Why Is My Cat Vomiting White Foam

If It Is Normal Then How Serious Can Vomiting Be

It depends on the cause of vomiting. Most cases of acute vomiting, when vomiting has been present for less than two to three days, resolve quickly with simple treatment, without the underlying cause being diagnosed. Severe or chronic vomiting is more serious. It can lead to secondary problems, particularly dehydration and disturbances in the levels of electrolytes such as sodium.

Vomiting can be caused by minor intestinal upset, such as from eating plants, spoiled food, or foul-tasting things such as certain insects. However, vomiting can also be a sign of a more serious illness, such as bacterial or viral infection, intestinal obstruction from foreign bodies , urinary tract obstruction, liver disease, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or cancer. Left untreated, these illnesses can lead to serious complications, including death.

Barium Study Ultrasound And Endoscopy

Often, X-rays do not diagnose the problem , but they help determine if further abdominal studies are needed. These other studies could include a barium study, which will help determine if there are foreign objects in the intestines or if there are motility issues with the intestines. Another study could be an ultrasound to look at the architecture of different organs ultrasound can be used as a means to sample different organs to get a definitive diagnosis.

In addition, an endoscopy may be recommended by your vet. Endoscopy is a way to look for foreign objects in the stomach that do not show up on X-rays, and it can be used to retrieve foreign objects. This procedure also allows viewing of the lining of the stomach and upper intestines to look for abnormalities, and can be used to collect samples of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

Theres Something Wrong With Your Cats Other Organs

Besides stomach-related troubles, your cat may be experiencing issues in her other organs such as her pancreas, kidney, or liver. Pancreatitis is a common illness in kittens wherein they do not produce enough enzymes such as amylase, lipase, and protease to digest their food. Aside from vomiting, the swelling of the pancreas causes diarrhea and thinning of the coat.

Diabetes, hepatic insufficiency, and hyperthyroidism are other diseases that may trigger cat vomiting. If you care for a senior cat, chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, cancer, and renal failure can also be plausible reasons for chronic vomiting.

Read Also: Is Raw Meat Good For Cats

How To Make A Cat Throw Up

Sometimes cats get into dangerous things like household products, aromatherapy oils, and toxic plants, so it makes sense to act quickly. However, it is not advisable to make a cat throw up.

The best course of action is to call your vet or emergency room and get there quickly.

Inducing vomiting in cats can cause more damage than good in many cases. Here are a few things you definitely shouldnt do:

Short Answer: If Its Red Or Black Thats Bad Otherwise It Can Be A Lot Of Different Stuff

• Red vomit: Unless you know for a fact that your cat has ingested a non-toxic substance that has red coloring in it, red vomit usually means blood. Call your vet immediately.

• Black vomit: Black vomit can be blood from the stomach. It is especially likely to be blood if the consistency of the vomit is like coffee grounds. Call your vet immediately.

• Yellow or Greenish Vomit: If the consistency is watery,this is usually bile the substance your cat uses to break down food. Bile is supposed to remain in the small intestine, but it can be forced into their stomach while vomiting. It may also have been there before they vomited, which is a sign of an underlying illness. If the consistency is more like a smoothie, in addition to bile, it could just be partially digested food.

• Pink vomit: This could be blood in trace amounts which you should definitely talk to your vet about. It could also be salmon-colored food if it has a smoothie-like consistency.

• Green vomit: In addition to bile or partially digested food, this may be digested plant matter.

• Clear or Foamy vomit: This is usually stomach acid that occurs on an empty stomach. It could also be recently ingested water.

Of course, its also all supposed to stay in there.

Also Check: How Long Do Maine Coon Cats Live

Vomiting In Cats When To Worry

If you did not know this, you may have been giving milk as a reward. You also have to be careful with the trinkets that you give to reward him when he does something right. We recommend that you always choose the ones that have fewer chemicals and preservatives, do not hesitate to ask our veterinarians for a recommendation to choose the best one.

Another reason that he vomits is that he has swallowed a hairball, Here we tell you how to avoid this problem. In summary: take care of what your cat eats, try to make it varied and as natural as possible and consult with our veterinarians if any doubt should arise.

Reasons For Your Cat Vomiting

tags

No pet parent likes to hear that sound: the hacking noise from the other room that tells you are going to have a mess to clean up. When your cat starts gagging, the first thought that might go through your head is, Oh no, what did they get into now? There are many reasons why your cat might throw up, some of them more serious than others. As a new pet parent, it is important to know the reasons your cat may be vomiting and when an upchuck warrants a visit to the veterinarian.

Dont Miss: Head To Tail Cat Calming Treats

Read Also: How To Teach Your Cat To Fetch

Cat Vomiting: Types Causes And Treatments

• Pet Diseases

If you have cats, youve probably seen one of them throw up at one time or another. It is common for cats to vomit, but its never normal for them to do so. With that said, it is also not always something that has to be treated, nor does the cat need to be rushed to a veterinarian every time she vomits. In this resource, youll get the scoop on when to take a vomiting cat to the vet, why cats vomit and what treatments are available to help felines feel better.

