Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cat throwing up white foam

41 replies

User292 · 03/10/2024 21:13

A couple of days ago I woke up to a small bit of white foam in the kitchen. I knew my cat had thrown up because he’s done that once or twice before. He has been fine over the past two days but tonight he has vomited white foam twice. Is this anything to worry about? I am an over worrier. What other signs should I watch out for? How will I know if he is feeling unwell or if there’s something wrong?

OP posts:
hereismydog · 03/10/2024 21:15

I have three cats, one of them is quite a sicky girl in general. White foam is usually due to an empty stomach, how long had it been since he’d eaten when he threw up this evening?

Theunamedcat · 03/10/2024 21:18

Sounds like nausea how is he eating?

My cat went to the vets and had an anti nausea injection

Things to check are obviously appetite and meow if the meow is off there might be an issue like something stuck in the throat? I spent a couple of hundred pounds to find out my cat had swollen tonsils something had apparently been stuck and he dislodged it himself by vomiting left him with a cracking sore throat swollen tonsils and because he couldn't eat he felt very very sick

Original poster
User292 · 03/10/2024 21:21

hereismydog · 03/10/2024 21:15

I have three cats, one of them is quite a sicky girl in general. White foam is usually due to an empty stomach, how long had it been since he’d eaten when he threw up this evening?

He hasn’t really eaten much today. He had some chicken this morning because he had a vet appointment and I was supposed to give him gabapentin to chill him out and was putting the tablets in the chicken. He ate the chicken and spat the tablets out so he hasn’t had any of the medication. Once we got back from the vets he’s been a bit quiet all day but I put that down to him having a stressful morning at the vets. He hasn’t been interested in his food really today, just been sleeping. He got up at about 6:30 and came and sat on the couch with me for a bit then threw up at 7:30, and then again at 9

OP posts:
Scampuss · 03/10/2024 21:24

Does he go outside or have access to grass indoors? The puke caused by eating grass is often a bit foamy.

Have you recently applied a spot on? They can be bitter and cause a bit of regurge.

If there's no apparent reason it's worth calling the vet for advice.

Original poster
User292 · 03/10/2024 21:26

Scampuss · 03/10/2024 21:24

Does he go outside or have access to grass indoors? The puke caused by eating grass is often a bit foamy.

Have you recently applied a spot on? They can be bitter and cause a bit of regurge.

If there's no apparent reason it's worth calling the vet for advice.

Yeah he does go outside so it could be grass. Also the gabapentin is bitter apparently so could be that he did eat a little bit of it… but he’s had it before and never thrown up on it. Would you say keep an eye on him over night? Or would it warrant out of hours tonight? I never know what’s me just over worrying and what’s appropriate

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 03/10/2024 21:28

Does he like lickelix? Gets something in the stomach and if his throat is sore it's gentle on the stomach

Theunamedcat · 03/10/2024 21:28

Is he drinking?

Original poster
User292 · 03/10/2024 21:29

Theunamedcat · 03/10/2024 21:28

Is he drinking?

No he doesn’t drink much. He only drinks water when he has had dry food, but he’s eating wet atm so tends not to drink a lot

OP posts:
Cobblersorchard · 03/10/2024 21:32

Mine vomit foam when they have a hairball brewing or after a spot on treatment (they are buggers to do and I never get it exactly in the right place).

As your cat has seen a vet anyway I can’t imagine it’s very serious but it could indicate poisoning if you have any reason to think that’s a possibility (I lost one to lily poison once). But I really doubt it.

MindenReload · 03/10/2024 21:48

It sounds like hunger puke. She may need feeding more often.

Scampuss · 03/10/2024 21:49

It does sound a bit like he's had a crappy day so is off his food, I'd give until morning and see how he is tomorrow.

DeliciousApples · 03/10/2024 22:32

Does he seem well in himself otherwise?

If he's had to go to the vet presumably he's has symptoms of some illness or condition.

Could this be related to that? If he was getting poked and prodded it may have been sore.

Is there any way he may have a small chicken bone stuck in his throat?

Grass makes mine throw up chicken. If all he had was breakfast he may be hungry now for a wee bit of dinner? But I'd keep an eye on him after.

Original poster
User292 · 03/10/2024 23:00

DeliciousApples · 03/10/2024 22:32

Does he seem well in himself otherwise?

If he's had to go to the vet presumably he's has symptoms of some illness or condition.

Could this be related to that? If he was getting poked and prodded it may have been sore.

Is there any way he may have a small chicken bone stuck in his throat?

