Cats vomit for many reasons. The vomiting of healthy cats is mostly natural, so you don't have to worry too much. But you can worry about certain situations, considering the color, shape, and frequency of your cat’s vomit.
Common Types of Cat Vomit
No 1. Disgorged Hairballs
Cats throw up hairballs once or twice a month. Most hairballs pass in the stool. But if they swallow lots of hair, it gets tangled in the stomach and they will end up vomiting.
But, frequent disgorged hairballs are bad for the esophagus and stomach. You can switch the food or brush her fur regularly to help her with hairball vomit.
No 2. Undigested Food
Cats throw up undigested food after overeating or eating too fast. This is actually regurgitation, not vomiting. Regurgitation is easily spitting out undigested food or foreign objects from the esophagus.
On the other hand, vomiting is the forced expulsion of the contents of the stomach and upper intestine. In this case, you need to help your cat eat slowly and feed frequent small meals.
Frequent regurgitation may be a sign of esophageal disease. If so, go see a vet.
No 3. Yellow or Clear Vomit
Yellow or clear vomit may occur with an empty stomach. Your cat may expel gastric juice or bile.
Then, feed her fewer meals more often in the same amount. In addition, consistent throwing up is unusual. It may lead to gastritis or esophagitis. Or she might have swallowed something bad or have gotten sick. Consult a vet.
Cat Vomit - What Color Is Dangerous
No 1. Pink or Pale Red Vomiting
It means bleeding in the stomach, esophagus, or gums. Check if there are parasites or foreign bodies in vomit.
Also, your cat may suffer from a hemostatic disorder that does not stop bleeding from the wounded stomach or esophageal mucosa. Must see a vet.
No 2. Dark Red or Brown Vomiting
If your cat throws up brown vomit and something like coffee powder is in there, there might be bleeding in the small intestine. Intestinal obstruction due to a foreign body, inflammation, trauma, and tumor may be a cause. Go see a vet immediately.
Causes of Cat Vomiting When Sick
If your cat throws up while sick, she may show other symptoms as well. Check her activity level, appetite loss, urine, and feces.
- Food poison or food allergy
- Gastrointestinal diseases: foreign bodies, ulcers, inflammation
- Liver, kidney and pancreatic diseases
- Brain and nervous system diseases
- Parasite, viral infection
- Inflammation, tumor, hormonal disease, etc.
- Drug addiction
- Motion Sickness
Cat Vomit - Record The Symptoms
There are many possible causes for vomiting. If you record the symptoms in detail and take pictures at home, it will be a great help to your vet’s diagnosis.
-When, how, and how many times
-Color and smell
-Any other symptoms