, not swallows.

Poor quality diet

If the cat is kept on economy class or cheap food, vomiting is quite predictable. The animal's body must have enough complete protein to assimilate the food it receives. If the cat vomits food, the reason may lie in the lack of this element. Cheap foods have very little meat and are replaced with by-products. Also the preservatives and additives in the food have a negative effect on the stomach, provoking vomiting.

Important! Do not keep your pet on dry food year-round, he needs natural food as well. Food scraps from the table do not count as natural food, as some of them can cause even more harm to the pet.

Component intolerance

Why does a cat vomit after dry food? She may be allergic or intolerant to the components of the food, especially if it is cheap. Wheat or corn is added to many of these foods.

When symptoms need to be seen at the clinic

If the cat vomited food once, it is too early to panic. You should pay attention to the cat's condition: whether his eyes are shining, his nose is cold and he is in a good mood – sluggish or energetic. Perhaps there is nothing wrong with his health and the vomiting is caused by overeating.

If the cat vomits food regularly, is accompanied by malaise and an admixture of blood or bile in the expectorated masses, the animal should be taken to the doctor for examination. Especially if the vomit is yellow or green in color.

If this cannot be done soon, first aid should be given. It consists of a limited intake of water and food: the latter is fed in small pieces every 2 hours. Products suitable only easily digestible: boiled chicken, cottage cheese or baby food.

Important! Do not put off going to the clinic. Regular vomiting can be a signal of dangerous diseases.

"Someone just eats too much!"

Overeating is another common reason a cat vomits from dry food, with pellets very often being just the "last straw." When feeding indiscriminately the most different foods during the day, which is practiced by many owners, tirelessly treating their pet with cottage cheese, sour cream, meat, fish, and even sausage and cookies, the stomach becomes full, and dry food in it already "does not fit". In addition, different foods require different digestion time – when they are mixed, digestion is greatly hampered, and the body seeks to get rid of excess food.

To vomiting is not repeated, it is necessary to establish and streamline the feeding of the pet, to eliminate all kinds of treats. People only seem to give a little, but multiply the weight of each bite by 18 (about the same difference in weight between an average person and a cat) and you get the full portion of food, sometimes taking up almost half of the daily norm. Dry food should also be strictly dosed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommended rate, rather than pouring it by eye. The portion should be divided into two feedings and given morning and evening.

Wool lumps in the stomach

Cats' tongues are studded with sharp, pointing back toward the throat, spines, or papillae, which allow them to take very good care of their fur. The flip side of this process is the involuntary swallowing of hairs without any opportunity to spit them out. Cats' stomachs and intestines may gradually accumulate a lot of hair, which forms a thick lump, and this is especially a problem for long-haired animals.

When these clumps become large, they interfere with digestion and cause vomiting after a meal. As a preventive measure, you should regularly give animals a paste to remove the hair.

Mixing different foods

Another cause of vomiting is related to the excessive "care" for the beloved cat to eat as abundant and diverse as possible. Trouble is almost inevitable when other foods are added directly to the dry food that simply can't digest properly together with it. For example, adding raw meat to dry food or even giving it to the cat shortly before eating can cause vomiting, because the raw food needs much more time and enzymes to digest. Digestion is severely impeded and can stop completely, resulting in vomiting.

Topping up the dry food with milk or giving it right before eating is also a bad idea. If the cat doesn't have enough lactase to digest it, the result will be the same. The same reaction can come from adding broth or (real case!) liquid from a can of canned tuna, and so on. Individually, dry food and all of these foods can be digested, together they cannot.

We advise you not to mix dry food and other products in one bowl, and if you want to diversify the cat's diet, choose complete wet food for him and give it separately from dry food at different meals.

Cat vomits after dry food due to "greed

Quick, ravenous ingestion of food can also be the cause of vomiting, because such ravenous ingestion swallows too much air, which fills the stomach and prevents normal digestion. Of course, this problem is more often encountered by dog owners, because those animals have developed the instinct to eat quickly, because, as they say, in a large pack "they don't click their beaks." But also lonely cats can get into a situation where you need to eat food as quickly as possible, for example, if there are several pets, and among them there are those who are just trying to encroach on the content of the neighbor's bowl.

