Why Does My Cat Keep Throwing Up? Understanding Vomiting in Cats

It can be alarming and concerning when your feline friend starts vomiting frequently. Occasional vomiting might seem normal, perhaps after eating too fast, but when it becomes a regular occurrence, it’s crucial to understand why your cat keeps throwing up. This article will guide you through the potential causes of vomiting in cats, the diagnostic process your veterinarian might undertake, and the various treatment options available. Understanding the reasons behind your cat’s vomiting is the first step towards getting them back to their healthy, happy selves.

To help your veterinarian determine the cause of your cat’s vomiting, they’ll likely start by asking a series of detailed questions. Providing thorough answers to these questions is vital for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Questions Your Vet Might Ask About Your Vomiting Cat

Your veterinarian will need a comprehensive history of your cat’s health and habits to narrow down the potential causes of their vomiting. Be prepared to answer questions like these:

• Exposure to Toxins: Has your cat been exposed to any poisonous plants, cleaning products, or other toxins? Cats are curious creatures and sometimes ingest things they shouldn’t.
• Onset of Vomiting: When did the vomiting start? Is it a sudden onset or has it been gradually worsening?
• Normal Diet: What does your cat typically eat? What brand and type of food? Have there been any recent changes in their diet?
• Outdoor Access and Hunting: Does your cat go outside? If so, do they hunt and potentially eat prey animals? This could expose them to parasites or infections.
• Vomit Composition: What does the vomit look like? Note the color, consistency, and contents (food, hairballs, etc.). This visual information can be surprisingly helpful.
• Medications: Is your cat currently taking any medications, supplements, or receiving any treatments?
• Presence of Diarrhea: Is your cat experiencing diarrhea in addition to vomiting? This can indicate a broader gastrointestinal issue.
• Appetite and Eating Habits: Is your cat eating normally? Have you noticed a decrease or increase in appetite?
• Timing of Vomiting: When does the vomiting occur in relation to eating, drinking, or other activities? Is it immediately after meals, hours later, or at random times?
• Weight Changes: Has your cat been losing weight recently? Weight loss can be a significant indicator of underlying health problems.
• Drinking and Urination: Have you noticed any changes in your cat’s water intake or urination habits? Increased thirst and urination can be signs of certain diseases.
• String or Foreign Object Play: Does your cat play with string, yarn, or other objects they might ingest? Cats are notorious for swallowing linear foreign bodies.

Alt text: A ginger cat looking unwell, hunched over and potentially about to vomit, illustrating a common sign of illness in felines.

Answering these questions thoughtfully will provide your veterinarian with valuable clues and guide them towards the next diagnostic steps.

Decoding Cat Vomit: What the Appearance Means

While the appearance of vomit isn’t a definitive diagnosis, it can offer valuable hints about the potential cause of your cat’s vomiting. Observing the characteristics of the vomit can give your vet a starting point for investigation.

• Yellow Vomit: Yellow vomit typically indicates the presence of bile, a digestive fluid produced by the liver. While it can sometimes suggest liver issues, it’s more commonly associated with vomiting on an empty stomach. It could also simply mean your cat ingested something yellow in color.
• Clear Vomit: Clear vomit can be due to regurgitation, which originates from the esophagus before reaching the stomach, or it can be stomach secretions when the stomach is empty.
• White, Foamy Vomit: Similar to clear vomit, white, foamy vomit often points to regurgitation or an empty stomach. The foamy texture is due to air mixing with stomach fluids or saliva in the esophagus.
• Blood in Vomit (Hematemesis): The presence of fresh, red blood in the vomit is a sign of bleeding in the mouth, esophagus, or stomach. This is always a cause for concern and requires veterinary attention.
• Coffee-Ground Vomit: Vomit with a coffee-ground appearance indicates digested blood. This type of bleeding originates from the stomach and is often associated with stomach ulcers. The blood has been partially digested, giving it the dark, granular appearance.
• Brown, Smelly Vomit: Brown, smelly vomit can be due to bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, where blood has been digested and mixed with fecal matter. Alternatively, it could simply mean your cat has eaten something brown and foul-smelling.
• Undigested Food in Vomit: Vomiting undigested food shortly after eating suggests that the food hasn’t left the stomach. This can occur due to food intolerances or allergies, gastrointestinal obstructions, or any condition causing irritation in the upper digestive tract. It’s important to note the time elapsed since your cat last ate to interpret this symptom accurately. For example, vomiting undigested food a day after eating strongly suggests an obstruction or motility disorder.

