Why is my Cat Vomiting?

Everyone who has a cat knows that cats just seem to throw up from time to time. Whether they have had a hairball they coughed up, or they have been eating the tips off a plant in the home, cats can vomit occasionally without being sick. This kind of vomiting is not usually cause for concern, but what about more persistent vomiting?

There are many reasons that your cat might be vomiting. Knowing when to take your cat to the vet for vomiting can be critical for your cat’s well-being.  If you are ready to learn some more about the reasons that your cat might be vomiting, you need to read on!

cat vomiting

Reasons That Cats Vomit

Listed below are the 6 main causes of cat vomiting:

1. Poisoning

Poisoning is one of the most serious of the reasons that your cat might be vomiting. You will need to get your cat to the veterinarian right away if you believe that they are vomiting after ingesting a poison. Vomiting in response to toxicity is usually far more violent than normal vomiting and might be continuous.

There might also be blood in the vomit, and your cat could have diarrhea as well. There are different kinds of toxins that your cat could have ingested, but most of them need to be removed from your cat’s system right away to prevent them from losing their life. Poisoning cases require the attention of a vet as soon as possible.

2. Kidney Failure

This condition usually impacts older cats, but in some cases, it can also be the reason for a younger cat’s vomiting. Kidney failure is common in cats as they age, and when kidney function tapers off, vomiting is usually one of the first symptoms. Cats with kidney failure might also look a bit thin and weak, or their coat might be dull and dry.

Kidney failure can be managed in the early stages of the disease with some changes to diet and by adding medications to your cat’s daily routine. Your vet will be able to assess the severity of the kidney failure your cat is dealing with and help make a plan to care for them.

3. Diet

Changes in diet can lead to vomiting in cats from time to time as well. If you have gotten a new cat food and your cat has been vomiting after they eat, you might want to consider their new food the culprit for the vomiting. Make sure that you transition your cat to a new pet food slowly so that you do not shock their system with a completely different food formula.

Diet changes can cause long-term and persistent vomiting that can lead to other serious health concerns for your cat. You can seek advice from your vet if you think that your cat’s food is the reason for their vomiting. There are sensitive stomach food blends as well as allergy-friendly foods that might be perfect for your cat’s needs.

4. Foreign Body

If your cat has eaten something that cannot be digested, they might be vomiting because of this item being lodged in their digestive tract. This is not as common in cats as it is in dogs, but cats do sometimes ingest things that are not edible. This kind of problem typically cannot be resolved without surgery, and you will need your vet to take a look at the situation with an x-ray to confirm that this is the best course of action. You might not have been aware that your cat ingested something that could not be digested, but if you are noticing persistent vomiting, blood in your cat’s vomit, and general discomfort or stressed behavior, this is likely one of the possible reasons for your cat’s vomiting.

5. Infectious Diseases

There are a variety of infectious diseases that can cause persistent vomiting in cats. Feline infectious peritonitis, feline panleukopenia, heartworm, and many other conditions can also be linked with the symptom of vomiting. These conditions can be more difficult to diagnose on your own. The only common thread with these different infectious conditions is that they will grow progressively worse over time if your cat does not see a vet. Making sure that you rule out these reasons for your cat’s vomiting is important. Many of these conditions are quite serious in the later stages of the disease, and all of these conditions can be life-threatening when they are left untreated.

6. Hairballs

Some cats struggle with hairballs related to grooming more than others. If your cat has a long coat as well, they are much more likely to suffer from persistent vomiting due to hairballs. There are various over-the-counter treatments to prevent this, but you might also want to take your cat to the vet to be evaluated. It can be easy to confuse more serious medical conditions with simple hairball vomiting, and you don’t want to mistake a serious health concern for a hairball problem.

Seek Veterinary Care for Cat Vomiting

There are various reasons that your cat might be vomiting regularly, and most of them require the attention of a veterinarian right away. Make sure that you watch your cat’s overall behavior if they have been vomiting regularly to check for signs of more serious health concerns. Cats are not always the best communicators when it comes to health issues, and you do not want to assume that your cat is experiencing mild vomiting when there is something more serious going on.

Knowing the common reasons for cat vomiting can help you to decide when to take your cat to the vet for medical attention and evaluation. If you have any additional questions or if you need to see a veterinarian, contact EVCC by calling one of our locations. We provide compassionate veterinary care and will be there for you and your pet during an emergency.

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