Why Does my Cat Vomit so Much?
My nine-year-old Orange Tabby has vomited periodically most
of her life. Within the last few months, her
vomiting has increased to the point that I had to
rush her to vet ER. They hydrated her, ran
blood tests, xrays, etc.
Her vet says she is most
likely allergic to her food, so we switched her to
limited ingredient dry food. To combat her
nausea, her vet put her on ground up Pepcid AC,
which she will only consume in a little of the
water from a can of tuna. I also give her a bit
of Kitty probiotics and brush her twice a day.
Her vomiting is not diminishing in spite of all
the treatments and the vet said exploratory
surgery is all that’s left, which is not what he
recommends nor do I want. I even tried her on
raw cat food, which she tried once and vomited and
now won’t touch. Are there any natural means you
could recommend?
Jill
Portland, Oregon, USA
It sounds like you and your cat are going through quite an ordeal!
Many things can cause cats to vomit. Food intolerance, metabolic disorders (such as liver or kidney disease), foreign objects in the stomach, neurological problems, heartworm disease, intestinal parasites, tumors, problems with the pancreas and exposure to poisons are among the many offenders, and this list is far from complete.
However, in cats that have a long history of vomiting that worsens precipitously I am often suspicious of a syndrome called inflammatory (or infiltrative) bowel disease. The syndrome is also known as IBD.
Cats with IBD suffer chronic irritation of the intestines. This leads to vomiting, diarrhea, or both.
Diagnosing IBD can be difficult. A biopsy of the intestines (by means of surgery or endoscopy) is the most definitive method, but it is very invasive and I rarely recommend it.
However, you do not mention that your cat has had an ultrasound of her abdomen. Ultrasound is a powerful, non-invasive and painless diagnostic technique. Skilled ultrasonographers can sometimes diagnose IBD. And they almost always offer insight into the cause of chronic vomiting. I would recommend abdominal ultrasound as the next step for your cat.
If your cat is diagnosed with IBD, several treatment options exist. Dietary modification is the mainstay of treatment, but it sounds like you may have exhausted this possibility. Probiotics help many cats; yours, unfortunately, seems refractory to this treatment.
I have seen many cats with chronic vomiting respond favorably to treatment with medicines that modulate the immune system. Prednisone is most commonly used. As I have mentioned before on this blog, prednisone is a double-edged sword. However, you may want to discuss a trial of the medicine with your veterinarian. It may help solve the problem.
You have questions. 
IBD could be an acceptable diagnosis…however GI lymphoma could also be the culprit. This is not that uncommon and can present itself with the same clinical signs as this cat. UItrasound can help determine if the intestinal wall or stomach wall appears thickened or irritated or help look for the presence of a mass. Exploratory surgery however is the only way to actually diagnose GI lymphoma.
♥ Oh I do feel for you! My Kirby has vomited all his life…and I’m certain it is food allergies/IBD. He just SMELLS food and will run & have diarrhea & vomit! When I had him off of all dry foods he was doing better, plus I tried to buy only canned food without gravy. This is because 1. The gravy triggers the diarrhea, vomiting & gas and 2. The reason, I believe, is WHEAT ALLERGY! Many cats are intolerant to wheat & other grains as well as dairy. Maybe try to eliminate all wheat & dairy, dry food & gravies and your vet may have an alllergy diet that will help. Does your cat still have an appetite? If so, that’s a good sign. You’re definitely on the right track in using probiotics too, keep on with them. My Mom adds a lot of water to her cat’s canned food so they get enough hydration, as they don’t drink much & maybe that would be a good idea for your kitty so she will remain hydrated.