It is best to separate cat canteens, if not in different rooms, then at least in different corners or levels, e.g. one to feed on the floor, the other on the windowsill, etc.

Treatments

Help from the veterinarian is needed if the vomiting continues for more than a day, the cat vomits several times a day after each meal or even without food. If the vomit has an admixture of blood or bile, no appetite and the cat refuses to drink water – help from a specialist is needed immediately.

After examination, the veterinarian will suggest further examination, if necessary, make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment.

Medication therapy

Treatment of vomiting is chosen depending on the causes that caused the condition. When poisoning, enterosorbents are used to prevent the absorption of toxins into the bloodstream, and a sparing diet with plenty of water is prescribed.

If the animal is infected with parasites, anthelmintics are used. They are given per body weight twice with an interval of 7-14 days (see the instructions for each specific drug for details).

In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, antibacterial, enzyme, anti-inflammatory drugs are used, IVs are prescribed. Treatment is carried out under the supervision of a veterinarian. The self-administration of medications can harm the cat, worsen its condition and lead to death.

If vomiting is a secondary symptom of viral infection, the root cause is eliminated. To do this, the cat is prescribed a number of drugs: antiviral and antibacterial, immunomodulatory, nutritional, probiotic and others.

It is necessary to follow all the veterinarian's prescriptions and complete the course according to his recommendations, not when the animal feels better. An untreated ailment can return with double the force.

Diet

In case of repeated vomiting, food should be removed: the cat should be on a starvation diet until the nausea and diarrhea stops. Then, for two days, you should give the cat light food in small portions 5-7 times a day.

Preventing digestive problems

A significant step for every owner should be a regular visit to the veterinarian. For healthy individuals, an annual examination is sufficient, older cats and chronically ill cats need to see the doctor more often.

Vomiting in a cat after eating can be caused by inadequate care. Most veterinarians recommend feeding your pet only quality food and pouring clean and distilled water every day. Portions should be limited – even if you love your cat you shouldn't overfeed him, otherwise he could become obese and cause all the problems that follow.

Comb the cat thoroughly every week. Use a special brush to remove as much hair as possible, which can risk getting into the cat's stomach. During the moulting period, short-haired animals need combing once every two days, long-haired – once or twice a day.

Vaccinate your cat annually against infectious diseases and deworm the cat regularly. This will help maintain the strength of immunity.

Breeders are advised to be attentive, observe the condition and well-being of the pet, notice changes and react to them.

The article is for informational purposes. Contact your veterinarian!

What to feed your cat

A cat won't take vitamins if he's deficient, so all the vitamins and minerals he needs should be in his food. Your pet needs a well-balanced diet. So how to feed your furry friend correctly, how to make sure that the animal gets with food everything it needs for proper development and good health?

• • Firstly, the amount of food should be limited. Feed your pet 2-3 times, in the morning and evening is a must, and lunch can be skipped. Portions should be about the same size each time. It is better to put less food and then add more, rather than the pet overeating and becoming ill.
  • Secondly, the food must be of good quality. Quality does not mean expensive. You can boil your pet's meat and add carrots and other vegetables to it. If you do not want to cook the cat separately, you should ask your veterinarian for advice, he will be able to tell you exactly what food is suitable for a particular breed.
  • Thirdly, the water in the bowl should be clean. Water should be changed and refilled at least twice a day, better to do it in the morning and evening. The furry friend should always have water. You should not experiment and pour the cat mineral water with gas. The cat will not drink water, and it will have to sit all day without water, which is fraught with negative consequences for its body.
  • Fourthly, the four-legged friend needs grass. You can buy seeds for such grass in any pet store, it is inexpensive, grows quickly, and looks like a lawn. Cats love this simple green grass.
  • Fifthly, the diet of the pet must include fish. Fish contains useful micronutrients that a cat needs as a predator.
  • Sixth, if a beloved predator eats what his owner eats (some cats like apples, cucumbers and other products), it is not necessary to wean him. So the nutrients in those foods are necessary for the predator.

