You might have been aware of the hairball if you have a cat at home. It is common, but what if your cat vomits after eating? It can indicate a severe health condition, and it is vital to consult a vet if this ever happens.
There can be several possible reasons why your cat vomits after eating. It may be due to an allergy caused by certain foods, infection, or can be a sign of a solemn health condition. In some cases, it may be due to some environmental changes.
If you want to know more about the possible causes of your cat’s vomits and what you can do to cure it, below are some causes you can refer to!
1. Your Cat Ate Too Fast
As you know, cats are fast eaters and gobble up food within seconds. It is because they are competitive and have the instinct to finish the food before other cats reach it. In this process, they may not chew the food well, leading to improper digestion.
Hence, there are a lot of chances that your cat may vomit after eating. It’s a common issue for almost all cats. But if it vomits frequently, that might become a severe issue. Always ensure that you take care of your cat while it is eating.
One of the reasons why your cats eat too fast is that they are not getting their food in time and have to wait for too long. So, try to feed them regularly at constant intervals.
Another great way to control your cat from eating too fast is to habituate them with food puzzles. Food puzzles help cats to slow down because they have to break down a fun puzzle to get the food. You can opt for the Petstages Interactive Cat Puzzles to feed your cat slowly and at a constant pace that helps it chew better.
This puzzle may keep your cats busy. Also, you can change the puzzle’s difficulty according to the requirement. Puzzles help cats by encouraging them with healthy and controlled eating speed.
2. The Cat is Expelling Hairballs
Cats are creatures that may have some unique and interesting habits. One of these habits is vomiting up hairballs after eating. While this may seem gross to humans, it is a normal and necessary part of a cat’s digestive process.
Hairballs form when a cat licks its fur and ingests the loose hair. They may happen in the condition when your cat over-grooms the body, and due to the stress or irritation, it licks the loose hair. The hair then accumulates in the stomach and forms a compressed mass. So, the cat will vomit up to get rid of this hairball.
While vomiting hairballs may not be the most pleasant thing to witness, it is a sign that your cat is healthy and doing its job of grooming itself. You are responsible for looking after the cat’s grooming process from time to time. So, the next time your cat brings up a hairball, be thankful that it is trying to keep itself clean and healthy!
3. Your Cat Ate Indigestible Food
There are some more reasons why cats vomit after eating food. One reason is that it may be allergic to the food. Another reason is that you may not have cooked the food properly, making it harder for the cat to digest.
Finally, some indigestible foods don’t agree with cats and can cause them to vomit. If your cat is vomiting after eating indigestible food, it is best to take it to the veterinarian to rule out any health concerns.
Another thing is that the cat’s stomachs digest meat, not plant matter. So, when it eats something like grass, its stomach can’t break it down, and it ends up vomiting back up. It is best never to keep your cat on a plant-based diet.
Cats typically eat small prey, so their stomachs digest smaller meals. It may vomit when it consumes a large meal because its stomach can’t handle the volume. Lastly, some cats vomit because they have a sensitive tummy and get upset when they eat something that doesn’t agree with them.
4. The Cat Has an Underlying Medical Condition
Cats may have different health problems. And vomiting can occur due to these underlying diseases. So, in the table below, we’ve enlisted some of the health diseases common in cats. Get your pet tested for these diseases if its vomit post-eating persists.
Diseases |
Effects on Your Cat |
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) |
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a virus that is similar to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and can cause so many health problems in cats. It includes skin problems, respiratory infections, and cancer. |
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) |
FeLV can cause many health problems in cats, including leukemia, anemia, and immunodeficiency, and can also lead to secondary infections, which can be fatal. |
Diabetes |
Diabetic cats may experience weight loss, blindness, organ failure, increased thirst and urination, and lethargy. In severe cases, diabetes can lead to coma and even death. |
Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD) |
This disease can cause various symptoms, including urinary incontinence, painful urination, bladder stones, urethral blockages, and an increased frequency of urination. |
Tapeworms |
Tapeworms can cause weight loss, dehydration, and anemia in infected cats. In severe cases, tapeworms can be fatal. |
Cancer |
There are a lot of types of cancer that may affect cats, each with its own set of symptoms. The most common consequences of cancer in cats include weight loss, lethargy, loss of appetite, and death. |
Conclusion
While there are many possible causes of cat vomiting, there are also many ways to cure it. If your cat is vomiting due to eating too fast, try feeding them smaller meals more frequently. If it is vomiting due to a hairball, you can give it a special diet that is high in fiber to help it pass the hairball more easily. If your cat is vomiting due to an infection, you should take it to the vet.