When Kirby was little, he had a drug resistant case of parasites, I can’t remember what it was, either giardia or coccidia, I just can’t remember but he was living at the shelter, (this was before I adopted him) and he was skin & bones and looked 4 months old instead of nearly 9! They’d repeatedly treated him with antibiotics but he was then placed right back with the other shelter kittys & never got better until I adopted him & took him to a different vet. After all the drugs he’d had, his gut was never the same. It took almost a year to get him up to a decent weight & where he was really starting to feel better but he’s had diarrhea & vomiting all his life. If I open a can of food, he gets a whiff and makes a mad dash to the litter box. Later he will eat & then often either have to go potty again or will vomit. He vomits every day, several times. His bowel movements have a horrible smell as well and he is very gassy. If we hug him, look out! Gasss!! Bloating from food allergy can cause vomiting. He has dandruff as well. These all appear to indicate food allergy, especially since he’s been checked to rule out other serious illness for the most part. Kirby is 7 years old. I certainly hope that changing your kitty’s diet and continuing with the probiotics will help. There may be one or two particularly allergy causing foods your cat is eating regularly and loves, since they crave the foods they’re allergic or intolerant to. You can try eliminating one food at a time…it takes several weeks for the offending food to get completely out of their system so the elimination system requires much diligence on your part. Also, is it possible you’re using some different household product that may be triggering a problem, like perhaps something your cat walks through & then licks her paws? Different litter? Carpets cleaned recently? If only they could tell us how they’re feeling…but instead you will have to play investigator. You sound like someone who won’t give up and I wish you the very best. I will keep you in my prayers!
I don’t know if you have one where you live but some Vets do allergy testing on cats & dogs & that would be a very good thing to do, as well as the untrasound.
Take care!!!
Purrs & huggs!
=^..^= Kirby & Kody’s Mommy! =^..^=
P.S. I wonder if cats get hiatal hernias?
I am not a vet, so I can only relate my own experiences.
My first cat, Claire, used to throw up occasionally for several years. I thought nothing of it, attributing it to hairballs or chemicals/fertilizers on the grass that she would sneak out and nibble on.
However, there came a time when she started to vomit constantly, every day, and started to drastically lose weight (though she was always a bit slender). We took her to the vet and ran a series of tests, blood and urine, and nothing seemed abnormal. Finally we ran an ultrasound, and discovered the lining of her stomach was slightly thickened.
We treated with antibiotics without much success. I was reluctant, but finally agreed to surgery. This was when they discovered she had cancer! They removed as much as was safe, and we crossed our fingers.
Claire lasted about another 4 months before she started vomiting again. Another ultrasound revealed nothing. After about another month, she had lost so much weight and simply couldn’t keep her food down, we finally said our good-byes.
The vet asked if he could do an autopsy, to which I agreed. He called later to tell me that even though Claire’s stomach had seemed clear, there was a tiny growth right at the juncture from the stomach to the intestines that had not been visible on the ultrasound. It had been preventing food from even being passed along, hence the vomiting.
Granted, there are many causes for a cat to vomit, but if it is persistent, definitely go for the ultrasound. If it reveals nothing at first, you may have to take a more invasive route. But please don’t procrastinate. Constant vomiting is not normal, there is a reason for it. Keep looking.
Oh boy! this sounds much like my cat who is 3 and a half now. she had diarrhea since the day we got her when she was 8 weeks old. she had all the standard tests and everything came back normal. she had several deworming treatments dispite the fact her tests came back normal. finally, the vet said we should rule out food alergies by trying some limited ingredient foods. after a few prescription foods, i had her on Hills IVD venison and peas cans (the same food in dry made her have diarrhea) for a few years. she actually did pretty good on this, no diarrhea and very little vomiting. after about 2 years, however, the vomitting started getting very bad and almost everyday. we tried a few new foods until we came accross Orijen, a grain-free dry food. She didn’t have diarrhea and didn’t vomit for about 6 months. Then it started yet again. We decided to go back to the vet and get more tests. she had a regular blood test testing all her levels and for the popular diseases and everything turned out good. we then decided to spend the $400 to get the allergy test where we got a list of all the foods she was allergic to. ironically, she is allergic to venision which she was fine on that food for years! she is also allergic to tomatoes which is in the Origen that she was okay on for 6 months. we are now in the process of changing her diet again b/c she is currently thowing up everyday and sometimes twice a day. we have tried several foods on the list but they aren’t making a difference in the throwing up, but the diarrhea is fine if we stick with a grain-free food even though that wasn’t something she was allergic to just b/c it seems to help with the diarrhea. I am going to a holistic “boutique” pet shop tomorrow to hopefully find another option for her. These type pet shops carry the best foods unlike the big petstore chains that carry foods filled with “fillers” that tend to upset some kitty’s tummies. By the way, i have another cat that is fine, so there can’t be any poisens that she is getting into (plus this has been going on for years). I haven’t tried the probyotics which is next on my list (picking it up tomorrow at the pet shop). My next step is to get the abdominal ultrasound. someone had also suggested to do a GI panel. I tried calling the vet about it and they didn’t seem to want to do that, so i need to get more info. I hope everything works out with you and if you have any suggestions for me, please let me know!!!
