Cats & Chronic Vomiting

Vomiting in cats is defined as a forceful ejection of the material that is in the cat's stomach or duodenum, the first section of the small intestine. Vomiting in cats is defined as chronic if it lasts for more than two weeks. While occasional vomiting is typically not a cause for concern, a cat that vomits chronically could be suffering from a variety of different issues.

  1. Causes

    • There are many different things that might cause chronic vomiting in cats. Inflammatory bowel diseases, stomach cancer or metabolic diseases can cause chronic vomiting, as can parasites, food allergies and obstruction in the cat's digestive system.

    Symptoms

    • A cat that is dealing with chronic vomiting may also show signs of dehydration and lethargy. It might be losing weight and have a variable appetite, and there may also be blood in its stool.

    Identification

    • A cat that has chronic vomiting needs to be taken to the veterinarian for further examination. To determine why a cat is suffering from this problem, a thorough physical examination conducted, and a complete blood count and a urinalysis may be necessary. X-rays and fecal examinations are two other diagnostic tools that can be used to determine why the cat is vomiting.

    Treatment

    • The treatment for chronic vomiting will depend on the cause. Dietary changes are used to combat vomiting due to food allergies, while corticosteroids are prescribed in the event of inflammatory bowel disease. Surgery may required if there is some sort of obstruction of the digestive tract, and anti-emetic medication may be prescribed to relieve the vomiting until other treatments can take effect.

    Hairballs

    • As cats groom themselves, they may ingest hair, which is then vomited back up after a dry cough and some retching. Though hairballs are a common occurrence, especially in long-haired cats, they can be a serious issue that leads to intestinal blockage. While the occasional hairball is nothing to worry about, a cat that frequently vomits up hairballs needs to be taken to the veterinarian.

    Prevention

    • Feeding a cat a high quality diet can be instrumental in preventing chronic vomiting from food allergies. Similarly, brushing your cat will limit the amount of loose hair that it will ingest.