3 Common Reasons Your Cat Is Vomiting and What to Do About It

If your cat is vomiting, you’ll want to know why like a good cat parent. Very few people know the truth behind feline vomiting.

It’s time to demystify this topic once and for all.

Here are 3 reasons why cats throw up:

1. Why Your Cat is Vomiting: Hair Balls

Vomiting in cats is a normal behavior, but not normal enough to ignore. On average, cats vomit twice per month, usually from hairballs.

Anything more than that is a cause for concern.

Because cats self-groom with their tongues, a lot of that hair winds up in their digestive tracts. If your cat is constantly hacking up hairballs, then you have a problem.

Try brushing your cat a few times a week to get rid of any excess hair that might become hairballs. You can also take your cat to the groomer every 6 months or so. There’s also special “hairball” formula treats and food you can invest in.

2. Your Cat’s Eating Habits

Your cat’s eating habits can be one of the causes of vomiting. For instance, your cat eating something off the floor that doesn’t agree with its stomach might result in vomiting.

How fast does your cat eat? Eating too fast can cause cats to vomit. Breaking up wet food into smaller chunks can slow down your cat’s chowing.

If you serve your cat wet food, you might be in the habit of putting your kitty’s leftovers in the refrigerator. Your cat’s food being too cold can cause vomiting.

If you want to keep serving your cat leftovers, make sure the leftover wet food has warmed to room temperature before serving.

Some cats that lived in situations where food was scarce. They tend to eat a lot of food at once, but this can cause vomiting. If this is your problem, change your cat’s diet and serve your cat small portions throughout the day.

If your cat’s eating habits are fine, then it’s time to face the unsettling truth:

3. There’s Something Wrong With Your Cat

Why do cats throw up? If it’s not for any of the aforementioned reasons, your cat is probably sick. Frequent vomiting in cats is a sign of a serious medical condition.

Monitor your cat’s behavior and look for other symptoms. Is your cat vomiting (especially with blood present), having diarrhea, being lethargic, dehydrated, losing weight, or eating and drinking less? If so, you’ll have to visit the vet.

There are many conditions that your cat vomiting could be a symptom of. Your veterinarian will need to run tests to narrow down a diagnosis.

If your cat vomits, wait for 2 hours afterward until you reintroduce food and water. You can also feed your cat a bland diet of boiled potatoes, skinless chicken, and plain rice.

Treat Your Cat With Care

More than half of the cats in the United States haven’t seen a veterinarian in the past year. Please don’t wait if you think your cat needs to go to the vet.

Around 81% of American cat owners see their cats as self-sufficient enough to take care of themselves. This is wrong. Your cat needs your help. If your cat is vomiting, it’s your responsibility to make sure everything is okay.

Invest in your cat’s life and learn more about preventative care for cats. It’ll bring you closer to your feline friend.