Does anyone know anything about my problem, or is it the same as yours?
I recently had to start caring for a cat named Walter that belongs to my father. We adopted Walter from the local animal rescue league and at first everything seemed to be fine. Afterward, he started to vomit and he also had diarrhea. He was taken to the vet where they did x-rays and such and they came back with nothing. We were told to give him Gatorade, which he didn’t drink, in order to re-hydrate him. He was fine for a while, but would vomit every now and then but no longer had the diarrhea. It was to the point where the carpet was ruined and my father had to relocate (not because of the cat, but because of other reasons). Because of this, I was almost forced to take him in because my father didn’t want Walter to go to another shelter, etc. I’ve had him for a couple of days and at first all was well. Today he eats his food and about 5 minutes later he throws it all back up all on my carpet. I noticed that it was whole food pellets and had nothing else in it except for some mucous. From reading other posts, I heard that some cats do this because they eat too fast or they just swallow their food whole. I know that Walter does not do this because he eats only about twice a day and when he does he doesn’t eat very much and I always hear him chewing his food. I’m not exactly sure what the problem is, but I’d really like to fix it ASAP because my roommate doesn’t like the idea of the cat in the first place and when you add in the vomiting it’s just not a good situation. As far as I know my father has given him Petromalt in the past when he threw up, but from what I’ve seen there is no hair in what he’s throwing up. Should I continue with that treatment even though it doesn’t seem to be doing much good? He also eats Purina One for Sensitive Systems, but that doesn’t seem to make much of a difference either. I’m not exactly sure what I should do now, but I can’t really afford high vet bills. Is there anything that I could do personally? Is there anything that you can suggest or is anyone else having this problem? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Hi Crystal,
I have a cat that throw’s up alot. She is about 13 years old and a
siamese.And she puke’s after eating hard food adn mooshy food.
I found she mainley pukes because of stree or wrong food.
