Cat Vomiting is a common issue that can be unsettling for pet owners. While occasional vomiting might not be a cause for immediate alarm, frequent or severe vomiting can indicate an underlying health problem. Understanding the potential reasons behind cat vomiting and knowing when to seek veterinary care is crucial for every cat owner. This article will guide you through the common causes of cat vomiting, what different types of vomit might mean, diagnostic procedures your vet might recommend, and available treatment options.
Questions Your Vet Will Ask About Cat Vomiting
When you take your cat to the veterinarian for vomiting, be prepared to answer a series of questions. These questions are designed to help your vet narrow down the potential causes and determine the best course of action. Providing detailed and accurate answers is vital for effective diagnosis and treatment. Here are some common questions your veterinarian might ask:
- Was your cat exposed to plants or other toxins? This is important because many household plants and substances are toxic to cats and can induce vomiting. Knowing about potential exposure helps rule out poisoning.
- When did the vomiting start? The duration and onset of vomiting are significant. Sudden, acute vomiting differs from chronic, intermittent vomiting and can suggest different underlying issues.
- What is your cat’s normal diet? Dietary indiscretions, sudden diet changes, or food allergies/intolerances can all lead to vomiting. Information about your cat’s regular food is essential.
- Does your cat go outside, and if so, does your cat hunt? Outdoor cats have more exposure to parasites, infections, and may ingest things they shouldn’t, such as prey animals or scavenged food, increasing the risk of vomiting.
- What is in the vomit? Describing the appearance of the vomit – color, consistency, and contents – provides valuable clues. Is it food, bile, hairballs, or something else?
- Is your cat on any medication? Certain medications can have vomiting as a side effect. Knowing about any medications your cat is taking is important.
- Is there also diarrhea? Vomiting and diarrhea together can suggest gastrointestinal upset or systemic illness. Whether both are present helps determine the scope of the problem.
- Is your cat eating? Changes in appetite, especially refusal to eat, alongside vomiting can be a sign of a more serious condition.
- When does the vomiting occur (in relation to eating or other activities)? Vomiting immediately after eating might suggest rapid eating or food intolerance, while vomiting at other times could indicate different issues.
- Is your cat losing weight? Weight loss accompanying vomiting, particularly chronic vomiting, can be a sign of malabsorption, chronic illness, or other serious conditions.
- Is your cat drinking a lot or urinating a lot? Increased thirst and urination, along with vomiting, can be symptoms of systemic diseases like kidney disease, diabetes, or hyperthyroidism.
- Does your cat play with string or toys that could be ingested? Cats are notorious for playing with and sometimes swallowing string, yarn, or small toy parts. These can cause intestinal blockages leading to vomiting.
Answering these questions thoroughly will give your veterinarian a much clearer picture of your cat’s situation and guide them towards the most appropriate diagnostic steps.
Decoding Cat Vomit: What the Appearance Means
The appearance of your cat’s vomit can offer initial clues, though it’s not a definitive diagnosis in itself. Describing the vomit accurately to your vet is still very helpful. Here’s what different types of vomit might suggest:
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Yellow vomit: Yellow vomit typically indicates the presence of bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. While it can be a sign of liver issues, it more commonly occurs when a cat vomits on an empty stomach. It can also simply mean your cat ate something yellow.
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Clear vomit: Clear vomit can be either regurgitation from the esophagus or vomit originating from an empty stomach. Regurgitation is often a passive process, expelled without strong abdominal contractions, and may occur shortly after eating. Vomiting clear fluid from an empty stomach might be due to mild irritation.
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White, foamy vomit: Similar to clear vomit, white, foamy vomit often indicates regurgitation or vomiting from an empty stomach. The foamy appearance is due to air mixing with stomach fluids.
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Blood in the vomit (Hematemesis): The presence of blood in vomit is always a cause for concern. Fresh, bright red blood suggests bleeding from the mouth, esophagus, or stomach. Any amount of blood in the vomit warrants veterinary attention.
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Coffee-ground appearance to the vomit: Vomit that looks like coffee grounds indicates digested blood. This means the blood has been in the stomach long enough to be partially digested by stomach acids. This type of vomit is often associated with bleeding in the stomach, commonly from ulcers.
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Brown, smelly vomit: Brown vomit can be due to several reasons. It might indicate bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract where the blood has been digested, similar to coffee-ground vomit but potentially more significant. It can also occur if your cat has eaten something brown and, well, smelly, such as feces – a less pleasant but possible scenario.
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Undigested food in the vomit: Vomiting undigested food shortly after eating can suggest rapid eating and regurgitation. However, if it occurs several hours after eating, it indicates that the food hasn’t left the stomach properly. This can happen due to food intolerances or allergies, gastrointestinal obstructions, or various conditions causing upper gastrointestinal irritation. It’s crucial to note when your cat last ate in relation to vomiting undigested food. Vomiting undigested food a day after eating, for example, strongly suggests a possible obstruction or a motility disorder preventing food from moving through the digestive tract.
