Do you have a cat that vomits after eating? If so, you are not alone! There are several reasons your furry feline may be vomiting after eating, but it’s also important to understand whether it is true vomiting or regurgitation. In this article, we’ll be looking at what that difference is, what might be the cause of vomiting or regurgitation, what you can do at home to help, and when you should seek veterinary care.
Is your cat vomiting or regurgitating after eating?
The major difference between vomiting and regurgitation is that vomiting is an active process and regurgitation is passive. The most common cause of regurgitation is eating too fast. The oesophagus and stomach become overloaded and the food pops straight back out. Your cat may even eat the food again, as it is totally undigested food. Lovely! Regurgitation may also result from a more serious medical condition, such as megaesophagus. This is a condition where the nerves of the oesophagus don’t work properly, meaning there are no contractions to move food to the stomach as would normally occur. The oesophagus fills up and then empties back out.
Vomiting, as most of us will know from personal experience, is a very active process and is the muscular ejection of stomach contents. Vomiting usually produces semi-digested food or fluid, depending on the time since eating.
Regurgitation always occurs immediately or very soon after eating. Vomiting can be fairly immediate or occur hours later. Vomiting is also obvious in cats because it is preceded by that very characteristic sound of retching that all seasoned cat parents fear the most! In summary,
- Regurgitation: immediately after eating, passive, produces undigested food
- Vomiting: can vary from immediate to hours after eating, active process with retching and abdominal contractions, may produce food at any stage of digestion or just fluid.
Causes of vomiting after eating in cats
There are several reasons your cat might be vomiting after eating
- Introduction of a new food. Sudden changes in diet can cause vomiting in some cats. There may be a big change in the levels of something like fat, to which your cat is unaccustomed.
Hairballs. Note that hairballs are not normal and can be a sign of underlying digestive problems.
Gastritis.
Parasites.
Underlying disease, such as kidney or liver problems.
How can you help your vomiting or regurgitating cat?
If your cat is a fast eater and is otherwise active, healthy and eating normally, there are several things you can try.
- Split feeding. All cats have evolved to eat multiple small meals a day and they have relatively short, simple digestive tracts because of this. Pet cats do best with around 6 small meals a day. Timer feeders can be really useful for this if you are out and about a lot. As some cats are active at all hours, you can even feed them in the night. This is especially useful for those of you being rudely awoken at 4 in the morning for a snack! Remember to make sure you’re only feeding them their normal portion, split into small meals -- if you feed your cat too much they can quickly become obese.
- Spread food out as opposed to a bowl. Spreading your cat’s food out on a large, flat object, such as a baking tray, means they have to take their time to eat and can’t wolf down huge mouthfuls at a time.
- Use puzzle feeders. There are lots of options for puzzle feeders these days. These are designed to keep your cat mentally stimulated as well as prolong their eating time. You might need to help them figure it out to start with, or they might just be hungry and frustrated, but most cats will pick it up quickly. You can also have fun making one yourself by following these simple steps from the Blue Cross.
If your cat continues to regurgitate, or if they are showing any other possible signs of illness, you should seek veterinary care. Your vet can rule out a more serious, underlying medical condition.
Ways to prevent some of the common causes of vomiting.
- Always transition slowly. If you want to change your cat’s food, always do it slowly over 4-5 days, or longer if your cat has a very sensitive stomach. Gradually mix in larger amounts of the new food each day, reducing the amount of the old food until it’s completely phased out. Never put your cat on a therapeutic diet without speaking to your vet first.
- Groom your cat regularly, especially if they are long-haired and you are seeing frequent hairballs. Talk to your vet about foods that are high in fibre to trap hair and move hair through the gut.
- Treat for parasites as and when recommended by your vet. This may need to be more frequent if your cat is an avid hunter and eats their prey.
- Have regular vet visits. Underlying diseases can be difficult to spot and often don’t show clinical signs until they are quite advanced. Having yearly checkups (or more frequent with increasing age) gives your vet the opportunity to discuss behaviour changes and changes in thirst or appetite, as well as to perform blood tests that can help detect underlying diseases early.
- Recovery food. If you think your cat has an illness or ate something they shouldn’t have and is vomiting because of it, ask your vet for some recovery food that is highly digestible to help their gastrointestinal system recover as quickly as possible.
It’s clear that some cats are more sensitive than others. Depending on the underlying cause of the vomiting, if other approaches haven’t helped, your vet may want to utilise further diagnostic testing, possibly including a food trial, to assess whether your cat has a food allergy or intolerance. As always, it’s important to be vigilant and observant. Know what’s normal for your cat and seek veterinary advice when you notice changes, even if they seem small, as cats are good at hiding signs of illness. If your cat vomits or regurgitates once or twice, it may not be overly concerning, but if it is with any frequency or lasts more than 24 hours, see your vet. Cats can become dehydrated and lose important electrolytes very quickly if vomiting persists.
Reasons Why Your Cat is Throwing Up After Eating FAQs
Is it normal for a cat to vomit after eating?
No. All animals will vomit occasionally, but it is not normal. If your cat vomits regularly, even if weeks apart, you should see your vet.
How long after eating is it considered vomiting?
It’s not the timing that defines it. Vomiting is an active, muscular emptying of the stomach. It can be soon after eating or hours later when the stomach is empty.
Should I change my cat’s food if they vomit after meals?
You should seek veterinary help. Your vet may recommend a change in diet and/or may have other recommendations to help rule out an underlying issue.
When should I take my cat to the vet for vomiting?
If vomiting is regular, even if weeks apart, or your cat vomits severely, or for more than 24 hours, you should see a vet.
Written by Dr. Emma Milne BVSc FRCVS and Reviewed by Dr. Karen Shenoy DVM
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