Also if the food mis too ashy or rich.My mom’s cat throw’a up to
Sorry to hear about you’re dad.Iam on CATSTER and DOGSTER
Lilia,Lilly,Hank,Randy,Choxie,Squeak Johnson
Hollie Johnson
I have a 9 yr, old female that last winter started loosing weight and I noticed she had dirahhea constantly and she looked a bit bloated and seem gasy. and her stomach made alot of noise. I wormed her with over the counter and no change. I started to put a little acidolphus on her food and it got better for awhile then returned. Them I put alittle fiber one on her food , and again it got better then returned. Took her to vet and she had no tempurature so the vet wormed her and then she was put on amoxicillin . No change. Now and then she would vomit not too often. She started to vomit alittle more often so I put her on prednisone , about 3 mg day. This was suggested by the vet. Got better for about a week and a half. The diarrhea and vomiting let up till the other day when she projected vomit twice and imediately deficated with some strain , The stool was firm but she continued to try to go avery few minutes with a tiny bit of diarrhea then little solid and then just straning. Meanwhile she was drinking alot of water . I took her to a different vet for another opinion. There was no tempurature,no impaction of stool. By the time she had gotton to the vet she seem to feel better.They did a blood test which results will be in tomorrow, Magic does not do well at vets , she is a fighter and left there so stressed she was panting and her head was hanging. They gave antibiotics and prednisolene for her to take next day but she has not.Home she just laid down and slept and only drank water. That was yeaterday. Today she has not eaten and only gets up to drink some water , sleeps and just lays there not wanting to be bothered. She has stop drinking water and gaged alittle but only foamy stuff came up and only a little. She is now upstairs resting. I thought IBD but untill the tests come back for the blood its hard to say. Everything worked but only for awhile. I kept her on one brand of food Iams.Other foods brought on the diarrhea and vomiting. I gave her just a tiny it of turkey 4 days ago and she imediatly got sick . I am at a loss with this. It has been a long time and she continues to loose weight. But before yeaterday she ran and played and she was always hungry but only ate small amounts. That had stopped for a few days when first on prednisone but then returned. I almost thought when on pred. that she may have put on a little weight. Like all it was short lived. I live in a very remote part of N.Y. and the vets here do not have the big fancy equipment to do much. Magic gets so stressed traveling and being handled at the vet, Im afraid she could have a heart attack so I limit travel only to local vets I am so afraid Im going to loose her she just isnt acting well at all. Marie Thornton.
In the case of my cat Magic, the blood tests came back and she has hypothyroidism. She has been perscribed Tapazole liquid, 1ml twice a day. She got her first dose this morning. She is still not eating but does get up and come into the living room and kitchen now and then with us. I am a Reiki master and it seems right after her Reiki treatment she does this. Last night at 3 a.m. I looked at her and didnt think shed last till morning but she has and seems a little better. She did lick some baby food off my finger and has drank a little water but has not used the litter box or ate anything. Tonight she gets her 2ed dose . If by tomorrow evening she does not eat I will give her some with a syring end that I have, just to keep everything open .Things are looking a little brighter. Marie Thornton
A couple of my cats vomit off and on, sometimes quite violently (= vomit literally shoots out of them and flies across the room…). THe one thing that helps calm their stomachs (and also has proven to tremendously help my old guy with IBD) is a holistic remedy called Phytomucil. In severe cases, it can be given by mouth, but adding a few drops in the drinking water every day works wonders!
Well Magic was put on the thyroid meds . 1st dose in the morning she was better, the night dose she got progressively worse. I didnt give her any more and she was still not eating so I put some baby food in a syringe and fed her the following afternoon when I thought the thyroid meds were mostly out of her body. I was hoping by the next morning for improvement but that didnt happen. That next day I fed her with syringe three feedings but the next day she was so weak she barely could get in her little litter box. All this time she was still drinking water. That night she got worse yet. She was so weak she could not get up and every so often would whine and try. I laid by her since this started around 9 : 30 pm and each time I would pet and comfort . I am a Reiki master and I would do Reiki on her. This calmed her alot. I was exhausted and at 12;30 a.m. just laid down near her and rested my eyes. I knew the time was comming and I wanted to make it as easy as possible for her. She made a noise at 12 :55 and I looked and her head had moved and she was looking at me and I knew it was time. I talked to her and Reikied her as the breaths got less and less. I have never done this on any dying being but have been taught that it helps to ease one through the death process. EVERYONE should know this . This was the most peaceful, calm and beautiful death I have ever seen in a animal and I have had alot of animals in my life and been with most when they passed. I made a vow that I would from that moment on teach anyone for free Reiki one and two . This is so wonderful and any pet owner should learn this, not just for this reason but it is the greatest healing and calming and balancing technique I have ever learned and I learn a few. All one really needs is Reiki 1. There are 3 levels, Master being the 3ed and I have the extra level of Master Teacher. But the 1st level will do all that I did . Animals love it and respond well to it. For all those that love their pets , consider taking Reiki 1 . Its not that expensive and runs from $50.00 for just Reiki 1 to $125.00 for one and two combined. I must ad that in my opinion she had IBS as well as hyperthyroidism . Her liver enzymes were also elevated. To me all this points to a immune disorder. Could it be that all we feed may be loaded with poison pesticides and hormones? Has the enviroment we created finally turn against us? The answer is yes. I have a immune disorder called enviromental illness / multiple chemical sensitivity. Im allergic to all that is not natural and some that is. And I believe our genes are weakened somehow from birth from all the toxins built up in our parents that predispose us even more to this uncureable illness. Live as pure as you can and raise your children and pets the same way. Marie Thornton
I like the way you told us about why your cat was vomiting so much.
