Effective Cat Vomiting Home Care Tips for Pet Owners

What Causes Cats to Vomit?

Vomiting is the act of expelling contents from the stomach through the mouth.

This unpleasant process can be triggered by a variety of issues, such as eating too quickly, overeating, consuming indigestible items, switching to different types of food, eating spoiled food, or indulging in garbage. Vomiting can also be a sign of more serious systemic problems, like cancer, kidney failure, diabetes, and other infectious diseases.

What Can I Do at Home for a Vomiting Cat?

Home treatments for vomiting in cats depend on the underlying cause. Here are some general approaches you can take:

If your cat vomits once and then resumes normal eating without further episodes, has regular bowel movements, and remains active, the problem may resolve on its own.

If you can identify a trigger, such as coming into contact with garbage, a change in diet, or consuming plants, addressing the root cause can often resolve the issue.

If your cat has vomited multiple times and you're unable to take it to the vet (highly recommended), you can try the following steps:

First, withhold food and water for two hours. The stomach lining can become quite irritated, and some cats may continue to vomit despite feeling unwell. Giving the stomach a rest can be beneficial.

After two hours, if your cat hasn't vomited, offer a small amount of water (a few tablespoons at a time). Continue to provide small amounts of water for about 20 minutes, until your pet drinks. Some cats may not drink, so you can offer fresh water. In some cases, tuna juice can stimulate thirst.

If your cat doesn't vomit after drinking a small amount of water, you can start to reintroduce a gentle diet gradually.

Feeding small, frequent meals of prescription diet, which is easy to digest. You can also prepare a homemade diet using cooked chicken breast. Avoid overfeeding, as they may eat it all and then vomit. Cut the meat into small pieces and feed. If there's no vomiting, offer a little more after an hour. Provide small amounts frequently – every three to four hours on the first day. Gradually increase the amount and decrease the frequency.

Keep this gentle diet for two days.

Then, over the next one to two days, gradually reintroduce your cat's regular food. Start by mixing a little of your cat's usual food with the gentle diet for one meal. Then, feed a 50/50 mixture for one meal. After that, alternate feeding your cat's regular food with the gentle diet. Finally, return to feeding your cat its regular diet.

When Is Cat Vomiting an Emergency?

It's crucial to seek veterinary care if vomiting persists or is accompanied by other symptoms. If your cat is not eating, appears drowsy, continues to vomit, or shows any of the aforementioned physical abnormalities, it's important to see a vet. Your pet needs your help and the professional care that a veterinarian can provide. If your pet exhibits these clinical symptoms, it's essential to have your vet conduct diagnostic tests and offer treatment recommendations. These suggestions will depend on the severity and nature of the clinical symptoms.