Why Your Cat Is Vomiting White Foam

If your cats throwing up regularly, this isnt considered normal. However, most cats will vomit occasionally, and throwing up isnt necessarily a sign of illness.

Vomiting can sometimes be a behavioral issue, or it could be your cats way of expelling toxic substances.

Cats throw up for the following reasons:

Read Also: Cats And Dogs Vet Clinic

Causes For Concern When Your Cats Are Throwing Up White Foam

If your cat is just responding to a change in feeding or has the occasional a hairball, you can relax. However, if your cats vomiting is due to gastritis, a visit to the vet may be in order. Other symptoms of gastritis may include sluggishness, dehydration, depression, and stomach discomfort.

Cats eat hair thats a fact.

However, they should be able to digest that hair. Sometimes cats need a little help with their digestion. For hairballs, stomach inflammation, and dietary changes, try a combination of Vitality Sciences Pet Flora, Luxolite and Super Pet Enzymes.

Why Do Cats Vomit

There are many reasons why cats may vomit, but the most common reason is simply because they have eaten too much too fast. When cats eat large meals or consume lots of grass, their stomachs can become bloated and full, which can lead to vomiting. Eating string or other indigestible materials can also cause vomiting in cats. Some medical conditions, such as liver disease, kidney disease, and pancreatitis, can also lead to vomiting. If your cat is vomiting frequently or appears to be in distress, please consult your veterinarian.

Other possible causes of vomiting in cats include:

• INFECTIONS

Infections are a leading cause of death in cats. The most common types of infections are viral, bacterial, and parasitic.

Viral infections are caused by viruses that can infect a cats respiratory system, digestive system, or nervous system. The most common types of viral infections in cats are feline rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus, and feline panleukopenia.

Bacterial infections are caused by bacteria that can infect a cats skin, respiratory system, digestive system, or urinary tract. The most common types of bacterial infections in cats are feline upper respiratory infection, feline lower respiratory infection, and feline urinary tract infection.

Parasitic infections are caused by parasites that can infect a cats skin, ears, or intestines. The most common types of parasitic infections in cats are feline ear mites, feline roundworms, and feline hookworms.

• CANCER

• STRESS OR ANXIETY

You May Like: Why Does My Cat Smell My Mouth

Treating A Cat That Keeps Throwing Up

If your cat continues to vomit or has a history of chronic vomiting, further testing would be indicated as described below:

• Gastrointestinal panel: This will test the pancreas enzymes to rule out pancreatitis. It will also look at cobalamin and folate to determine if there is evidence of malabsorption in the small intestines.

• Abdominal ultrasound: This imaging modality is very sensitive at identifying smaller foreign objects that x-rays cannot. This ultrasound looks at the pancreas and helps measure the wall of the gastrointestinal tract. It will also help rule out any enlarged lymph nodes that can sometimes be seen with cancer.

• Chest x-rays: These may be recommended if it is not clear whether your cat is vomiting, regurgitating, or coughing. Chest x-rays are also recommended in older cats to rule out evidence of cancer.

In some cases, the diagnostics come back normal or do not provide a definitive diagnosis. This can be seen if the disease is at the cellular level of the small intestines.

In this instance, the next step would be obtaining biopsies of your cats gastrointestinal tract to differentiate between inflammatory bowel disease, food hypersensitivity, and gastrointestinal lymphoma. Your veterinarian may try a new diet prior to obtaining biopsies in the event that this is related to a food allergy.

Causes Of Vomiting In Cats

The causes of acute or chronic vomiting can be the same, but there are exceptions. Toxins are generally not a cause of chronic vomiting . Ingesting a foreign body is not normally a cause of chronic vomiting, although if the foreign object remains in the stomach, it can be a cause of chronic vomiting.

Unfortunately, vomiting is a very vague symptom, and the causes are extremely varied. In fact, almost any feline illness can result in vomiting. In general, the causes of vomiting can be placed in one of these categories: toxins, drugs, diet , gastric , intestinal, organ dysfunction, endocrine, neurologic , infectious and cancer. In each of these categories are dozens of specific diseases and syndromes. Some of the more common causes are listed below:

• Toxins: Lilies, antifreeze
• Diet: Dietary intolerance to something in food, sudden change in diet, eating a dead thing
• Gastric: Foreign bodies, ulcers, inflammation of the stomach
• Intestinal: Foreign bodies, acute inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease , cancer, constipation
• Organ dysfunction: Liver disease, kidney disease, pancreatitis
• Endocrine: Hyperthyroidism , elevated calcium, diabetes ketoacidosis
• Neurologic: Vestibular disease , encephalitis , cancers
• Infectious: Feline infectious peritonitis, feline panleukopenia, heartworm
• Cancer: Can be a direct cause, such as intestinal cancer, or an indirect cause, such as mast cell tumors in the skin

You May Like: How To Clean A Cat Tree

Cat Threw Up Clear Liquid

A cat throwing up clear liquid is often just emptying the fluid contents of the stomach. Especially if the cat just drank too much or too fast or both.