Understanding the appearance of the vomit provides valuable information for your veterinarian, helping them to narrow down the potential causes of your cat’s vomiting and guide further diagnostic steps.
Veterinarian Examination and Diagnostic Tests for Cat Vomiting
Following your detailed history and observation of the vomit, a thorough physical examination by your veterinarian is the next crucial step. During the exam, your vet will look for various signs that can help pinpoint the cause of vomiting. These include:
- Abdominal pain: Palpating the abdomen helps identify tenderness or pain, which could indicate inflammation, infection, or obstruction.
- Masses in the abdomen or elsewhere: The vet will check for any abnormal lumps or masses that could be tumors, enlarged organs, or foreign bodies.
- Obvious foreign body: Sometimes, a foreign object, like string caught under the tongue, can be readily visible and explain the vomiting.
- Evidence of weight loss: Weight loss is assessed to determine if the vomiting is part of a chronic issue affecting nutrient absorption or overall health.
- Heart murmur: Heart conditions can sometimes contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms, so listening to the heart is part of a comprehensive exam.
- Enlarged thyroid gland: Hyperthyroidism, a common condition in older cats, can cause vomiting, and an enlarged thyroid gland might be palpable.
- Fever: Fever indicates infection or inflammation in the body, which could be related to the vomiting.
The physical exam findings, combined with the history you provide, help your veterinarian decide which diagnostic tests are necessary, if any.
Abdominal X-rays and Blood Work
If further investigation is warranted, initial diagnostic tests typically include abdominal radiographs (X-rays) and blood work with a urinalysis.
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X-rays: Abdominal X-rays are valuable for visualizing the internal organs. They can reveal:
- Abnormalities in organ size and shape.
- Foreign bodies that are radiopaque (dense enough to be seen on X-ray), although not all foreign objects are visible.
- Tumors or masses.
- Constipation or bowel obstructions.
- Other structural abnormalities not detectable during a physical exam.
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Blood work and Urinalysis: Blood tests are essential for assessing organ function and detecting systemic diseases. A complete blood count (CBC) and serum biochemistry panel can reveal:
- Organ dysfunction, particularly of the liver and kidneys.
- Endocrine disorders like diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism.
- Signs of infection or inflammation.
- Electrolyte imbalances.
A urinalysis, performed alongside blood work, is crucial for diagnosing conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections, which can sometimes manifest with vomiting. Blood work can also provide clues if toxin exposure is suspected, such as antifreeze poisoning. However, specific toxin tests are often limited, and diagnosis often relies on a history of potential exposure and classic clinical signs.
Barium Study, Ultrasound, and Endoscopy
Often, initial X-rays do not provide a definitive diagnosis beyond identifying obvious foreign bodies or significant organ abnormalities. In such cases, further abdominal imaging and diagnostic procedures may be necessary:
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Barium Study: A barium study involves giving the cat barium, a contrast agent, orally or rectally, and then taking a series of X-rays over time. This helps visualize the gastrointestinal tract in motion and can identify:
- Foreign objects that are not radiopaque and therefore not visible on regular X-rays.
- Motility issues within the intestines, such as slow transit or blockages.
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Ultrasound: Abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves to create detailed images of the internal organs. It is particularly useful for assessing the architecture and internal structure of organs like the liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines. Ultrasound can help detect:
- Tumors or masses within organs.
- Inflammatory changes in organ tissues.
- Gallbladder or pancreatic issues.
- Fluid accumulation in the abdomen.
- Ultrasound can also be used to guide fine needle aspirates or biopsies of organs for definitive diagnosis.
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Endoscopy: Endoscopy involves inserting a flexible tube with a camera and light source into the gastrointestinal tract. This allows direct visualization of the lining of the esophagus, stomach, upper intestines (duodenum), and colon. Endoscopy is valuable for:
- Locating and sometimes retrieving foreign objects in the stomach that are not visible on X-rays.
- Directly examining the mucosal lining of the gastrointestinal tract for inflammation, ulcers, or tumors.
- Collecting biopsy samples of the stomach and intestinal lining for microscopic examination to diagnose conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or cancer.
Exploratory Surgery
In cases of persistent vomiting that cannot be controlled with symptomatic treatment, or when there’s a high suspicion of a foreign body or other serious intra-abdominal issue, exploratory surgery might be necessary. This can be true for both acute and chronic vomiting situations.
- Foreign Bodies: If a foreign body is strongly suspected but not confirmed by other imaging, surgery is often both diagnostic and therapeutic. The surgery aims to locate and remove the foreign object.
- Chronic Vomiting: For chronic vomiting where other diagnostics are inconclusive, exploratory surgery allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the abdominal organs. During surgery, the veterinarian can:
- Visually inspect the entire intestinal tract, stomach, liver, pancreas, and lymph nodes.
