Why Does My Cat Keep Puking? A Comprehensive Guide to Feline Vomiting

Cats are known for being fastidious creatures, and vomiting is not typically part of their normal behavior. However, if your cat is vomiting frequently, it is important to take them to the vet to rule out any underlying medical conditions. There are a number of potential causes of vomiting in cats, including:

• Dietary indiscretion: This is the most common cause of vomiting in cats. Cats are curious creatures, and they will often eat things that they shouldn't, such as plants, toys, or even their own feces. If your cat has eaten something that they shouldn't, it can cause them to vomit.
• Gastrointestinal parasites: Parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms, can also cause vomiting in cats. These parasites can irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines, leading to vomiting.
• Bacterial infections: Bacterial infections, such as salmonella and E. coli, can also cause vomiting in cats. These bacteria can produce toxins that can damage the lining of the stomach and intestines, leading to vomiting.
• Viral infections: Viral infections, such as feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV), can also cause vomiting in cats. These viruses can damage the cells in the stomach and intestines, leading to vomiting.
• Inflammatory bowel disease: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition that can cause vomiting in cats. IBD is characterized by inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. This inflammation can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
• Cancer: Cancer can also cause vomiting in cats. Cancerous tumors can block the passage of food and fluids through the digestive tract, leading to vomiting.

In addition to these medical conditions, there are a number of other factors that can contribute to vomiting in cats, including:

• Stress: Stress can cause vomiting in cats. Stressful events, such as moving, changing homes, or being boarded, can all lead to vomiting.
• Anxiety: Anxiety can also cause vomiting in cats. Anxious cats may vomit when they are feeling threatened or scared.
• Motion sickness: Motion sickness can also cause vomiting in cats. Cats who are sensitive to motion may vomit when they are traveling in a car or on a boat.

If your cat is vomiting frequently, it is important to take them to the vet to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Your vet will perform a physical examination and ask you about your cat's symptoms. They may also recommend blood tests, X-rays, or other tests to help diagnose the cause of your cat's vomiting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are a few common mistakes that people make when trying to treat vomiting in cats. These include:

• Giving your cat over-the-counter medications: Over-the-counter medications, such as Pepto-Bismol and Kaopectate, are not safe for cats. These medications can actually make vomiting worse.
• Changing your cat's diet too quickly: If you need to change your cat's diet, do so gradually over a period of several days. Changing your cat's diet too quickly can cause vomiting.
• Not taking your cat to the vet: If your cat is vomiting frequently, it is important to take them to the vet. Vomiting can be a sign of a serious medical condition.

When to Call Your Vet

You should call your vet if your cat is vomiting more than twice in a 24-hour period. You should also call your vet if your cat is vomiting and has any of the following symptoms:

• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Lethargy
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss
• Fever

Treatment for Vomiting

The treatment for vomiting in cats will depend on the underlying cause. If your cat is vomiting due to dietary indiscretion, your vet may recommend that you change your cat's diet. If your cat is vomiting due to a parasite infection, your vet may prescribe deworming medication. If your cat is vomiting due to a bacterial infection, your vet may prescribe antibiotics.

In some cases, your cat may need to be hospitalized for treatment. This is typically the case if your cat is vomiting frequently and is not able to keep food or water down. In the hospital, your cat will receive intravenous fluids and medication to help stop vomiting.

Prevention

There are a few things that you can do to help prevent vomiting in cats, including:

• Feed your cat a healthy diet: Feed your cat a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Avoid feeding your cat table scraps or other human food.
• Keep your cat away from toxins: Keep your cat away from plants, toys, and other objects that could be poisonous.
• Take your cat to the vet for regular checkups: Take your cat to the vet for regular checkups to make sure that they are healthy and free of parasites.

Vomiting is not typically part of a cat's normal behavior. If your cat is vomiting frequently, it is important to take them to the vet to rule out any underlying medical conditions.

Stories of Cats Who Kept Puking

Story 1:

My cat, Mittens, started vomiting frequently a few weeks ago. I took her to the vet, and they diagnosed her with dietary indiscretion. Mittens had eaten a piece of plastic wrap, and it had caused her to vomit. The vet gave Mittens some medication to help stop vomiting, and I changed her diet to a bland diet. Mittens is now doing much better, and she has not vomited since she started her new diet.

What We Can Learn:

This story teaches us that dietary indiscretion is a common cause of vomiting in cats. It is important to keep your cat away from objects that could be poisonous, and to feed them a healthy diet.

Story 2:

My cat, Oliver, started vomiting frequently a few months ago. I took him to the vet, and they diagnosed him with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). IBD is a chronic condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. The vet gave Oliver some medication to help control his IBD, and I put him on a special diet. Oliver is now doing much better, and he has not vomited since he started his new treatment.

What We Can Learn:

This story teaches us that IBD is a potential cause of vomiting in cats. If your cat is vomiting frequently, it is important to take them to the vet to rule out IBD.

Story 3:

My cat, Sophie, started vomiting frequently a few years ago. I took her to the vet, and they diagnosed her with cancer. The cancer had spread to her stomach and intestines, and it was causing her to vomit. The vet gave Sophie some medication to help relieve her symptoms, and I made her as comfortable as possible. Sophie passed away a few months later.

What We Can Learn:

This story teaches us that cancer is a potential cause of vomiting in cats. If your cat is vomiting frequently, it is important to take them to the vet to rule out cancer.

Pros and Cons of Different Treatments for Vomiting in Cats

There are a number of different treatments for vomiting in cats, each with its own pros and cons.

Pros:

• Medication: Medication can be very effective at stopping vomiting in cats.
• Diet change: A change in diet can help to prevent vomiting in cats with dietary indiscretion.
• Hospitalization: Hospitalization can provide intensive care for cats who are vomiting frequently and are not able to keep food or water down.

Cons:

• Medication: Medication can have side effects.
• Diet change: A change in diet can be difficult for some cats to adjust to.
• Hospitalization: Hospitalization can be expensive.

The best course of treatment for your cat will depend on the underlying cause of their vomiting. Your vet will work with you to choose the best treatment option for your cat.

Call to Action

If your cat is vomiting frequently, it is important to take them to the vet to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Vomiting can be a sign of a serious medical condition, so it is important to get your cat the help that they need.