my cat Lou Lou is about 3 and a half as well and she’s been puking since she was about 1. I noticed though that just recently it got a bit worse, but after all this time I discovered she tends to vomit if she’s around wet cat food for a couple days. I have to seperate my 2 cats in rooms because the other one prefers wet food and won’t have no reaction to it other than a full stomach! I I give my cats Cat Cafe usually, or kitten chow, even though the other one is 6…
HI, I am sorry to hear this – your poor cat must be suffering a great deal and you really need to find a vet who can treat this.
I went through this with 2 cats and both had hypothyroidism(hope I spelled it correctly) which led to kidney failure in a very short time in both cats.
Hypothyroidism needs to be treated immediately and the best meds I found are the chewable tablets – the other ones are impossible to give and they have a realy nack for spitting them out when you actually think they have swallowed them. Kidney failure is also often not diagnosed by vets & you can tell by the backbone becoming and showing more boney, cat loses weight & the fur on the back bone starts to look a little spikey and greasy. Best of luck to you & your kitty. No dry food at all, only canned food as dry food contributes to kidney failure over the years so I would definitely stop dry food alltogether.
I know this is being posted long after a resolution was offered; but I had the same problem with my Leon (long haired Maine Coon). And my best and quick solution was to take him off of all cat food BUT Science Diet HAIRBALL formula can and dry for cats. He rarely vo0mits anymore.
IBS success with home cooking.
Our 11 year old long hair Maine Coon Cat had always occasionally thrown up a hair ball but then a year ago stated vomiting with some small amount of Hair ball in it 1 to 2 times a day, lost weight 3 lbs and couldn’t keep any of her food down no matter what kind, flavor or made for indoor cats, etc.
We had tests by 2 different Vets and tests all came back OK. One vet recommended a certain food product but it was not any more successful than her normal foods. Our Coon catwill not let anyone brush her, so we had her anesthetized and furminated at a cost of almost $300 with no improvement. So after a small fortune we were back to start with no idea of what the problem was.
By chance I spoke with a vet, at an away social gathering, and described the problem and our frustration. She suggested the following and said if it did not work then she would put her on medication. IT HAS WORKED. Our cat now on occasion throws up a hair ball but has gained her weight back and has stopped all vomiting.
After putting them through a series of blood tests without a noted cause and before spending a fortune in more invasive tests, drugs, etc it is worth a try.
Following the vets suggestion as she suspected IBS, we took our Long hair coon cat off all dry cereal and canned cat food and put her on the recommended No Vegetables diet). You really don’t know everything that goes into a can of cat food.
We prepare a shredded boiled or poached skinless and boneless chicken breast, shredding it in a blender or food processor. Then because we found our cat was not digesting the rice we pureed it with chicken broth for taste. We make and keep a 4-5 day supply in the fridge anything longer we freeze.
We fed her 4 time a day small amounts until she got use to it and now it is 2 times a day. Within three weeks she started to retain her food and now when she occasionally throws a hair ball it is without food. She gained back her weight (3 lbs.) So we will be preparing her food from now on and it is no more expensive than those special diet foods and only takes 30-40 minutes of prep time every 4-5 days. I am looking into whether she needs any supplements added.
Our big problem is how to furminate her without the stress she goes through and the clawing we go through. Any suggestions?