Why Did My Kitten Throw Up?

My kitten, Boo, is 10 months old. She is very spoiled, very well and nourishly fed twice a day with 2 treats a day as well. Last night she threw up for the first time. I'm thinking it has to be 1 of 2 things that happened. First, she ate a bit too much catnip - the top was open and she helped herself, and second, I left an open packet of soy sauce on the counter that dripped to the floor - I saw her lapping it up. Could either of those or both of those caused her to get sick? It was a very thick concoction and she was back to zipping around the house playing right afterwards. Thanks for your help on this!

It could have been the soy sauce. Did she vomit her food? Has she eaten since then without throwing up? If so, then she's probably fine. Soy sauce is pretty salty/strong stuff. I can definatley see it upsetting a cats stomach.

The scenario you just painted leads me to believe that the soy sauce probably did her in- I would watch her and see if she throws up again. Soy sauce is very salty and oily. I would also elevate her food bowl for awhile- use a telephone book and set her bowl on that, this will relax her throat when she eats and stop her from gulping food (a common thing cats do) I would also see if you could push fluids on her, by dribbling tuna juice or canned cat food juice in her waterbowl to encourage her to drink.

Thanks - I bet you are right about the soy sauce. Actually, as much as she loves catnip, I don't see where it makes her "high" like I read about. She bounced right back after getting sick and finished her food dish. I like the suggestion of raising her food bowl - I always feel like she must be uncomfortable. :-)

Did it look like food she threw up or a wad of hair? If she is a long hair cat, the age of 10 months is when they usually start the "coughing up a hairball "
Clara

I've wondered about the hairball thing but not sure what it will look like. She is a short-haired tabby, though, so maybe she won't have that problem. Whatever it was, it was very thick and light brown - so thick that I had no problem getting it off the carpet.

Even short hair cats get hairballs, especially this time of year when they are all shedding in expectation of the warmer weather to come. The tiny barbs on a cat's tongue are capable of pulling up a lot of hair when they groom themselves.

I second what Hissy said! My cats have been shedding even more than usual lately! They get brushed at least once a week, we're thinking we need to bump that up to two or three times a week until the winter coats are gone.

So what will a hairball throw-up look like? Is it all hair? Does it look like what I described earlier?

It usually looks like a big hairy caterpillar with no legs and food thrown in... sorry for being so graphic

Good discription Hissy! And it is the color of the Hair
Clara

Well now that is gross but at least I'll know when I see something hairy on the floor that it's just throw-up and not a creepy critter.

To be extra gross, some of my cats will hock up a hairball which at a distance looks just like a turd! This doesn't happen often, but when I see one of these I always freak thinking that the cat pooped on the floor. I'm always releived to find that it is "just" a slimy hairball.

Of course, hair balls are best when stepped on with bare feet in the middle of the night!

I was just going to say that Renae! Granted, my two are a black and a black & white, but it does look like a poo, especially if there isn't much food with it.

Well, now I'm wondering if it is hairballs. She did it again sometime last night because I woke up to find 2 more spots on my carpet where she threw-up. It is brown and very thick - so thick that it barely leaves a stain on the carpet because I can pick it up so easily. Should I worry?

Hmmmmm....it sounds like partially digested food to me. I would keep an eye on her and if she barfs again like that you might want to talk to the vet just to be sure.

Thanks - I sure will. Now I'm worried.

It is brown and very thick - so thick that it barely leaves a stain on the carpet because I can pick it up so easily

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See, now that sounds exactly like Sam's hairballs. He usually vomits a few times first, when he is having trouble, and after a day or two, we get a hairball. And that is what it looks like. The regurgitated food is much more liquid, and usually leaves a stain.

You could be like me, and actually take one in to the vet and ask to be sure.

Thanks - I think I will for peace of mind - especially since I'm adopting a new kitten in less than 2 weeks.