A cat drinking a ton of water can indicate some other issues that may be causing dehydration or excessive thirst, such as:

Like humans, cats will vomit bile when nauseated on an empty stomach.

A cat throwing up bile may be dealing with one or more of the following:

• A day without food
• Gallbladder failure bile will back up into the small intestines and the stomach.

How Do I Know If I Should Take My Cat To The Vet

If your cat is vomiting periodically or infrequently, avoid giving your cat any food for about 12 hours. Provide kitty with a couple of tablespoons of water every 30 minutes or provide them with ice cubes during this brief fasting period. After 12 hours begin providing your cat with small amounts of bland food and gradually return to normal feeding if vomiting has stopped.

If your cat is experiencing repeated bouts of vomiting, you should contact your vet immediately. Continuous or severe vomiting could be a sign that your cat is seriously ill and requires immediate treatment. Contact your vet if your cat displays any of the symptoms below:

• Repeated vomiting

Don’t Miss: What Are The Signs Of A Uti In A Cat

What Can Cause Vomiting In Cats

Vomiting can be caused by primary gastrointestinal disorders or systemic disorders.

Primary gastrointestinal disorders:

Diet change: any sudden change in diet can cause vomiting. We normally suggest a 7-10day change over period to avoid upsets.

Diet intolerance: sometimes cats may become hypersensitive to a food type. The intestines and stomach can become inflamed due to the allergic reaction and vomiting can be a symptom of this.

Infectious causes: Bacterial can be contracted from uncooked contaminated food Parasitic can be contracted from eating mice and other faeces Viral can be contracted from other cats.

Fur balls: Cats who over-groom, or cats who have thick or long fur can ingest more hair than normal and cause clumps to form in the stomach which can either cause irritation or a blockage leading to vomiting.

Ingestion of foreign bodies: cats can pick up toys, string, hair bands, coins or anything that looks tasty and swallow it. If it is not digestible these can get stuck in the stomach or intestines. Any blockage of the digestive tract can cause vomiting. This is an emergency.

Intestinal masses: Abscesses and benign masses like polyps can form in the stomach and digestive tract. Neoplastic masses can also grow in the stomach or intestines and cause vomiting.

Inflammatory bowel disease: can be reasonably common in cats and causes inflammation of the digestive tract and vomiting and or diarrhoea.

Constipation: if faeces builds up then vomiting may occur.

Your Cat Ate Something That Doesnt Agree With Her

Dont be surprised when your cat throws up something she just ate. Her cat food may consist of low-grade rendered meats that her stomach cannot handle, or she may simply be allergic to one of its ingredients. Sometimes, the type of fooddry or wetmay also be the culprit. Determine which particular brand of cat food or cat treat is causing your cat to vomit. If it is your cats first time trying something new, limit her intake to a tiny portion. If she doesnt throw it up, you can proceed to feed her a bit more the next time around.

When it comes to human food, cats should not be allowed to consume everything we eat. Go through our growing list of can cats eat entries to discover all the cat-safe food she can safely eat and drink. Cashew milk,baked beans, and honey are some examples of human food you must avoid giving to your cat.

Read Also: How To Get A Dog To Like A Cat

What Can I Give My Cat For Vomiting

There are no over-the-counter medications that can be safely administered to a vomiting cat. If your cat vomits multiple times within a period of a week, contact your veterinarian to schedule an appointment for a physical examination. Your veterinarian will look for the underlying cause of your cats vomiting and may be able to prescribe anti-nausea drugs, if appropriate.

Cat Throwing Up Brown Liquid

Cat throwing up brown liquid is usually digested blood due to some trauma or irritation to the intestinal tract.

Examples of causes of digested blood include:

• Ulcers
• Foreign bodies
• Hairballs in the intestines

A cat that vomits several times in a row will likely irritate and possibly ulcerate the esophagus. Stomach acid can also irritate a cats stomach lining.

Toxic products like rat poison can cause a clotting abnormality causing vomiting of digested blood.

You May Like: How Can I Make My Cat Litter Box Not Smell

Kitty Has Missed A Meal

Grown-up cats are usually fed once or twice a day, with experts recommending a range of 24 to 35 calories a day per pound to keep her at a normal, healthy weight. If you accidentally forget to feed your cat or she missed out on a meal, vomiting white foam may be a common side effect. This may be triggered by the need to get rid of the gastric juices, acid, and bile that have built up in her stomach.

My Cat Is Throwing Up White Foam

A pet getting sick can be a stressful time for any owner, especially if the cause of the issue is not an obvious one. Sadly, vomiting in general, and vomiting white foam is a symptom shared by many problems. So, your best next step if this is happening to your pet is to schedule a trip to the vets office.

Recommended Reading: How To Make Cat Ears Headband