Why is my cat vomiting?

Most cat owners are used to their cat vomiting from time to time without worrying too much about it. Occasional vomiting is usually just the result of a minor incident such as overeating or playing too vigorously right after eating.

However, if your cat vomits more frequently, it may be a sign of a more serious condition that requires immediate veterinary attention. Chronic vomiting (which lasts for several days to weeks) can be due to gastrointestinal or systemic (whole-body) diseases.

What is vomiting in cats?

Vomiting is the forcible expulsion of stomach contents through the mouth. It must be distinguished from passive vomiting, in which the vomited food is gently pulled up from the esophagus without stomach contractions. Affected cats usually show signs of nausea such as drooling, lip licking, and excessive swallowing before vomiting.

Possible causes of vomiting in cats

If your cat vomits constantly, it can have a variety of causes. In chronic cases, it is important that your veterinarian determines the exact cause in order to be able to help your cat in the best possible way.

Possible causes of your cat vomiting include:

Hairballs.
Eating at (too) high speed.
Sudden changes in diet or the introduction of a new food without transition.
Ingestion of unsuitable substances such as spoiled food, poisons or foreign bodies.
Intolerances, allergies or hypersensitivities to certain ingredients of food.
Gastrointestinal infections caused by viruses, bacteria or fungal infections.
Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (inflammation of the stomach and/or digestive tract).
Tumors in the stomach, intestines or other organs.
Diseases that affect other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, liver, pancreas or thyroid gland.

Cat vomits bile

Cats can vomit bile if they haven't eaten for a long time and their stomach is empty. Bile is a yellow-colored substance produced by the cat's liver that helps digest fats. There are different reasons why cats vomit bile, from endocrine problems or liver disease to hairballs or stomach upset.

However, if this happens frequently, you should contact your veterinarian.

Treatment of a sick cat

If your cat vomits, you should check it for other signs of illness such as listlessness, fever or diarrhea. If possible, find out what your cat might have eaten and remove any unsuitable items from its environment. Also, put away your cat's food bowl for a few hours.

Continue to give your cat water and encourage them to drink. If your cat no longer vomits, you can offer it something small to eat. If she keeps the food down, you can give her small portions at regular intervals.

Do this for about a day before resuming normal feeding. Your cat should be better by then. Do not give her any medication without the explicit advice of your veterinarian.

When should I call my veterinarian?

You need to call your veterinarian if your cat vomits persistently and/or if:

Blood can be found in your cat's vomit.
You suspect that your cat has eaten something poisonous.
Your cat has a fever or is depressed.
Your cat tries to vomit, but nothing comes out.
Your cat seems to be in pain.
Your cat's gums are yellow or very pale.

Optimal food for vomiting

If your cat vomits, they may benefit from a special cat food with the following characteristics:

High-quality, easily digestible ingredients to relieve the stomach and improve feed tolerance in gastritis.
Limited number of protein sources to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction or an unwanted gastrointestinal reaction that can also cause vomiting.

If your veterinarian suspects a food allergy, a hypoallergenic food with hydrolyzed proteins may be recommended. These special proteins have already been broken down into small pieces and only very rarely trigger an allergic reaction.

Nutrition tips and grooming

If a hairball is the cause of your cat vomiting, you should offer fiber-rich food to minimize the formation of hairballs and speed up the transport of fur through the gastrointestinal tract. From there, the fur is then safely excreted with the faeces. In addition, you should groom your cat's coat regularly to reduce fur intake.

Your cat vomits all the time? Talk to your veterinarian about what gentle foods they would recommend for your cat. Sick cats in particular can often benefit from special food.