Two cats, one has been vomiting but don't know which - take both to vets?

[AnotherEmma]

I have two cats. On Monday and Tuesday morning, I came downstairs to find vomit, and I've just got in late to find more vomit (actually not really vomit, just looks like bile ) so that's 3 nights in a row now and I'm really worried. I want to go to the vets in the morning. But I don't know which cat it was! Should I just take them both? Are there any signs I should be looking out for? I can't see anything obvious with either cat.

How do you know its the same cat?

Mine vomit pretty regularly, do yours not? It would never occur to me to take them to the vets for vomiting alone.

Sometimes cats vom. Just like we humans do. It's not vet worthy.

My cats throw up all the time. Lobely slimey sausages of hair and sometimes half digested food. Its not unusual..have they been wormed recently?

Yes they have been wormed recently.

The first night it was clearly regurgitated cat food, I didn't think anything of it.

The second night there were two puddles, one of cat food and another of orangey bile.

Tonight there's no food in it, just pink bile - possibly blood?

I don't know why but I just have a hunch it's the same cat. One is pretty bold and a hunter so more likely to have eaten something dodgy.

So none of you would take cat(s) to vet to be checked over after 3 nights in a row of vomiting which seems to be getting worse?

I've not seen cat vomit like this before.

PS no hairballs in any of it, my cats don't bring up hairballs

Yep my cats vomit like that. Sometimes vomiting a full meal after eating. Sometimes fur. Sometimes just reddish liquid.

I don't think "reddish liquid" is normal, surely?!

Keep them in separate rooms inside for a day or overnight with litter tray each. You'll soon work out which one

My cats vom regularly too
One over eats and both bring up hairballs

But if it's unusual and worrying you, they're not drinking or eating or looking like they can't eat/ retching then you're right to take to vets

Yes I'd agree, keep them separate for a day then you will know which one it is.

Are both of them eating, drinking water, behaving otherwise normally? Cats hide pain well though.
If so, I don't think you have an emergency. But you do need to find out which one (if its one) who is puking and also be able to check that they are toileting ok.
Keep them in and seperate them overnight and put a litter tray in with each.
Maybe call the vets? You could make an appointment for the next day with the proviso you can cancel if the cats are fine?

Split them up for the day and see which one it is?

Thanks all. I was in a bit of panic last night but this morning decided to keep them in and keep an eye on them as you've all suggested. We had a video call with a vet (handy perk of our cat insurance) who advised the same, separate them and keep an eye. She told us to offer them plain boiled chicken or white fish. I'll give that a go, but neither of them seems particularly interested in food - bowls were untouched overnight. I'll separate them properly before I go to bed so if there's more vomit in the morning we'll know which cat and take it to the vet tomorrow.

I hear what you're all saying about some vomiting being normal but this doesn't seem hugely normal to me... hopefully just a bug and will pass. They seem ok in themselves anyway.

If neither of them are interested in food it may well be both of them

We have three cats and it's never easy to figure out which one is responsible for any dodgy poo or vomit but I've never needed to take any of them to the vets for it - it's always resolved itself within a couple of days.

Update. It's definitely just the one cat, and it's the one I thought. I saw him vomiting yesterday evening, and came down this morning to find more. It's just small amounts of bile at this point. He hasn't been drinking. And no wee for 31 hours and counting, either. I called the vet and they said to bring him straight in. I am waiting now.

I've had exactly the same problem! One of mine has always been a vomiter, the other hasn't. You'll just have two try and catch them in the act! It turned out some of the vomit was from the non vomiter!

My vomiters, pattern had changed. So I did take her, and had bloods done. Realised it was the Felix cat soup causing the issue. The non vomited was because she was on very strong antibiotics for a nasty infection.

Vet called, they did bloods and nothing serious thankfully, must just be a bug. She is giving him anti-sickness meds and I can take him home and keep an eye. I'm glad I took him in though.

Glad all's well.

Hope he’s okay mine had this last summer and it was a ‘suspected’ bacterial infection, an AB shot stored him out was back to normal (greedy) in no time, glad it’s okay can’t be too careful and you were right to be concerned 😻

Did they check for a blockage?

Thank you Beamur and TwoMonthsOff.

@coffeecupsandwaxmelts
Yes vet examined him almost as soon as I took him in, as they were concerned he hadn't passed urine for so long, but she said his bladder wasn't blocked and it was more likely he was just holding it in (as he's used to toileting outside and clearly hates the litter tray).

I think the meds did the trick, he started eating the (bland) food I'd put down for him, and hasn't been sick at all since we got back from the vets... well not in the house. But he seems on the mend thankfully

Our cat was sick several times recently tests all proved negative the vet thinks he just eats too quickly she advised raising up his bowl slightly so he is stopping to eat seems to have slowed him down a bit.

Oh that's good @AnotherEmma I'm glad he's on the mend!

Thank you