Cat throwing up

[Judystilldreamsofhorses]

Our cat is nine. In the last month or so she’s been sick three times, which is really unusual for her. She’s not at all bothered and immediately after is straight to her food bowl begging for treats, absolutely fine in herself. She was sick this morning after eating breakfast, and is now campaigning for lunch.

We’ve booked her into the vet - the first appointment was Wednesday. I’m worried! She’s generally very greedy so I do wonder if she is just horsing her food too fast, but she was sick on Saturday night, fine yesterday, then sick today, so off she goes. Anyone got any ideas? I’m frightened that at her age it could be her kidneys?

My cat who is now 7, has always had a tendency to this. It’s more like regurgitating, than being sick, as I don’t think it has been anywhere near his stomach, it happens too quickly! I noticed it was often in the morning after his first meal, which he tended to wolf down, so I started to put out smaller amounts but more frequently. Not everyone can do that, I appreciate, but maybe a timer bowl would be useful, if you wanted to?

It happens much less now, and when it does, there is often grass mixed in with it, which is how they get rid of furballs, apparently. No harm in getting your cat checked out by the vet though, if you’re worried. Hope all is fine.

Thanks for replying. MIL has a cat who sounds similar to yours, but this is unusual for ours. She’s no other worrying symptoms, so fingers crossed all will be well. She’s my best little chum ❤️

Has she been wormed recently?

Ours of about 10 did this. Always hungry after and demanded another meal. Had him checked put all ok. Vet decided he was just greedy and eating too fast. Raised his bowl up on an upturned dish which helped so have now got him a proper raised set of dishes.

DP is in charge of fleas/worming so possibly not, would that cause vomiting?

It could be she's lining up a huge furball for you! 😉 It's that kind of time of year for shedding and therefore swallowing more hair from grooming. My elderly, tiny foster kitty literally did this last week. Decorated my living room a couple of times, then started meowling quite pitifully and then hoicked up the most ginormous furball.😬 No idea how it fitted up his tiny throat! He's been better since. Or it could even just be a change in the weather, that can sometimes upset tummies. Really hope it's something simple like that, and nothing more serious. Keeping everything crossed for your appointment!

My cat regularly throws up. He's greedy. He steals food elsewhere and there is definitely somebody who feeds him cubed chicken and ham and then he comes in and eats his own food and boom, up it all comes. I've started giving him much smaller regular meals and leaving out a small bowl of biscuits because he doesn't gobble those. That has made a difference. I do wish other people wouldn't feed pets that aren't theirs. I know it comes from a place of kindness but it's a real problem for me.

These posts are making me feel better, thank you. I’ve given her a quarter pack of wet food - chicken flavour - because she was campaigning so avidly for her lunch - and she’s curled up with me as I work from home.

I’ve been totally spiralling out of control wondering if she will come home from the vet on Wednesday. She had her annual check/jabs in April and all was well then.

Just updating to say madam has had a full pouch of food (in small portions), done some sitting in the garden shouting at the pigeons, and is now having a lie down.

She’s chatty and purry as ever, not at all subdued, so I am keeping everything crossed it’s nothing serious. I gave her a good brush earlier and also gave the bird bath (which she likes to drink out of) a thorough clean out and fresh water in case there was something in that.

Here she is, the little trouble maker.

Aw, that's such good news, and what a gorgeous puss! She's looking quite smug about the fuss she has caused for you! 😂Hope the vets visit goes easy!

Could be the fact she's a bit older and not tolerating the hot weather, or perhaps has a fur ball in her system so food isn't passing through so easily.

How much does she eat every day? Just wondering if she's peckish and eating too quickly.

She good have a good few years in her yet, but either way doesn't do any harm (other than the damage to your purse) to have a check up every now and again as they get older - the slightest chance anything was picked up, there's so much more they can do these days.

Could be her thyroid. My cat started throwing up all the time, she had a blood test and it showed up under active thyroid. She’s on meds now and the sickness has stopped.

I have a bulimic cat who gobbles down his food (and everyone else's) then promptly chucks it back up 5 minutes later. The vet says the little swine is fine (though he is quite thin). I did try him with a feline therapist but even the therapist reckoned he was just a little angry bastard.

If your cat has only started doing this recently it probably is worth a vet visit just to put your mind at rest.

