Feline vomiting has a number of causes, some serious and some not. Cats' stomachs and digestive systems are very sensitive, so you'll need a good understanding of the many causes of feline vomiting before you can interpret the symptoms as serious or not. Here are some of the causes of feline vomiting.
Food-Related Vomiting
Food-related feline vomiting often occurs when your cat eats too fast. A sudden change in diet can shock your cat's sensitive digestive system and bring on a bout of feline vomiting. Food allergies or intolerances can make your cat vomit.
Feline vomiting can also occur when your cat eats something inappropriate, such as old or mouldy food, or foreign objects including bones or thread. Toxins, including antifreeze, aspirin and poisonous houseplants, can induce feline vomiting.
Parasites and Other Miscellaneous Causes
Intestinal worms of all kinds can cause feline vomiting and are often the culprit in cases of chronic feline vomiting that have no obvious cause.
Heat stroke can also make cats feel sick to their stomachs. Hairballs are a well-known cause of feline vomiting. Acute gastritis, or irritation of the stomach, can cause feline vomiting.
Infectious Causes of Feline Vomiting
A number of infections, both bacterial and viral, can cause vomiting. They include:
- Salmonella
- Giardia
- Coccidiosis
- Feline Leukemia
Many cats may suffer bouts of vomiting as a side effect of antibiotic medication.
Vomiting Caused By Disease
There are a number of diseases that can cause feline vomiting. Some are easier to treat than others. They include:
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Diabetes
- Hyperthyroidism
- Pancreatitis
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Feline Panleukopenia
- Lymphosarcoma
Interpreting Feline Vomiting Symptoms
If your cat appears otherwise healthy, then his vomiting symptoms are probably due to some minor ailment such as a food intolerance, or may be due to a chronic irritation such as Irritable Bowel Disease. Your cat may be suffering from a more serious illness if he also displays any of the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- Fever
- Lethargy
Also, blood in the vomit may be a symptom of a serious digestive disorder in cats. Fresh, bright red blood is usually a sign of internal bleeding in your cat's digestive tract. Blood may also appear in feline vomit as black and gritty; this is a sign that your cat has suffered some internal bleeding in the recent past, and may be a sign of stomach ulcers.