Why do cats vomit bile?

jolie0216

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Hi all,

I'm having a (hopefully) slight issue with one of my cats.   He is a boy, will be 2 years old in March.   He vomited once, in my presence, this past weekend - there was no food in the vomit, it was all just liquid - may have been bile, honestly it looked like saliva with a couple bubbles in it - but there was no food or anything else in there.

I haven't changed anyone's food or feeding schedule - they get a breakfast meal, a lunch meal, and a dinner meal.   My husband said that while I was work yesterday, somebody vomited - there were 2 little puke piles of bile liquid - no food - and while he didn't actually see who vomited, I'm guessing it was Bumper since I saw him vomit once over the weekend.    

What would be some causes for the bile vomit?   It seems like once a year (thus far, anyways) Bumper has a little bout of gastritis - vomiting and not wanting to eat - but the vet is always able to clear him up.  The last time this happened was back in September.   The two times it has happened before, I could tell from his actions that he didn't feel good.   But this week, he seems totally fine - he is eating and playing and generally happy, so nothing seems wrong apart from the vomiting.    Of course I will keep monitoring him, but should I be worried over the bile vomit if he is eating & acting normal?   The last time he was sick, one of the meds the vet suggested was OTC generic pepcid (Famotidine) - she told me to give Bump half a pill every 12 hours during his little episode back in September.   Should I start doing that again for him now - would that help with the vomiting?   If he starts refusing food or acting listless, I'll take him into the vet - but I'm not sure how worried I should be over the bile vomit since he is acting totally fine.   Any ideas what could be causing this?
 
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jolie0216

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Actually, I just ordered something for him on Amazon that I hope will help:

Animal Apawthecary's Phytomucil blend - it has really good reviews on there:

"A glycerin based extract that is formulated for use in dogs and cats for management of inflammatory bowel disease. It has a sweet, palate-appealing flavor. Used to support healthy structure and functions of the digestive tract. Also useful for the throat."

When I took him to the vet when he was sick back in Sept, their first thought was that he had IBD, but then since it cleared up after a few days, they decided that he didn't.  He's only 2, but he's had two IBD-like episodes that seem to occur once yearly - the last time it happened was September, so he shouldn't be due for another one for several more months 
  
 
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mrsgreenjeens

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The saliva type clear throw up is normally fixed by the use of the Pepcid A/D.  Normally it's caused by too much stomach acid and can happen if a meal is late, or it they don't eat their normal portion at the previous meal, or "just because" .  

The other throw up could be caused from a myriad of things.  I normally only worry if it continues.   I have one cat who tends towards constipation and if she doesn't get her complete does of Miralax, she ends of straining in the litterbox. When that happens, I am guaranteed she'll throw up as shes leaving the box...  EVERY time


So, has your boy thrown up since yesterday while you were at work?  If not, I wouldn't worry about this time around, but if he is still at it, I would probably take him in to be checked again, and then start him on that new product once it arrives.
 
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jolie0216

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Nope, no puke today!  And he's still acting normal & happy.   I guess sometimes, cats just puke for no good reason 
  It sucks though because it makes me feel worried!!   I'm still going to give him that phytomucil supplement when it gets in tomorrow - just a small maintenance dose every day and see how he does on it.   Since he is apparently more prone to digestive issues than the others.   Thanks for the advice  
 
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