Dear Simba,
My cats have been vomiting after they eat. The problem is worse
when they have hairballs but their vomit often does not contain
any hair. The frequency with which they get sick fluctuates and
we cannot make any sense out of it....they are otherwise healthy
and have no problems. They never had this problem when they were
kittens, it seemed to develop in their 2nd or third year.
We took them to the Vet to do blood tests and x-rays. He said
there was no indication that anything was wrong. We changed their
food from various brands (with a gradual change of course) with
no success. Could their problem be behavioral or allergies or is
it something else?? Karl
Dear Karl,
It is important that you monitor the vomiting and take notes of
its consistency and frequency. There are many possible causes,
here are some:
BEHAVIORAL
It may be may be stress. Consider where the cats eat and
whether or not it is a highly trafficked or noisy area.
PHYSICAL
The overeating of dry food can cause vomiting. The reason is
that dry food absorbs water and swells, this in turn causes your
cat to vomit. (your cats’ eating of wet food as kittens may
explain some things). Check the vomit for a
semi-solid-partly-digested appearance.
Another possibility is feline distemper, this is usually
reflected in your cats vomiting a white or clear material (given
the duration, this is unlikely for you).
Your cats may have an obstruction...x-rays
should have detected this.
You might want to consider starting regular hair ball treatment
and ensuring that their vomiting is not causing them to lose out
on nutrients from their food. Simba
Simba:
I was in the hospital last week, for back surgery and was gone
longer than expected. I have 5 babies and 4 of them tolerated my
absence rather well. One of my babies is now sick. She is not
used to me being away. I’ve had her since she was 3 days
old, and she has always been my very best pal..she will not let
anyone but me pet her. I usually give my pets snacks in the
evening, they are supposed to be good for their teeth. Otherwise
they eat Iams Rice & Chicken. They have never been outside,
and I'm worried sick.
My vet is going to send one of his assistants to visit her.
I'm just scared that I may lose her. I have had her and her
brother for 15 years, and I worry all t he time when they get
sick that their time is up.
What do you think about her throwing up? Her vomit is either
clear, foamy, or the color of the snack that I feed them. it is
called Whisker Lickin’s tartar control, which causes her
vomit to look red. She is always had wonderful Vet care.
The only time we are parted is when my husband and I go on
vacation once a year for about 2 weeks at a time. When we come
home she is the one that cries for days at a end, and will not
even let me go out without throwing a big fit. She’s my
most loved kitty, and she is very dependent on me. Could my
departure have upset her, or do you think there is another reason
for her vomiting? My vet is sending a tech over tonight to look
her over and possibly take her in. I am worried to let her out of
my sight. I contacted the flu while at the hospital, could she
have gotten that from me? Precious' Person Donna
Dear Donna,
So very sorry to hear that Precious is not feeling well. I hope
that by the time I am writing to you she is better and you are
too. About the Flu, the cat flu is
far different from the human kind and is not transmitted from
people to cats or cats to people so do not worry that you may
have gotten Precious sick.
Kitties are very sensitive creatures and it is possible that
Precious may have been upset at your absence. However, vomiting
is not something that is usually caused by this, it is the result
of other factors, such as:
Your vet may want to perform tests for
hyperthyroidism. He may also recommend a change in food or even
an intestinal biopsy.
Best thing to do is let the vet do his work and let him find the
cause. At 15 years Precious and her brother have lived long and
happy lives. You must prepare yourself for their passing, but
remember that you have other kitties that rely on you and love
you. It is always very sad to lose friends, but that is
because it was wonderful having them. Simba
Cat Vomiting Blood
Dear Simba,
I have a 10-year-old cat. Today she started vomiting
blood…she did this twice. Do you know what kind of symptom
this could be. She has always been a very healthy cat up until
now. Thank you for any help that you can give me. Carol
Dear Carol,
There are a many possible causes of blood in vomit. These include
intestinal parasites, gastric ulcers,
respiratory tract
infections, the ingestion of toxins /
poisons,disease, bleeding
disorders or foreign bodies into the intestinal tract, along with
other causes. An isolated incident is not unusual. However,
multiple and continued events may be cause for concern. Should
you see that, a vet visit is definitely in order. Simba
Dear Simba,
I have 3 kittens, their mother and a small dog. One of the
kittens threw up several, 3 1/2-inch worms. They were long, round
and thin. They seemed to curl up when they hit the air. Do I have
to get rid of these cats to make sure my children and dog do not
get sick? If not please tell me what I should do.
Hi
You do not have to get rid of the cats, but you do have to
treat them soon. It appears as though your kitten may have Roundworm (and it is likely that his siblings and mother may be similarly infected).
Roundworms are 3-5" long,
cream-colored, and live in the intestines and are amongst the
most common of intestinal parasites. Roundworms can be
transmitted to children if they have ingested larvae. The larvae
can be found in dirt, kitty litter, feces or vomit. Transmission
to humans is rare.
As for your kittens, roundworms can be
life threatening to kitties if left untreated. Cats are usually
infected by ingesting eggs or by eating rodents that carry the
roundworm larvae (kittens can become infected through their
mother's milk).
Your vet can provide effective treatment, so please take the
kitties there ASAP (you may also want to have your dog tested as
well).
In the meantime, isolate the cats from your children and your
pets. Clean out their litter box often, avoid feeding them raw
meats, check them for fleas and begin
worming them with something like
8in1 Erliworm Liquid Wormer (however, go to your pet store
now, buy online once you have things under better control). Also,
clean your floors, carpets and furniture thoroughly since the
eggs can survive for months in the environment. The risk of
infection is lower now that you know. This is a treatable
condition. Keep me posted. Simba
Hello
Our 1.5 year old cat has always had a coughing/gagging problem.
Every so often she will have a fit where it sounds like she is
coughing, dry heaving or gagging. Nothing ever comes up. I have
taken her to the vet regarding this problem many times. They have
done tests on her, taken x-rays and could never find anything
wrong with her. What could be causing these periodic fits? Thanks
Karen
Dear Karen,
One idea, your cat may be having problems swallowing her food.
While dry cat food is great for dental
health, it can swell in the esophagus and tummy when a cat
ingests too much of it at once and then drinks water immediately
afterwards. Watch out for the quantities of food you serve
the little gal. If you are not doing so already, try breaking out
her daily feeding to twice a day vs. once a day. Keep me posted.
Simba
Inducing Vomit
Hi,
We just found a stray kitten and with Halloween this last
weekend, we had some candy out and the kitten got into it and
decided he loved chocolate. He has since eaten 2 fairly big
pieces of chocolate. We thought it was very strange, but that was
about it. I have always heard that chocolate is dangerous for
dogs. But since this happened some people have told us they heard
it is also dangerous for cats, now we are worried. Will this hurt
the cat? What should we do? Kelly
Dear Kelly,
Chocolate is dangerous because it has theobromine. This substance
is toxic to dogs and cats. It can cause accelerated heart beats
and cardiac arrest. These can lead to death. Young kittens, with
their developing intestinal tracks and small hearts are at
greater risk. Please call your local animal hospital or vet
ASAP, before there are symptoms. They can walk you through
the steps needed to induce vomiting. Simba
Note: Please consult your vet or local animal hospital for
all matters that require immediate attention. Also, do not ever
feed your cat or kitten any food or drink containing chocolate
and/or caffeine.
