We are all familiar with the sound. The gagging, the retching, and the final glop. Yep, the cat puked again. But why? There are many reasons for a cat to vomit, and it isn’t abnormal for our feline friends to do so from time to time. Of course, excessive vomiting can be a concern. Here is a list of possible puking causes:
1) Eating Habits- my cat is notorious for eating too fast and that can cause him to puke up what he just ate (gross). Some cats have a tendency to overeat, which of course their body can’t tolerate. These issues are most common in multi-cat homes where cats feel like they need to compete over their food. Another possible reason involving eating habits could be an abrupt change in their diet. If you decide to change up their food choices, do it gradually so the gut has some time to adapt.
2) Consuming Indigestibles- house plants, grass, toilet paper, part of a toy, a balloon string, their own fur…when a cat eats something that isn’t intended to be eaten the body rejects the material and vomits it up. See below for more information regarding hairballs.
3) Allergies- Cats can have allergies just like the rest of us. They may have an intolerance to an ingredient in their food and thus can’t properly digest it. Common allergies are beef, fish, eggs, wheat and milk. Food allergies can develop even if your cat has been eating the same food for years. If you suspect this may be the cause of their vomiting, try a Limited Ingredient Diet to see if that helps settle their tummy.
4) Infection- Bacterial and viral infections can lead to vomiting. If you suspect this may be the cause, get your cat in to see your vet immediately.
5) Certain Diseases- liver failure, kidney disease, irritable bowel disease, hyperthyroidism, adrenal gland disease and cancer (among other health concerns) can all cause vomiting.
6) Parasites- hookworms, roundworms, and whipworms can all lead to excessive vomiting. There are many over-the-counter treatments for these parasites.
7) Poisons- When a cat eats something that is toxic their bodies protective mechanisms kick into gear and immediately try to expel the poison. Common poisons are human foods, certain plants, human medications, insecticides and certain chemicals. If your kitty gets into something they shouldn’t, call your vet or Poison Control immediately.
If your cat is vomiting blood, or you suspect any of the above reasons for your cat puking, please get them to their Veterinarian as soon as possible.
The treatment for your cats vomiting will ultimately depend on the cause, there are ways to alleviate upset tummies Try offering smaller portions multiple times a day rather than allowing your cat to “free-feed”, provide plenty of water from various sources. Try withholding certain ingredients if you suspect there may be an allergy.
The most common cause of vomiting for kitties is the dreaded hairball (cue horror movie music). We all know what it looks like- the tube of hair surrounded by bile. Yep- no one likes cleaning that up (be honest- you’ve ignored it once or twice to make your spouse clean it up). In actuality, it is a perfectly natural thing for your cat to do.
When your cat grooms itself, tiny hook like structures on their tongue catch loose hair which is then swallowed. The majority of this hair passes all the way through the digestive tract, but some of it may get stuck in the stomach where it will form a hairball, which your cat will need to vomit up. Nothing can be done to completely eliminate hairballs, but there are things that can reduce the frequency.
1) Groom your cat regularly- the more loose and dead fur you remove from your cat’s coat the less fur they can swallow.
2) Give your cat a specialized hairball formula for their regular diet- these high fiber foods are designed to improve the health of your cat’s coat which minimizes the amount of shedding and encourages the hairballs to pass through the digestive tract. See below for some diet recommendations.
3) Use a hairball product- there are many hairball prevention products on the market. These are mild laxatives intended to lubricate the hairball so that it can completely pass through the gut. Some recommended products are Pet Natural’s Hairball supplement, Tomlyn Hairball Remedies, and Grizzly Pet Products Salmon Oil. Salmon Oil adds necessary Omega 3’s to your cats diet that can help their gut process excessive fur.
4) Discourage excessive grooming- if grooming has become a compulsive act to your cat try to train them to do another activity instead. Try using an interactive toy that you can play with together to distract him from his compulsive behavior.
One of the best things you can do to improve your cat’s overall health (and thus help prevent hairballs) is to provide wet food. If you solely feed dry food, your cat is not getting anywhere near the needed moisture for optimal organ function. If your cat is only eating kibble their body is working harder than it needs to in order to process all that dry material. Cat’s get a large majority of the water their body needs from their food. They won’t drink any extra water to compensate for the lack of moisture in a kibble only diet.
If your kitty’s diet is low in moisture content, they’re living in a state of chronic dehydration. “[Their] GI tract, already moisture depleted, is less able to transport a mass of swallowed fur and debris then the GI tract of a well-hydrated cat eating a species appropriate (moisture rich) diet” (healthypets.com).
Bottom line- feed more wet food.
There are many foods, both wet and dry, that specialize in hairball management. Here are some of our recommendations.
1) AvoDerm Natural Indoor Hairball Care Formula- this diet is specifically formulated to help control hairball formation by adding a special blend of fiber sources, one of which is avocado. Avocado offers vitamins, minerals and antioxidants to help support your cat’s immune function and provide a healthy coat.
2) Nulo Freestyle Hairball Management- this diet includes natural insoluble fiber ingredients like Miscanthus Grass to help reduce hairballs by gently moving hair through the digestive tract. This food has industry leading levels of animal-based proteins to reduce excessive shedding. Nulo Hairball Management has a balanced amount of Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids which nourish a cat’s skin and help promote a beautiful, shiny coat. There is also a patented probiotic system that supports immune and digestive health.
3) Natural Balance L.I.D Indoor Formulas- these formulas are balanced with appropriate insoluble and soluble fibers to help with hairball management. Their unique and proprietary fiber layering not only supply a healthy digestive tract, they also provide excellent nutrition to control hairballs.
L.I.D Indoor Turkey & Chickpea and Salmon & Chickpea dry formulas
L.I.D Indoor Turkey & Chickpea and Salmon & Chickpea wet formulas
Here at Bothell Feed Center we are passionate about helping you find the right food and products to meet the specific needs of your pets. Please come in and let us help you find the best products to help manage your cats hairballs and potentially save you from stepping on that puke pile when you get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night. You’re welcome.