Vomiting in a cat

Common causes of vomiting in cats

Why does a cat vomit? The most common reasons are the following:

• eating a large amount of food, fast absorption of food, swallowing large chunks;
• taking food after prolonged fasting, in case of rare feeding (food in a bowl in cats, unlike dogs, should be present constantly, since the animal eats often, but little by little);
• the presence of wool in the gastrointestinal tract, which gets into it when licking, accumulates, and then is brought out through the oral cavity;
• poisoning with household chemicals, low-quality food, plants and so on;
• injuries, for example, falling and bruising of the head, spine, damage to internal organs;
• cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, with the help of fresh grass, which cats specifically eat for this purpose;
• the reaction of the pet's body to potent medications in the treatment of any disease;
• feeding newborn kittens – a nursing cat regurgitates partially digested food and "feeds" the cubs so that their digestive tract gradually adapts to future food.

Vomiting in a cat may indicate the presence of a disease that requires diagnosis and the appointment of specific treatment. It can be: cat distemper, enteritis, calicivirosis, helminthiasis, thyroid diseases, pathology of the vestibular apparatus and others.

Pregnancy of a cat as the cause of the gag reflex

Experts did not come to a consensus on the issue of toxicosis in cats during gestation. However, owners of pregnant pets often observe vomiting in them, especially in the morning. As a rule, this phenomenon is caused by hormonal restructuring of the body, occurs in the second week of fetal development, and its duration does not exceed 10-14 days.

If there are no suspicious inclusions in the vomit, the body temperature is normal, the stool is normal, then there is no cause for concern. In the case when the animal's condition worsens, other symptoms join, vomiting becomes abundant, frequent, severe, with impurities, it is necessary to show the cat to a veterinarian. Otherwise, the risk of losing not only the unborn offspring, but also the mother increases.

Why kittens vomit

Small kittens can regurgitate milk when overeating, which is due to the imperfection of the digestive tract, and at an older age – with high physical activity. Other causes may be congenital pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, for example, abnormal development of sphincters of the esophagus or stomach, impaired enzyme production, and so on. You can suspect an infectious disease if there are unusual impurities in the vomit or if the masses have a strange shade.

Is it possible to find out the cause by the appearance of vomit

In some cases, by the appearance or/ and nature of vomiting in cats, it can be assumed that it was the cause.

Concomitant symptoms

In pathological conditions, vomiting in a cat may be accompanied by a number of other symptoms:

• diarrhea;
• lethargy, depression or, on the contrary, anxiety, meowing;
• lack of appetite;
• drooling;
• lacrimation;
• increased thirst or refusal of water.

To make a correct diagnosis, you need to provide a specialist with information about the duration and frequency of vomiting, nutrition features before its onset, and so on.

When you need to see a veterinarian urgently

It is necessary to quickly take the cat to the clinic in the following cases:

• impotence (animal can't get up);
• vomiting does not go away for 1-2 days;
• urges become frequent (more than 3 times a day);
• a cat can't drink water by itself;
• masses of black color, with the smell of feces;
• body temperature rises;
• cramps appeared;
• breathing is impaired;
• repeated vomiting with blood or bile;
• rapid deterioration of the cat's condition.

Vomiting treatment in a veterinary clinic

The treatment of vomiting in a cat depends on its nature: an acute attack is eliminated by symptomatic therapy, and a chronic course requires a thorough examination of the pet (ultrasound, endoscopy, laparotomy) and the use of appropriate methods (medical, surgical, endoscopic). In each case, the therapy will be different. For example, if a lump of wool gets stuck in the stomach or intestines, its removal is carried out by endoscopy, after which anti-inflammatory therapy is shown to the animal.

Obstruction of the pylorus of the stomach, tumors, the presence of foreign objects in the gastrointestinal tract of the pet suggest surgical treatment (sometimes endoscopy). In case of severe inflammatory process in the intestine, the veterinarian may prescribe hormonal medications and supportive medications. Liver and gallbladder diseases require the use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and choleretic agents, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants.

How to help a cat at home

What should I do if my pet is vomiting? First of all, you should put the cat in such a way that the head hangs slightly, which will prevent the contents from getting back into the esophagus.

Pharmacological agents at home should be selected carefully:

• sorbents (Smekta, Enterosgel) will help to relieve intoxication during poisoning;
• taking antiemetic drugs will reduce the frequency of urges (Cerucal);
• to relieve spasms in the gastrointestinal tract, you can eliminate pain with the help of No-shpa;
• Regidron will help restore the water balance, prevent dehydration.

Attention: when poisoning with vomiting, the body tries to remove toxic substances, so it is not recommended to give antiemetics. On the contrary, you can try to trigger a reflex in a cat by pressing on the root of the tongue with your finger, after pre–watering with warm salt water (the larger the volume, the better, until the gag reflex occurs).

You can support your pet by periodically giving him a decoction of chamomile, oats or flax seed. Be sure to give plenty of water. If the animal refuses to drink on its own or cannot, it should be watered with a spoon, poured into the mouth with a syringe or a rubber pear.

How to feed a cat when vomiting

In the clinic, the specialist will definitely recommend putting the cat on a gentle diet or keeping it on hunger strike for 1-2 days. Fasting allows the mucous membrane to recover after vomiting. The presence of an inflammatory process in the gastrointestinal tract prevents the full splitting and assimilation of food, so any food will not only be useless, but will also lead to new attacks.

With a single vomiting, not related to diseases of the digestive tract, it is allowed to feed the animal after a while. As a rule, the cat itself lets you know about it. In such cases, the first meals are a diet menu that excludes fatty, protein products. The diet can include: rice broth, vegetable puree (for example, intended for children), low-fat broth. If the pet is used to industrial feeds, then you need to choose special offers from the category of therapeutic.

Is vomiting dangerous for a pet

Single vomiting in cats, in the absence of a disease provoking it, is not dangerous. A frequent and abundant reflex can lead to serious consequences: the immune system weakens, the body's energy reserves are depleted, the pet becomes vulnerable to infections.

But the main danger is dehydration, especially if vomiting is accompanied by diarrhea. To check whether there is a significant loss of water, you can do the following: grab a piece of skin on the animal's body and pull the fold a little. With a sufficient level of fluid in the tissues, it will quickly straighten out, otherwise the fold will remain or take its original position after a while. The latter option means that the cat needs to be urgently taken to the clinic for urgent measures.

How to prevent vomiting

Preventive measures to prevent vomiting in cats:

• provide high-quality food, balanced in composition, without harmful additives that negatively affect the liver;
• when switching to another diet, introduce it gradually;
• stick to one type of feeding (for example, do not "jump" unnecessarily from dry food to natural);
• timely deworming of the animal;
• vaccinate against infectious feline diseases, coordinate a vaccine delivery plan with a veterinarian and stick to it;
• periodically comb out the pet;
• protect the cat by restricting access to household chemicals, poison for rodents, medicines;
• keep the bowls clean;
• do not allow prolonged fasting or excessive consumption of food by animals.

It must be remembered that vomiting is not only a symptom that speaks of problems in the cat's body, but also a condition potentially dangerous to the animal's life. An attentive owner will be able to guess the cause of vomiting and take the pet to the clinic, or provide home treatment. Compliance with preventive measures will help to avoid an unpleasant situation in the future.