Well, no further incidents so I am wondering if it was something and nothing. Not sure if we should cancel the vet (she gets SO distressed) and just keep an eye on her?

A few years back she was very sick, repeatedly, over a period of a few hours, and was lethargic, refusing food, and clearly poorly. Our insurance has a 24h vet-nurse support line and they gave us checks to do on her, then called back in four hours with a view to bringing her in if she was worse (she wasn’t so we left it). In the morning she was bouncing on my head looking for breakfast, and the vet said she had probably eaten something in the garden. This time she’s like a binge drinker who opted for a strategic vomit, then immediately wants a pint, absolutely no signs of being under the weather.

I got in from work about half an hour ago and she screeched at me until I gave her biscuits and is now lying out in the sunshine. Can you spot her?

@Judystilldreamsofhorses
How is your gorgeous girl? Did you end up going to the vets? Really hoping she was just testing you to remind you she is the most important thing in your life to worry about..! ;)

@HappyCatty thanks for checking in! We ended up cancelling the appointment yesterday as it seemed cruel to subject her to the whole ordeal when she's been perfectly fine since Monday. This morning she stole a crumpet (with lactose free Philadelphia on it) from my actual breakfast plate, so doesn't appear to have much coming over her! That said, we will be keeping a close eye on her and can ring the vet again if need be.

Cheddar does this. It's diet related, the rescue told me that she didn't tolerate Roysl canin persian. But she didn't tolerate any RC. So swapped to Iams and she's been better on that. But in the last few months, she's worse. I've found some cheap ish grain free food. And the old Cheddar is back. (Could be weather related though!)

How old is your cat? My cat had the same symptoms and it was kidney disease. She was diagnosed two years ago at age 15 and still is with us. She was prescribed Famotidine to stop the sickness. X

She's nine, but I honestly think she was just drinking the stagnant water from the bird bath/gulping her food too quickly really. She's not been at all "off colour" in any other way, but we'll definitely keep an eye on her.

I seriously would go to the vets. Yes your cat will hate going but what if it is kidney disease and you could have slowed it down?

We'll keep an eye on her, thanks - my partner rang in to the vet yestetday and they were happy with that, and did not suggest it was anything to worry about.

You may want to check out "FirstVet" for advice on the current situation, and just for future reference. FirstVet offers "virtual" vet consultations via secure video link, and usually have availability within 15 to 30 minutes. I believe it is a 24/7 service. I am a HUGE fan of the service; I do not have any affiliation with them- just a great resource for pet parents.

It is not a replacement for your normal vet, but I've really loved it as an additional resource, especially to "sense check" whether a stressful, costly visit to the in-person-vet is needed and, if so, how urgently. They also offer advice on other interventions to help your pet with the particular concern, and help you understand what to look out for to know if/when escalation is needed.

You are able to provide a history of your pet, your concern, upload photos, etc. prior to your appointment to help use the consultation time efficiently. You get a written summary of recommendations, advice, etc following the appointment, and I think they can also send the summary to your in-person-vet if you want.

I have "free" access to FirstVet through my pet insurance, but I believe a consultation is reasonably priced if paying directly.

I spoke with a FirstVet vet this afternoon bc one of my cats (3 yrs) has been having issues similar to your cat. Things we are doing to help with hairballs/vomiting:
+Katalax,
+Royal Canin Hairball food, and
+daily grooming
(and ensuring all vaccinations, parasite treatments are up to date).

From the vet: Things you should look out for:

• Increased hairball frequency
• Overgrooming
• Vomiting fluid
• Lethargy

That sounds very similar to what we have with our insurance actually. I agree it is super helpful! Cat-face is as far from lethargic as could be, and even after being sick on Monday she was straight at her dish afterwards looking for more food, so no issues with appetite. She's eating well and not been sick again since then, but we will obviously be keeping a close eye on her. She doesn't tend to drink from her dish but we add water to her wet food in warm weather, and I caught her drinking from a jug of boiled water (cold) that I used to make up a sinus rinse this morning, so she's a well hydrated kitty today!

Oh, and she had her annual health check/boosters back in April, so we're all good there.

Aw, thanks for the update, so glad to hear there doesn't seem to be anything serious. They do like to test us! Long may it continue... 😉