Veterinarian Examination and Diagnostic Tests

Following the initial questioning and observation of the vomit, a thorough physical examination by your veterinarian is the next crucial step. During the exam, the vet will look for various signs and symptoms that can provide further clues.

A physical exam might reveal:

• Abdominal Pain: Palpating the abdomen can help identify areas of pain or tenderness, which could indicate inflammation or obstruction.
• Abdominal Masses: The vet will check for any abnormal masses or lumps in the abdomen, which could be tumors or enlarged organs.
• Foreign Body: They will check for obvious foreign bodies, such as string lodged under the tongue, a common occurrence in cats who play with string.
• Weight Loss: Assessing body condition can confirm weight loss, which is an important indicator of chronic illness.
• Heart Murmur: Listening to the heart can detect heart murmurs, which might be related to systemic diseases causing vomiting.
• Enlarged Thyroid Gland: Palpating the neck area can reveal an enlarged thyroid gland, a sign of hyperthyroidism, a common cause of vomiting in older cats.
• Fever: Taking the cat’s temperature can detect fever, which suggests an infection or inflammatory process.

Based on the physical exam findings and the history you provided, your veterinarian will determine which diagnostic tests are necessary.

Initial Diagnostic Tests: X-rays and Blood Work

If further investigation is warranted, initial tests typically include abdominal radiographs (X-rays) and blood work with a urinalysis.

• Abdominal X-rays: X-rays can visualize the abdominal organs and reveal abnormalities such as:
  • Organ size and shape changes: Enlarged or shrunken organs can indicate disease.
  • Foreign bodies: Radiopaque foreign objects can be visible on X-rays.
  • Tumors: Large masses or tumors might be detectable.
  • Constipation: Severe constipation can be seen.
  • Other abnormalities: Gas patterns or fluid accumulation can also be assessed.

Alt text: An X-ray image of a cat’s abdomen, displaying the skeletal structure and internal organs, used for diagnosing various medical conditions.

• Blood Work and Urinalysis: Blood tests and urinalysis are essential for assessing organ function and detecting metabolic disorders. Blood work can detect:
  • Organ dysfunction: Liver and kidney values can indicate organ damage or failure.
  • Endocrine disorders: Diabetes and hyperthyroidism can be diagnosed through blood tests.
  • Toxin exposure: While not always definitive, blood work can sometimes provide clues about exposure to toxins like antifreeze.
  • Infections and inflammation: White blood cell counts and other markers can indicate infection or inflammation.
  • Urinalysis: Urinalysis, performed in conjunction with blood work, is crucial for diagnosing conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections.

Advanced Diagnostics: Barium Study, Ultrasound, Endoscopy

If initial X-rays and blood work are inconclusive, or if they suggest specific issues, further, more specialized diagnostics might be recommended.

• Barium Study: A barium study involves administering barium, a contrast agent, orally or rectally and then taking a series of X-rays. This helps visualize the gastrointestinal tract and identify:

  • Foreign objects: Non-radiopaque foreign objects that are not visible on regular X-rays.
  • Motility issues: Problems with the movement of food through the intestines.
  • Obstructions: Blockages in the intestinal tract.

• Ultrasound: Abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves to create detailed images of internal organs. Ultrasound is useful for:

  • Organ architecture assessment: Evaluating the internal structure of organs like the liver, kidneys, pancreas, and intestines.
  • Fluid collections: Identifying fluid buildup in the abdomen.
  • Masses and tumors: Detecting and characterizing masses or tumors within organs.
  • Guided biopsies: Ultrasound can guide needle biopsies to obtain tissue samples for diagnosis.

• Endoscopy: Endoscopy involves using a flexible scope with a camera to visualize the interior of the gastrointestinal tract. Endoscopy can be used to examine:

  • Esophagus, stomach, and upper intestines (upper endoscopy): To look for foreign bodies, inflammation, ulcers, or tumors.
  • Colon (colonoscopy): To examine the large intestine for inflammation, polyps, or tumors.
  • Foreign body removal: Endoscopy can be used to retrieve foreign objects from the stomach or esophagus without surgery.
  • Biopsy collection: Endoscopic biopsies allow for targeted tissue sampling of the gastrointestinal lining for microscopic examination.

Exploratory Surgery

In cases of persistent vomiting that doesn’t respond to symptomatic treatment, or when there’s a high suspicion of a foreign body or other serious conditions, exploratory surgery might be necessary.

