Is this normal?

Question

This morning, my 9 month old cat through up. At first, I thought he had eaten too much. He wouldn't eat for awhile, even though he kept going to his dish. Then, after awhile, he started eating and drinking. What is concerning me is this behaviour: he was sitting looking outside, and he saw a bug or something. He was reaching for it, and while he was doing so, his jaws started clacking together. Is this normal? It seemed like he had no control over it. Don't worry, I have made an appointment for the vet this afternoon, but I wanted to see if anyone out there has an idea about this.

Sorry, I mean he "threw up," not "through up."

Thanks, folks. Your answers so far have eased my mind a great deal. I have never seen this clicking behaviour before. But I will still keep that vet appointment: better to be safe than sorry, and Winston deserves the best!

Thanks again for the input, everyone. Yes, I wouldn't cancel that appointment. I have found that on this site, people do tend to ask medical/veterinary advice. This site should be used for opinions--it should in no way substitute a visit to the doctor, or vet--whatever the case may be.

Answer 1

First, this is the time of the year to have hairballs (dry food with hairball control is good). As the cat really clean them selves at night, they start coughing in the morning. This normally happens after food or water. As long as your cat is still eating, there should be nothing wrong with it.
Also this clapping thing they do, is also very normal. I still have not seen one cat NOT doing this.
This happens normally when they get very worked up. I.e. if they are too fare away form the pray they want.
Don't worry. I would guess your little hart breaker is totally fine.

Answer 2

The clicking the cat is doing is called "chattering" and that means the cat is really excited about this prey. Normal behavior. Throwing up is one of the things cats do sometimes. It might be a hairball, it might be eating too much or it could be something serious. One time throw ups don't seem to be a worry, but if there area other concerns, you're doing the right thing taking him to the vet.

Answer 3

I've seen the clacking jaws thing and if he did it while watching a bug or something it's probably nothing to worry about. It's kind of a playful behavior.
Throwing up once isn't a big deal. Especially if he is eating and drinking fine this soon after. It's possible he just has a hairball in which case if he didn't throw it up he'll probably throw up some more.
If he keeps doing it and you're worried take him to the vet.

Answer 4

Isn't that the craziest noise! I had never heard a cat do that until I got my female cat. She will often sit by the window and watch the world go by. As soon as she sees a bug, squirrel, chipmunk, bird, or even another cat, she'll start chirping away. It's too cute.

As far as the vomiting, he could have eaten too fast. I know that can happen more in dogs, but it is a possibility in cats. It's good you're taking him to the vet, though. Too many people on here do not do that.

Answer 5

Cats often do weird things when they see things they want to hunt. My nextdoor neighbours cat used to click when it saw a bug on the window, I swear, it was weird. My cat used to bleat like a sheep if she saw a bird in her garden, it was much too cute!

Anyway, I would only be concerned about the vomiting. Cats are sick from time to time tho - however you're absolutely right to get him checked by a vet if you're worried, as no one on here can tell you what is or isn't wrong!

I wish more people would just do what you've done when worried about an animal, and take it to the vets!

Chalice

Answer 6

My cat does the jaw clacking when he sees something flying by the window! I wouldn;t be alarmed at that. The throwing up may have just been from a hairball that he got. As long as he is eating and drinking fine now he should be OK

Answer 7

What you spot on usual, is what is natural. Example: in case you see a character hiccuping that frequently natural but when its nonstop for days or months, that is absolutely no longer natural. Also if a character used to be born with whatever like six hands on every hand won't look natural to us however it's natural to that character. So normally it is an man or woman factor that no person else will have an understanding of.

Answer 8

What breed of cat is it? Some cats by nature exhibit more characteristics of hunters. My Russian blue does this, too. He's just intent on the prey, and for some reason this causes that weird oral response.
Good job on going to the vet, and good luck!

Answer 9

first of all it is very normal for a cat to throw up its food...cats tend to eat more than their little tummy can hold...second that is also very normal for a cat to make that clicking noise with their jaws when they see flying birds, insects even other cats outside mine do it all the time ...its good that you care enough about your cat to make the vet appt but it is seriously not necessary

Answer 10

The jaw clacking is normal when cats see something they want to hunt. Mine do it watching birds thru the window. I don't know why they do it but they do.