vomiting

can someone help?...my cat is about 8 yrs old now. for the last week she vomits her food first thing every morning.this is a new thing for her and I am beginning to get concerned. because vets be expensive I have been hestitate in taking her in.I have 2 other cats. all 3 have never been outside and all 3 have had the same diet...all quality food purchased through the vets. any suggestions


Jill

Pulled this information together for you. Hope it helps you make sense out of your little one's vomiting.

Vomiting is the involuntary and forceful expulsion of some or all of the stomach contents by reversal of peristalsis, the normal muscular contractions of the stomach.

Cats can vomit for a variety reasons. Sometimes your cat will have simply eaten something that disagreed with him, other times vomiting will be a sign of a greater problem. If your cat vomits only once chances are he ate something, overate something, was stressed, or has some other simple and one-time problem. However if your cat is vomiting chronically and/or has other symptoms (lethargy, diarrhea, not eating) then the vomiting could be a sign of a larger problem. Don't wait until your cat has been throwing up for an extended period of time before consulting your vet. If your cat does have a more serious illness causing the vomiting this may waste precious treatment time. Also when a cat doesn't take in enough food or keep down enough food to sustain itself the body must use its fat stores for energy. Cat's bodies are not very efficient at processing fat stores and thus fat can accumulate in the liver. This can lead to hepatic lipidosis. Thus anytime your cat is vomiting for more than a day or two consult your vet.

Some things that could cause vomiting include:

Overeating
Food poisoning
Eating bacteria infested food
Worm infestation
Hairballs
Ulcers
Cancer
Diabetes
Viral disorders
Infectious diseases
Kidney or liver problems
Stress

Treatment:

If your cat is vomiting frequently or chronically take him to the vet at once. Your vet will do a thorough examination to isolate the cause of the
vomiting. If your cat simply has a sick stomach from eating something that didn't agree with him or from overeating you may want to limit food
for 24 to 36 hours, or feed him smaller meals for a few days and see if the problem persists. However if your vet does find an underlying
problem your vet will determine the proper course of treatment based on the diagnosis.

Precautionary measures:

Keep your cat on a simple, healthy diet. Limit overeating and eating too much table food and treats. Cats, like humans, need roughage. So you
may want to grow some kitty grass for your cat to eat. This will keep your cat's digestive tract in check. Keep your cat in a low stress environment. And keep your cat well groomed and brushed. This will limit hairballs, a common cause of vomiting.

Good luck.....

I liked hell603's response; informative, to the point and no nonsense. The idea that Vets are expensive as an excuse not to take them really twists my shorts! If your kid was vomiting after every meal would you not take him/her "because doctors are so expensive"? If you are unwilling to provide reasonable care for your pets then I suggest you give them to someone who would be willing to provide NORMAL and PROPER care and take up something less troubling, say knitting!!!! Sorry everyone, but this post really got under my skin.

Pete

I agree with Pete, it irked me too to not see a vet just because of expenses. When you take in a pet, it need to be taken care of. Just like everything else you cherish, a pet is in the same category.

Please, lets not forget that not all people have the same view on pets. It would be ideal if everyone thought of their pets as kids,declawing was outlawed and humans were punished for abuse.
Jill cares enough about her cats that she came looking for help. At 8 years it would be a good idea for a vet checkup. When cats hit 7 years they are considered older and more prone to health problems. Vomiting can mean several things. I would definatly keep a close eye on it and maybe even write down how often it is happening. This way if it continues for a few more days, you can give the vet as much info as possible.

Hi - I'm new. I just found out that one of my 14-year-old cats has a food sensitivity. I've always fed them the same good stuff with no problems - I started on Science Diet when they were kittens, then switched to Eukanuba when it came available, then switched to Science Diet Senior Hairball Formula when that became available.

My vet told me cats can develop a sensitivity to a food at any time, and it's very common, especially in older kitties (past 7 years old). My Boo had a slightly elevated liver enzyme, which, my vet said, could indicate Inflammatory Bowel Disease. Luckily, it can be remedied by changing his diet. So I'm switching to Waltham's Selected Protein Duck and Rice Formula, a prescription-type cat food that only vets sell. I'm hoping he'll stop throwing up (he didn't do it all that often, but more lately than he ever has in is 14-year life so far), and I'm hoping he'll regain some of his energy and weight.

The moral of my story is that I'm so glad I took my kids in to have complete physicals with blood work and urinalysis, because now I can nip this problem in the bud and hopefully he'll live many more happy years.

Hi Jill, and welcome to the Forums!

Expenses can be a problem with all of us from time to time. I've been there myself. I was lucky in that 1) I have a vet that would extend me credit and let me pay over time, 2) I have family who pitched in when the going got really tough, and 3) I have friends who also came to the rescue when it was necessary for them to in order to save my cat's life.

Please explore some of these options, and talk candidly with your vet about your financial situation. Most are willing to cooperate with you and set up a payment plan.

If all else fails, there is an organization that MAY be able to help you - or at least steer you in the right direction. Check out:

http://www.imom.org

Hope this helps,

Dear HattKatts and Mofong,

How absolutely wonderful that both of you have all the money you need to do all the right things for your pets! It must be a such a comfort to you both that your financial security is not as large an issue as it may be to others. You both are truly blessed and I am so thankful for you that your cats are able to receive the best care money can buy.

If I might make but a small suggestion though...instead of attacking others for their financial concerns, why not open your hearts and your wallets, and donate some of that security to a needy organization which helps people who may not be as blessed as you and can't afford quality health care for their pets???

I referenced the URL for just such an organization in my response to Jill, but for the record, here it is again...

http://www.imom.org

Check it out.

May you both continue to be as blessed in the future as you are today.

Yours in peace,

Gaye