Grass makes mine throw up chicken. If all he had was breakfast he may be hungry now for a wee bit of dinner? But I'd keep an eye on him after.

I’m not sure.. I’m scrutinising everything he’s doing like ‘is that normal for him?!’ And reading into everything. He was lay in the kitchen earlier and wouldn’t come over to me when I shouted him. But then he came upstairs and got onto the bed with me and was purring while I stroked him.

He went to the vet today just for a check up on his teeth, because there’s a bit of tartar build up and he’s booked in for a scale and polish.

I gave him chicken breast so no bones, and I gave him the choice between his normal cat food and some chicken about an hour ago and he isn’t interested in them. I’m going to keep my eye on him overnight and if he isn’t a bit perkier in the morning I’m taking him to the vets. He won’t be happy about that, he’s a very nervous and anxious cat and gets very stressed at the vets (hence why they prescribe gabapentin for him) so another trip to the vet tomorrow will affect him 😔 but of course I will take him if needs be. I keep telling myself, it’s just a bit of vomit, cats vomit sometimes. But the fact he doesn’t want food or chicken concerns me. He is sat on his usual seat at the window now looking out

OP posts:
Original poster
User292 · 03/10/2024 23:16

He is drinking some water now, is that good? Or is that bad? Does it mean he is dehydrated? Don’t think I’ll be getting any sleep tonight 😬

OP posts:
Scampuss · 03/10/2024 23:18

Drinking is good!

I wonder if his mouth might be a little sore from being poked about with.

letthemalldoone · 03/10/2024 23:22

My cats sometimes throw up foam when they are (unsuccessfully!) trying to throw up a furball.

Scutterbug · 03/10/2024 23:25

Drinking is good. My cat throws up foam when she’s been eating grass or has a fur ball.

Babyshambles90 · 03/10/2024 23:42

I am sure he will be fine but it would help if you can get something in his tummy tonight. It’s great he is drinking. Do you have a can of tuna in spring water? That often works to get them eating again. Or whatever his fave treat would be. Chances are once he eats he’ll feel less nauseous and feel like eating more normally. Cats can be tricky like that, one of mine also randomly doesn’t eat, gets empty, throws up and starts grinding his teeth and licking his lips frantically because he feels sick. Once I coax him into eating he perks up again! I hope your little man picks up soon.

Starlight7080 · 04/10/2024 01:50

I bet he will be fine tomorrow. But white foam I was told was a sign of inflammation. Maybe wrong.
But if he has had teeth problems then may just be the gums causing it

DeliciousApples · 04/10/2024 08:19

How is the wee guy today? Is he eating yet? Or is it the dreaded vet again ... ?

Original poster
User292 · 04/10/2024 10:16

DeliciousApples · 04/10/2024 08:19

How is the wee guy today? Is he eating yet? Or is it the dreaded vet again ... ?

He had a very watery poo last night and then after that there’s been nothing. He ate some chicken this morning and now seems back to normal! I’m keeping him on chicken today just until his stomach settles… I have some being boiled now and he’s currently shouting at me to cook it faster

OP posts:
Scampuss · 04/10/2024 10:49

That's a good sign!

Theunamedcat · 04/10/2024 11:40

Aww fingers crossed he was just stressed about the vets and that's all there is too it

Puppylucky · 04/10/2024 13:40

Just a quick flag - I'm sure your boy is fine but white foam pukes can also signify kidney problems like CKD as it's a sign of nausea. Elton puked up white foam regularly and was also very picky around food which was all basically down to his kidney disease making him feel sick. He's on anti nausea meds now and has stopped puking and is eating much better. It might be worth getting a blood test done for peace of mind?
Also on the Gabapentin front Elton also has to take it before vet visits but we have it in liquid form which is much easier to get down him - might be worth trying!

Original poster
User292 · 04/10/2024 14:26

Puppylucky · 04/10/2024 13:40

Just a quick flag - I'm sure your boy is fine but white foam pukes can also signify kidney problems like CKD as it's a sign of nausea. Elton puked up white foam regularly and was also very picky around food which was all basically down to his kidney disease making him feel sick. He's on anti nausea meds now and has stopped puking and is eating much better. It might be worth getting a blood test done for peace of mind?
Also on the Gabapentin front Elton also has to take it before vet visits but we have it in liquid form which is much easier to get down him - might be worth trying!

Hi! Thanks for flagging this…. Could I ask what other symptoms are?

Oh we had liquid gabapentin as well! Tried with both and couldn’t get either of them down him 😔 we have tried to squirt directly into his mouth before but it’s a massive fail

OP posts: