HELP! Why is my cat vomiting after every meal?

Hello Cat Lovers!

I am really hoping someone can help my poor kitty, Princess Leia. 

PROBLEM: She vomits within 5-10 minutes after eating her food, currently "classic" Fancy Feast. Often, white foam will come out with the food. EVERY TIME she will then EAT her vomit (the undigested food) and will go back to her normal self. 

Her poops and pees are normal and aside from the vomiting, she's happy, energetic, and has a good appetite.

BACKGROUND: She was the runt of her litter, is 5 years old, and is only about 4 pounds, so she is tiny. 6 months ago, she stopped eating and had to have major surgery because her bile duct became blocked and calcified. The surgeons decided to permanently bypass the bile duct and said she would need regular B12 shots and pancreatic enzyme support for the rest of her life.

A few months after the surgery she seemed to return to her normal self and we've been giving her the enzymes along with occasional anti-naseua medication.

The vomiting started right after I ran out of the Fancy Feast food we had and I had to buy some cans of it at the local store. I suspected that the lot I purchased may have been bad, so I bought some more on Amazon and she still had the same problem.

I have tried other brands of foods, some all-natural, some bland prescribed by the vet - same problem. I tried loading up the food with enzymes - same problem.

We took her to the vet today and the vet could find nothing wrong with her from a cursory exam. She did not get blood or x-ray work done but I am thinking of taking her back for that or going to a different vet! LOL.

Before her surgery we would leave dry food out 24/7 and she would graze on it throughout the day. After the surgery we had her on a special diet so we stopped leaving the dry food out. I am thinking maybe now that she has healed fully from the surgery, she needs to eat throughout the day and bile builds up if she can't get food, causing her stomach to get upset, and then tiniest amount of food triggers vomiting. So this morning we just left dry food out in addition to her morning wet food. My wife said she has puked again so maybe we need to wait it out. So frustrating (and messy).

We love our kitty so much and want to help her stop vomiting!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks,
Greg

Greg, you may be right about the problem being that she was used to grazing.  Cats in the wild eat 6-7 small meals per day.  From what I understand, if the vomiting is happening immediately after eating, it could be that the smell or thought of food is producing too much stomach acid in advance of the meal.  And if she wolfs down the food, enzymes in her saliva are not getting a chance to help with digestion.  However, you have left out dry food now with no results.

You might want to try something such as Pepcid AC to reduce stomach acid, but I would run it past the vet first.  Pepcid AC is often given to cats with kidney disease and I am only familiar with it in that instance.  Make sure you get the 10 mg. Regular Strength Pepcid AC, NOT the chewable type and NOT the Pepcid Complete.  Kidney cats are usually started on 1/4 tablet (which is 2.5 mg) every other day as a starting dose.  Use a pill pocket as these are bitter.  If the starting dose does not seem to be helping, you can give 1/4 tablet once a day, preferably at bedtime.  It usually takes effect within a couple of days.

Another suggestion is to make Slippery Elm Bark Syrup.  This link has lots of good information about SE as well as a recipe for the syrup.  I have used this with great success for virtually any type of gastrointestinal problem. http://www.littlebigcat.com/health/slippery-elm/ 

Having said that, vomiting after every meal is not normal.  If she continues to do this, she needs to see her vet.  The hopeful part is that she immediately eats what she threw up, so you know she is getting some nutrition.  Wishing you both a quick resolution to this.  I know it has you very concerned. 

I would be concerned that whatever caused her bile duct issue in the first place may still be lingering and now causing this new issue.  Did they ever determine the cause of the blockage?  Is the same Vet seeing her who performed the surgery on her?  If not, I would definitely have her looked at by THAT person. 

Otherwise, the Pepcid A/C is a good idea (wit your Vet's concurrence), and small meals spread out throughout the day (or free feeding if that works out better for all)