Why is my cat sick ?

[Doberman's]

My one cat is throwing up ocassionally and I have no idea why. This morning she vomitted up her breakfast. I am concerned. She seems to have a senstive stomach as it is but could it be somethng else? She is only 4 yrs old.

[KatzNK9]

If she has no other symptoms, I would suspect hairballs. I'd add the equivalent of 1/2 "pat" of butter to her food once a week or so to see if symptoms improve. A little bit of pumpkin later in the week to follow that up.

[Doberman's]

OK. I don't see any hair in her vomit though.

[OrcaInspired]

Hm. Have you started feeding her a new food?

[Doberman's]

No, same food. I am kind of freaking, I worry about the recalls but this food was not recalled apparently.

[KatzNK9]

If the hairball is bunched up in her stomach, you won't necessarily see hair in the vomit. Greasing up the works & then adding a little fiber should help it pass the other direction if she's got one in there.

Often, a cat will vomit if there's a sizeable hairball in the stomach that isn't coming up. They eat the regular amount of food but their stomach is more full than normal.

[OrcaInspired]

If you're worried, calling your veterinarian wouldn't hurt.

I hope your cat gets better soon!

[KatzNK9]

What are you feeding her?

[Doberman's]

Nutro's natural.

[KatzNK9]

I went to look over their main two formulas (checking for artificial coloring which is often a problem with cat foods) & didn't find anything that concerned me. I've fed their foods lots of times. I switch brands often for cats.

What is coming back up? Relatively undigested food? Shortly after eating? If so, I'd be even more suspicious of hairballs.

Other than the fact that we're all afraid of everything we're feeding awaiting the next recall news, I have no reason to suspect her food is causing the problem if she's been eating it long term.

A change in food couldn't hurt; however, tis the season for hairballs to be at their worst & we don't always see signs until they come up or out. Most of the time when I have a cat who is vomiting for unexplained reasons & no other symptoms, that continues for 2-3 days & then up comes a big hairball & all the vomiting ceases.

Do the standard things you'd do when you see signs of vomiting. Check & recheck for hydration, intercede quickly if you see signs of dehydration. However, it there aren't any other symptoms & it doesn't persist, it is likely nothing to worry about. Keep mindful (which I'm sure you are) of how much is coming back up & if it turns out to look like everything she eats, she, of course, needs vet attention.

At my house, I just yell, "INCOMING" ... and about the time it starts to really worry me is when that big hairball comes up.

[Areias]

Not too sure on what's going on with your kitty-but I wouldn't use the "hairball gel" sold at like walmart and stuff-I've seen a couple cats come in pretty sick after using that.

I like the laxatone-give it to them everyday and it should control the hairballs.

Is there anything else going on with her? If she starts to get really lethargic or anything changes, I would bring her to the vet-vomiting can signal so many things, and the first thing I thing I think of is pancreatitis, usually a lot of vomiting and listlessness is the first signs. But like katz says, it could be a simple hairball.

[KatzNK9]

Not too sure on what's going on with your kitty-but I wouldn't use the "hairball gel" sold at like walmart and stuff-I've seen a couple cats come in pretty sick after using that.

I like the laxatone-give it to them everyday and it should control the hairballs.


Ditto on the cheap stuff ... don't use it.

Laxatone is a good product. However, I've found I have as good a result with 1/2 pat of butter every week or so (I like it better than oil & I think the cats do too).

[Areias]

Ditto on the cheap stuff ... don't use it.

Laxatone is a good product. However, I've found I have as good a result with 1/2 pat of butter every week or so (I like it better than oil & I think the cats do too).

That's interesting, I've never heard of that. Do they eat the butter? I'm not sure mine would. I've never seen her do the hairball thing, ever, though.

[Doberman's]

What about mineral oil ?

The food coming up is undigested so I am thinking hairball as well now.

[brunosmom]

Hope your kitty feels better soon.......(seems like your running a hospital ward there.....)

[KatzNK9]

I know lots of people that use it but my vet from years ago discouraged it and I don't recall her reasoning & have since crossed it off my list of options. I know that it is virtually tasteless & I'd never give it with an eyedropper, etc. as you could choke/drown them without taste initiating the swallow reflex.

Don't like the idea of using butter/margarine? Got any olive oil?

[Doberman's]

No it's not that I don't like the idea of butter I just do not think she will eat it. :D I will try it though. How much in day ?

[KatzNK9]

I'd give her a little every week (maybe twice this week) ... like the equivalent of a 1/2 "pat" of butter ... a pat is what they used to serve in diners & placed on that little white sheet of thick paper. Ummmmmmm ... did I describe that OK? Ummmmm ... like 1/2 tsp. maybe?

You can melt it over her food too ... like you'd do with oil. Will have the same effect.