  Why a cat vomits after a meal

  If after the next meal the cat vomited dry food, and he has a general weakness and apathy, do not immediately run to the vet. First you just need to find out the source of the problem, observe the actions of your pet. A cat can vomit food for many reasons.

  Overeating

  Cats do not have a distinct sense of satiety, so overeating is one of the most common causes of nausea and vomiting. This happens if the owner does not follow the rules for feeding the cat and offers him a non-standard portion of food.

  When the dry food pellets enter the stomach, they swell, cause discomfort, and contribute to severe pain. Excess can cause not only stomach discomfort, but also nausea or vomiting.

  Hurried eating.

  Many cats give up eating with great interest, regardless of hunger level or body need. This is why swallowing dry food quickly can clog the stomach and is often accompanied by vomiting and general weakness.

  If a cat does not know how to control the speed of eating and often vomits after dry food, there are the following ways to prevent such effects

  • reduce the amount of food, divide the daily rate of dry food into 5-6 meals;
  • use a special bowl with protrusions that will automatically slow down quick eating;
  • Create a comfortable environment for the kitten, make sure that there are no other pets around during the meal.

  

  Following these rules will eliminate the risk of overeating and consequences in the form of kitten vomiting.

  A sudden change in food

  A change of food is always stressful for the cat, which manifests itself not only in the form of a lack of appetite, but also in the occurrence of nausea. If a cat vomits from a new dry food, the following may contribute to this:

  What to do if a cat vomits undigested food

  If a cat vomits from dry food, you first need to determine why this happened, and only then think about what to do in such a situation. A one-time adverse reaction rarely poses a visible threat to the health of the kitten, but it is still necessary to pay attention to such a condition. It is possible to avoid such manifestations if certain requirements are followed:

  • Feeding small portions. The stomach volume of cats is small, so they need a minimum amount of food to be completely physically satiated.
  • Checking the quality of the food. You should not feed your cat dry food if it expired yesterday. One day of expired product can also have unintended consequences.
  • Separate feeding. Dry food is combined only with water, any other products, particularly dairy, can be harmful to the stomach.

  Only the correct and careful approach to the organization of the cat's food will avoid serious complications.

  Important! If quality food, separate food and control of overeating have not stopped vomiting, you need to urgently contact the veterinarian. Often regular vomiting of undigested food indicates serious gastrointestinal disorders.

  Treatment

  The prescription of medications can only be made by a doctor after examining the animal and talking to the owner. The process may involve several stages:

  1. The first time, 6 to 8 hours, the animal should not be fed.
  2. At the end of the break in food intake, a sparing diet is prescribed, depending on the diagnosis.
  3. The cat should be fed in small portions, it may be necessary to use this scheme permanently.
  4. The main diet should consist of cooked poultry meat, lean fish, rice and its broth.
  5. If well-being improves, the menu can be gradually expanded.
  6. When poisoning, antiemetics and detoxifying drugs are prescribed. They should be taken every day for the specified time and in accordance with the instructions for use.

  It is important to monitor the progress of treatment with your doctor. If the condition worsens, a second consultation will be required.

  

  How to avoid vomiting

  If the cause of the cat's vomiting is a faulty diet, simple rules should be followed to prevent repeated episodes:

  • If it is necessary to change cat food, this should be done gradually: replace some of the old food with new food every day;
  • Divide the daily dose of food into smaller portions, and make meals more frequent;
  • Switch the cat to natural food if the food causes vomiting;
  • If there are hair problems, use special food for long-haired cats.

  Vomiting in a cat is an indicator of problems in the organization of life. To eliminate this situation, you will need to analyze all aspects of the pet and find the cause of nausea.

  If this has happened once before, it is important to continually pay maximum attention to the quality of the food and the food schedule.

  💡 On a side note. You can always ask a veterinary nutritionist for help in making a balanced diet for your pet. You do not need to go anywhere for that. On the Veterinarian online you can get a consultation from a veterinary nutritionist at any time from the comfort of your home.