November 3, 2007
The Cat Owners Dirty Little Secret
As cat owners, we recognize the warning signs of an upset stomach: the pitiful meow, the gagging and heaving. Big yuck! Then as quickly as it is triggered, the cat seems fine and you are left to clean up the mess. Although it’s not a pleasant subject, vomiting is something cats seem to do.
If your cat throws up every once in a while, it is not a sign of illness. However, if the vomiting occurs twice daily for two or three days, it could be more serious. There is a risk of dehydration or a more serious stomach condition that should be evaluated by your vet. If your cat stops eating, seems to have stomach pain, retches continuously or if there’s blood in the vomit, take it to a veterinarian.
According to Dr. Carey at The Daily Cat, in addition to the obvious problem with hairballs, cat may vomit because they are eating too fast or too much. When the stomach wall expands too quickly, a signal is sent to the brain to cause regurgitation. In these cases, the mess on your floor is not actual vomit. Cats may eat too quickly because they are gluttonous or stressed by food bowl competition. Cat may also throw up something they ate, but shouldn’t have, like grass, bits of plastic, or feathers. This vomiting is protective.
If your cat is having problems with frequent vomiting, you can try several things that may help. Serving smaller portions or forcing them to slow down their eating. Making sure their eating space is safe and individualized. There are also some medications that may calm an over-active digestive system. You can find several possible treatments for Tummy Troubles at PetMeds.
Posted by Barbara.
Filed under General by Editor