Anyone with a cat as a member of the family is familiar with Whiskers' vomiting. Most people dismiss these episodes, blaming them solely on hairballs. Yet, sometimes that's not the case. There are other diseases that can cause vomiting that are not often considered.
Hairballs are normal occurrences in cats, although in some cases they can become quite severe. Brushing your feline friend frequently will help remove excess hair and should help reduce the number of hairballs produced. If Whiskers continues to vomit hairballs, your veterinarian may prescribe a mild laxative or a special kind of diet.
When a cat eats too quickly, they may vomit up undigested food shortly afterward. If this seems to be the case with your feline, try and slow her down. Feed Whiskers on a flat surface, rather than a bowl. This tactic will make her eat individual pieces of food at a time, rather than a whole mouthful. You can also try toys like food balls to keep her from devouring her meal too quickly.
Inflammatory bowel disease can be very subtle and often your cat won't seem obviously sick. You may notice yourself cleaning up more vomit than usual, or maybe Whiskers has lost some weight over a long period of time. She may even have diarrhea as well. Sometimes a problem might not be noted until Whiskers visits her veterinarian for her yearly checkup. Then, the weight loss becomes apparent and further diagnosis may be required.
Intestinal lymphoma is a type of cancer commonly found in older vomiting cats. Other symptoms may include diarrhea, weight loss, and appetite loss. There is no cure for lymphoma, although it is estimated that 65% of cats go into remission after proper treatment.
There can be many reasons for vomiting in cats and only a few have been mentioned here. If your cat is vomiting frequently, take her to see your veterinarian for an in-depth physical exam and further advice. Take notes at home about when Whiskers vomits and what it looks like, as well as any other symptoms your cat may be displaying. Share these notes with your veterinarian. It may sound unappealing, but it could potentially save your cat's life.
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