• Acute Vomiting: In acute cases, especially when a foreign body is suspected but not confirmed by other imaging, surgery might be needed to locate and remove the object.
• Chronic Vomiting: For chronic vomiting, exploratory surgery can be used to obtain biopsies of the intestines, stomach, liver, pancreas, lymph nodes, and any other abnormal tissues to diagnose conditions like:
  • Intestinal cancer
  • Non-intestinal abdominal disease
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Surgery allows for a comprehensive evaluation of the entire abdominal cavity and enables the collection of full-thickness biopsies, which are often more diagnostic than endoscopic biopsies, particularly for conditions like IBD. However, surgery is more invasive and has a longer recovery time compared to endoscopy. Endoscopy, while less invasive and often less expensive, may not always provide as comprehensive a view or sample as surgery. The choice between endoscopy and surgery depends on the individual case and the veterinarian’s assessment.

Treatment Options for a Cat Who’s Throwing Up

Treatment for vomiting in cats is highly dependent on the underlying cause. While specific treatments for each condition are beyond the scope of this article, we can discuss some general approaches to managing vomiting in cats.

Fluid Therapy

Fluid therapy is a cornerstone of treatment for vomiting cats. Vomiting leads to fluid loss and dehydration, which can worsen the cat’s condition.

• Subcutaneous Fluids: For mild dehydration or as supportive care, subcutaneous (under the skin) fluids can be administered. This helps rehydrate the cat and flush out toxins.
• Intravenous Fluids (IV Fluids): In cases of severe dehydration, weakness, or when subcutaneous fluids are not adequately absorbed, IV fluids are necessary. IV fluids are administered directly into a vein through a catheter, providing rapid and effective rehydration. IV fluid therapy often requires hospitalization.

Alt text: A veterinarian administering subcutaneous fluids to a cat, demonstrating a common treatment for dehydration and supportive care in felines.

Anti-Vomiting Medications (Antiemetics)

Antiemetics are medications specifically designed to stop vomiting. They are commonly used to provide symptomatic relief and prevent further fluid loss.

• Mechanism of Action: Antiemetics work by blocking the signals in the brain that trigger vomiting.
• Benefits: Besides stopping vomiting, these medications can also reduce abdominal discomfort and improve appetite.
• Examples: There are various types of antiemetics available, and your veterinarian will choose the most appropriate one based on your cat’s condition.

Dietary Changes

Dietary management is crucial for both acute and chronic vomiting in cats.

• Easily Digestible Diets (Acute Vomiting): For acute vomiting, a temporary switch to a highly digestible diet can help soothe the gastrointestinal tract. Examples include prescription diets like Royal Canin Gastrointestinal High Energy, Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d, or bland homemade diets like plain cooked chicken (without skin or bones) or meat-based baby food (ensure no onion or garlic). These bland diets should only be used short-term as they are not nutritionally complete for long-term feeding.
• Diet Trials (Chronic Vomiting): For chronic vomiting, dietary changes can be both therapeutic and diagnostic. Switching to a novel protein diet or a hydrolyzed protein diet can help identify food sensitivities or allergies. Prescription limited-ingredient diets are often recommended for diet trials to ensure they are complete and balanced. Diet trials need to be maintained for several weeks to assess effectiveness.

Prednisone and Other Medications

In some cases, particularly for suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), prednisone or other immunosuppressive medications might be considered.

• Prednisone for IBD: Prednisone is a corticosteroid that can reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract associated with IBD.
• Caution: Prednisone has potential side effects, including increased thirst and urination, increased appetite, immune suppression, and muscle weakness. It can also worsen conditions like pancreatitis, diabetes, and kidney disease.
• Responsible Use: Prednisone should only be used under veterinary guidance and after appropriate diagnostics have been considered. A trial of prednisone might be considered if blood work and X-rays are normal and further diagnostics are declined, but this should be a decision made in consultation with your veterinarian, understanding the potential risks and benefits.

Seeking Veterinary Care is Essential

If your cat keeps throwing up, it’s important to remember that this is a symptom, not a diagnosis. While occasional vomiting might resolve on its own, persistent or frequent vomiting requires veterinary attention. Attempting to self-treat your cat without knowing the underlying cause can be risky and delay appropriate treatment. Consulting with your veterinarian is the best course of action to determine why your cat is vomiting and to develop an effective treatment plan to restore their health and well-being.