Cat vomited: does he need to go to the vet?

Question

One of my 2 4 month old cats just vomited on the carpet. This is the first time either of them have done that, and I don't even know which cat did it. It looked like regurgitated wet cat food, although they hadn't had wet food since last night. However, both of them are running around, playing, wrestling, and acting normal, and I have watched both eat some of their food and drink water since the incident. Is vomiting once considered a situation that a cat needs to go to the vet right away for, or only if it continues?

The vomit did not have grass in it, but since they do not ever go outside, there is no way they'd eat grass anyway

Yes, they recently changed to Innova EVO, but this was done gradually, with 1/3-2/3 of the EVO the first 3 days, then 50-50, then 75-25 for 3 days each.

Answer 1

I have 7 cats and this happens often, it's from hair balls that get caught in the throat and of course everything comes up with it and it looks so gross. I keep the hair balls down with hair ball be gone goo it's in a tube and it looks like molases but there's lots of different brands and you can get a tube at your local pet place or even the vet's office just ask.

You shouldn't be alarmed unless they are vomiting alot and having diarria one or the two. also it wouldn't be a bad idea either to take them to the vet for a check up anyways. take care.

Answer 2

How old is the cat? Older pets have problems digesting food they had no problems with when they were younger. It could be a matter of changing to a more mild food. Do you give hairball remedy? Cats need it weekly to keep hairballs from forming. Hairballs (in case you didn't know) are common causes of vomiting. Cats vomit for no reason. It's a mystery sometimes. Clavamox is an antibiotic, sometimes they can cause vomiting. If you're pet is older than 8, get blood work. If younger, wait a day or 2, it may go away on its own. The fact you were given meds with no instructions is not right. In fact, it's illegal. All prescription medicine must have instructions, BY LAW!! Consider a different vet. I don't feel comfortable telling you what dosage to give. I don't know what size cat you have, or what size syringe you have.

Answer 3

Hi there again...I recall that you were looking to purchase Innova EVO for your kittens and perhaps you may have just began feeding this to them without gradually changing from their previous brand of food. Sudden changes to new foods can cause bowel distresses such as vomiting and diarrhoea symtpoms. The change needs to be done gradually in order to minimize the disturbances to the healthy bacteria in the bowel. Here's more on how to make the change and how it can help: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/article.cfm?dept_id=0&aid=100

Frequent vomiting does require veterinary care as kittens can quickly become dehydated.

[edit] since your kitten's stomach is more sensitive to the food change consider adding back a little more of the older food and waiting awhile longer before gradually changing the food again and staying with the mixture for a week then reducing by 10% which may be more subtle and easier to tolerate.

Answer 4

I wouldn't worry. My cats throw up all the time. O.K. not ALL the time, but when they do, and it isn't a hairball they're "wharffing" (? is that a word?) up, it usually looks like wet cat food. If one of the kitties starts acting out of sorts you might want to take it to the vet. Just to be sure it's O.K. But as long as the kitties are all acting normal, eatting and drinking, all should be well.

P.S. another suggestion is to watch where you walk! Stepping in regurgitated kitty chow is not very nice, trust me I know!

Hope this helps!!

Answer 5

1 Did the vomit have any grass in it? If so, the cat's body needed to get rid of something in it's system.

2 Is your cat showing any signs of feeling bad? If not, it's probably fine. If so, You might consider the vet.

Consider these things.

Answer 6

No I think your cat is fine as long as there is no blood. I have a 19 yr old calico and she coughs up hairballs sometimes. This is because cats lick their feet and then clean themselves all the time so this causes them to swallow hair. Try feeding your kitties a food that has hairball treatment in it. There is also a tube of something (sorry can't remember the name) but you wipe it on their paws and they will lick it off and it helps to eliminate hairballs. Hope this helps and don't be alarmed if it happens again, this is normal for cats.

Answer 7

When my cat vomits, it's normally because he doesn't chew his food fully. Maybe your cat either didn't chew well and it got stuck in its throat and came back up or he just ate too fast and made himself sick (my dog does this sometimes). I think your cat will be fine, mine normally just walks away like nothing out of the ordinary happened. Of course if the vomitting becomes contineuos or bloodly I would take both cats to the vet just to make sure they haven't caught anything.

Answer 8

They should be fine, they may have just over ate......if they're still playing and what not....... they should be fine. If it happens again I would change the food brand. I started my cats out on Purina pro plan....they loved it and they give you just the right amount in a can for a kitten. Just read the feeding directions more carefully. I may be wrong though since I'm not a vet....I'm just giving life experience..... good luck....hope this answer helped :)

Answer 9

well if they're back to normal, I wouldn't worry too much, might have been a furball. if it happens again, take 'em. try getting a food that reduces furballs, it does work. i have had the same problem with one of my cats, and she's almost 6. once is a little annoying, twice worries me. Three times, GO TO A VET! Now if only my husband agreed there. Sigh. But there's my advice.

Answer 10

a lot of cats will regurgigate food as its natural as the body wants to get rid of furballs and its natures way of getting rid of it.
but on the safe side, keep an eye on cat which has vomited for any change of diet habit and any litter changes and then take to vet if it continues.