Cat throwing up white foam? I'm really worried - help!!

My cat Ares seems to be a never ending trail of illness - It really does figure.

When I woke up this morning at 8am both of my kittens seemed fine. I fed them both 3 ounces (Daves wet cat food for Corvo, Bravo raw for Ares. I watched them both finish their meals) My boyfriend came home for lunch around 12:30 (I'm at school from 8-3, then work from 3-9) and said both cats seemed fine and both at the Daves canned food(he also saw them both finish). Then, when he got home from work at around 5:30, he fed the cats at 6. He said Ares seemed a little lethargic when he came home, and then he wouldn't even touch his food. He figured he'd just try again around 8pm, and when he did, Ares still wouldn't eat. This had me worried when I got home, as Ares is never one to pass up food. I gave him a few dehydrated chicken breast treats by Bravo (which he ate) then vomited up 5 minutes later. I was surprised, as Ares normally has an iron stomach. never seen him vomit before, and he can switch between foods with little to no issues. I gave him a little bit of water about 30 minutes later, only to have him vomit it up again. In total he's vomited 4 times in the span of 5 hours - first vomit having the undigested treats, the last three just being white, foamy, spit-up. After he pukes, he lays down and sleeps for an hour, then gets up to spit up a little.

I called the two emergency vets in the area, both saying just to keep an eye on him - that he may have eaten something in the house that upset his stomach. My boyfriend said he had seen a feather on the floor from one of their toys when he was home for lunch, and it was gone when he got home at 6 - could he have eaten it? The raw food I also gave him this morning has been in the fridge for almost 3 days - (I thought I had picked up the one that had only been there over night) could that be causing this? I plan on not feeding him anything for the rest of the night, and giving him baby food in the morning. If he's still puking when I wake up around 8, I'm going off to the vet.

Any suggestions on what this might be? Or what I can do to help? Does it sound serious?

Notes: *We do not have any plants that will hurt them

* they have no access to poisonous chemicals

* they have free roam of the apartment

*Corvo (our other cat) has a sinus/upper respiratory infection (will be on antibiotics this weekend.)

* he is using the litter box and peeing normally

Thanks in advance guys - I've never had to deal with vomiting before, I could really use some help...

New symptom, he started to nod his head a little - never seen him do that. My friend who's over said it may be due to him being really sleepy. He has been up most of the time due to an upset tummy. I'll be bringing him to the vet tomorrow - we just can't afford an emergency vet after spending $500 in vet bills on him over that last week (which turned out not to be heart disease.) I had my debit card stolen this week, and the jerk spent $900 - so all my money is tied up right now. We'll be able to swing a normal vet visit, but one tonight just can't happen.

What are the signs of kidney failure?

I'm sorry your going through this. I definitely think a vet visit is warranted. Sending you all turns out ok.

I'm so sorry you've had such a run of things and it must feel awful not being able to get him to a vet right now.  I know you posted quite a few hours ago so perhaps getting closer to being able to see a vet: I think you need to get him to a vet as soon as you can - until then please try to get some fluids in to him even if you have to drip it in to the side of his mouth with a syringe.  He will be exhausted but I don;t know if the head nodding will be due to that or something else.  I wish I had some other advice for you.  He sounds really unwell.   

Got back from the vet this morning, and she didn't seem all that worried. He puked twice during the night (not sure when, had fallen asleep.) but in the morning he was not puking - nor did he puke at the vets. Vet said his breathing and heart sounded fine, she felt his tummy for signs of pain or a foreign object and all seemed well. She recommended for the time being to just treat his symptoms and go from there. She seemed pretty sure it was a bacteria problem and that it should run it's course in a few days. She gave him fluids (HUGE BUMP ON HIS BACK OMG.), a anti-acid injection, and a anti-nausea injection. We brought him home, set him up in my bedroom with a litter box and some water then let him rest.

he's eaten three tiny meals I've given him in the last 5 hours (all meals just a two or so spoon fulls of baby food mixed with a little wet cat food.) and he is peeing (no poop yet, but not really surprised.) I'm glad to see him eating (and purring!) and he seems much more active. My only fear is he'll start to vomit again when his meds wear off...does anyone know how long the injections usually last? I so hope he just has a stomach bug...

Update: He's not eating that much anymore and seems a lot more sluggish. The vet said to wait till Monday, or go to the ER on Sunday if gets worse. His nose is now also wet? what does that mean?

im not an expert by any means.just owned lots of cats.many of them were sick occasionally.they too have vomited what looked like white foam.i would listen to your vet.theyre the experts.your cat probably has a stomach bug.if we had it we wouldnt eat much or have much energy either! when my cats had a cold theyre wee noses were wet.your cat is probably exhausted with the bug and being sick etc.please try not to worry.i know its not easy and you start to imagine all sorts of scary things.keep giving him fluids.when one of my cats was sick i gave her tinned tuna.the vet told me they like strong smells. shaking of the head could it be ear infection? you say other cat has infection. keep us updated please on how you get on.xo. p.s.hope you get card fraud sorted out.