- Take full-thickness biopsies of the intestines, stomach, liver, pancreas, lymph nodes, and any other abnormal tissues.
- These biopsies are crucial for diagnosing conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), intestinal cancer (lymphoma, adenocarcinoma), pancreatitis, and other abdominal diseases.
Surgery is favored by some veterinarians over endoscopy in certain cases because it allows for complete exploration of the abdomen and the ability to obtain larger and full-thickness biopsies from multiple organs. However, it is a more invasive procedure with a longer recovery time compared to endoscopy. Endoscopy is less invasive, often less expensive, and can provide representative intestinal biopsies, but it has limitations in evaluating organs outside the gastrointestinal tract and obtaining full-thickness samples.
The choice between endoscopy and exploratory surgery depends on the individual case, the suspected causes of vomiting, the cat’s overall health, and the owner’s financial considerations. Endoscopy can cost up to $1,500, while exploratory surgery can exceed $2,000, making diagnostic choices a significant discussion between the veterinarian and the cat owner. Many owners may opt for symptomatic treatments without pursuing extensive diagnostics due to cost or invasiveness. This requires careful communication with your veterinarian to understand the risks and benefits of such decisions.
Treatment Options for Cat Vomiting
Treatment for cat vomiting is highly dependent on the underlying cause. While specific treatments for every potential cause are beyond the scope of this article, we can outline general approaches to managing vomiting in cats.
Fluids
Fluid therapy is a cornerstone of treating vomiting cats, regardless of the underlying cause. Even if a cat doesn’t appear clinically dehydrated, vomiting leads to fluid loss, and dehydration can quickly worsen the situation.
- Subcutaneous Fluids: For mild cases or as supportive care, subcutaneous (under the skin) fluids may be administered. These help rehydrate the cat and flush out the system.
- Intravenous Fluids (IV Fluids): For cats that are significantly dehydrated, weak, or unable to keep fluids down, IV fluids are often necessary. A catheter is placed in a vein to deliver fluids directly into the bloodstream. IV fluids are more effective for rapid rehydration and allow for continuous fluid administration. However, they are more expensive and require hospitalization.
Dehydration is a dangerous cycle. When cats are dehydrated, they feel unwell, become less likely to eat or drink, and may vomit more, further exacerbating dehydration. Fluid therapy breaks this cycle and is critical for recovery.
Anti-Vomiting Medication (Antiemetics)
Antiemetic medications are commonly used to control vomiting. They help reduce fluid loss, alleviate abdominal discomfort, and encourage the cat to start eating again. Various antiemetics are available, and your veterinarian will choose the most appropriate one based on your cat’s condition.
Diet Changes
Dietary management is crucial for both acute and chronic vomiting.
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Acute Vomiting: For acute, mild vomiting, a temporary switch to a highly digestible diet is often recommended. Examples include prescription diets like Royal Canin Gastrointestinal High Energy, Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d, or bland homemade options like plain cooked chicken (no skin or bones) or meat-based baby food (ensure no onion or garlic). These bland diets are gentle on the digestive system and easier to tolerate. However, remember that chicken and baby food are not nutritionally complete and should only be used for a short period (a few days).
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Chronic Vomiting: For chronic vomiting, dietary change can be both therapeutic and diagnostic. A food trial with a novel protein diet or a hydrolyzed protein diet may be recommended to rule out food allergies or intolerances. Prescription diets designed for sensitive stomachs or food allergies are often used. It’s essential to maintain the cat on the new diet for several weeks to assess its effectiveness. If the vomiting resolves on the new diet, it suggests a dietary component was contributing to the problem, possibly food intolerance, allergy, or low-grade inflammatory bowel disease.
Prednisone
In some cases, particularly when inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is suspected as the cause of chronic vomiting, prednisone (a corticosteroid) might be considered. Prednisone is an immunosuppressant and anti-inflammatory medication. However, it is crucial to understand that prednisone has significant side effects, including increased thirst and urination, increased appetite, a weakened immune system, and muscle weakness.
Prednisone should never be used without proper veterinary diagnosis and guidance. It can worsen certain conditions that cause vomiting, such as pancreatitis, diabetes, and kidney disease. If blood work and X-rays are normal, and further diagnostics are declined, a trial of prednisone might be considered after a thorough discussion of the risks and benefits with your veterinarian.
In conclusion, cat vomiting is a symptom that can stem from a wide range of causes, from simple dietary indiscretions to serious underlying diseases. Careful observation of the vomit, providing a detailed history to your veterinarian, and following through with recommended diagnostic tests are essential steps in determining the cause. Treatment is then tailored to the specific diagnosis. If your cat is vomiting, it’s always best to consult with your veterinarian to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate care, helping your feline friend get back to their healthy, happy selves.