Thank you kittybelle, I am a worrier lol. Good news is he went through all of Saturday without puking! He also peed 4 times, had one solid poop and one loose one. He looks a little more alert this morning, but will no interest in food. I may have to force feed him a little today.

ares thanks for the update.glad hes feeling a bit better.as long as he takes some fluids he should be ok for a day or so. i used to give mine watered down milk luke warm.with a sprinkle of sugar for energy. force feedings no good it might sicken him again.then again you know your own cat best.its a good sign that hes going to the toilet. keep in touch.

Glad to hear that Ares is feeling better and going to the toilet.thats a good sign.i wouldnt push him too much on the food yet. maybe milk watered down with warm water and sprinkling of sugar would give him energy.he might fancy a bit of crispy bacon though!! tasty.... keep in touch:-)

So good to hear Ares hasn't been so sick and looking like he's on the mend.  Be careful with any dairy products as many cats don't digest them well and if his system's a bit sensitive at the moment anyway it could set him off again, you can always add a little sugar to water  instead though.  Kittybelle's right, a little tuna in water can be good  - not much though due to the toxins like mercury that are in the tuna, and make sure it's only once or twice as you rapidly run the risk of him refusing everything else!  My previous cats would drink tuna water when nothing else would pass their lips!   Sardines in water are good too, and when I've bought them they're not expensive either.  Lower on the food chain so better on the toxin front but just as stinky for blocked up kitty noses!

If  Ares is still off his food and you can't tempt him with tuna or sardines in water I'd go with your thoughts on feeding - due to the risk of liver damage that's talked about so much on this site.  I've never done it but there are a lot of posts with video advice on how to do it if you search some other health and nutrition posts where cats aren't eating.   I hope you don't need to though and that Ares has picked up a bit more. 

Thanks for the concern guys!

We had to force feed him once in the morning, and another time around 1ish (only about 3-4 ML of water food.) I was starting to get a little discouraged till I noticed he seemed interested in the hard food treat I was giving my other kitten. I put it down for him, and it took him a moment, but then he chewed and ate it. Thinking he must be feeling better, I put some wet food down for him - no go. He sniffed and walked away from it. I always keep an emergency supply of kibble in the closet (I hate feeding them kibble, and only normally use it as a treat.) I took a about 5 bits of kibble and placed it on the floor for him, and he ate them up.

I'm a little confused why he seemed to reject tuna, baby food, and even his favorite wet cat food - but has no problem eating the hard foods (though he has always been one to LOVE kibble, never seen him refuse it.). I'm not going to complain too much right now though - I'm just happy he's eating. I'm going to give him 5-10 bits of kibble every 1 or so and see how he does. it's been almost an hour sense he ate the kibble and seems to be holding it down (thank god.)

Great news if he's starting to eat and hopefully won't need syringe feeding again... relief for you I am sure.  With the kibble thing, it might be a texture thing, or just something that's reminding him of  being sick, or some weird sense he has that it will be easier for him to digest.  It's food, and as long as he's drinking and keeping hydrated it's good for him!   Go for it Ares!!!! 

Well, he started to vomit again this morning and has been having major diarrhea. What really concerned me was that he hissed at Corvo and I when we came over to him - he never does that. I have a vet visit made for 12 to get xrays done...its really killing me. I can hardly afford this.

Is it leaky diarrhea that's frequent and small amounts? Or big amounts of diarrhea?

He pooped once at 11 last night and once at 7 this morning.

I'm so sorry to hear he's still not doing well. I'm glad your taking him back in for further testing. I know how hard financially this can get. Recently had a sick kitty too. Sending you and him mega you get an answer and he'll be better soon.

Not good news, very sorry.  I hope you can get some financial help from somewhere and the card theft stuff gets sorted out so a little of the pressure is taken off.  I know I had some problems recently and it was unimaginably painful struggling to fund my cats' health.   This must be so hard.  Sending good  for the vet visit and getting some better news.    

Sorry Ares is still poorly. i pray with all my heart that things work out. could you explain to the vet about your financial situation.maybe they would agree to some sort of payment plan til you get sorted. just a thought! the wee darlings probably hissing because hes feeling sore and scared.hopefully the x ray will reveal whats going on. please keep in touch xo

Hey everyone,

Just got back from the vet - good news is he doesn't have a blockage! yay! The vet now think he must have some type of stomach infection and gave me antibiotics, anti-vomiting, anti-diarrhea, and probiotics...phew. He saw how much I've been spending on this cat for the last few months, and was SO nice and took half off the medication price (which I really needed.) We are just going to play it by ear now I guess, I'll keep you all updated.