Acute Vomiting in Cats

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Cats will commonly vomit from time to time, often because they might have eaten something that upset their stomachs, or simply because they have sensitive digestive systems. However, the condition becomes acute when the vomiting does not stop and when there is nothing left in the cat's stomach to throw up except bile. It is important you take your pet to a veterinarian in these cases.

While vomiting may have a simple, straightforward cause, it may be an indicator of something far more serious. It is also problematic because it can have a wide range of causes, and determining the correct one may be complicated.

The condition described in this medical article can affect both dogs and cats. If you would like to learn more about how this condition affects dogs, please visit this page in the petMD health library.

Some of the more common symptoms include:

WeaknessNon-stop vomitingPain and distressBright blood in the stool or vomit (hematemesis)Evidence of dark blood in the vomit or stool (melena)

Some possible risk factors include:

TumorsHeat strokeLiver diseaseGastroenteritisChanges in the dietDietary indiscretionGobbling food/eating too fastAllergic reaction to a particular foodFood intolerance (beware of feeding an animal "people" food)Adrenal gland diseaseDislocation of the stomachIntestinal parasites (worms)Obstruction in the esophagusMetabolic disorders such as kidney disease

Bring a sample of the vomit to the veterinarian. The veterinarian will then take the cat's temperature and examine its abdomen. If it turns out to be no more than a passing incident, the veterinarian may ask you to limit the cat's diet to clear fluids and to collect stool samples over that period, as the underlying cause may be passed along in the stool. Occasionally, the cat's body may use vomiting to clear the intestines of toxins.

If the vomit contains excessive amounts of mucus, an inflamed intestine may be the cause. Undigested food in the vomit can be due to food poisoning, anxiety, or simply overeating. Bile, on the other hand, indicates an inflammatory bowel disease or pancreatitis.

If bright red blood is found in the vomit, the stomach could be ulcerated. However, if the blood is brown and looks like coffee grounds, the problem may be in the intestine. Strong digestive odors, meanwhile, are usually observed when there is an intestinal obstruction.

If the obstruction is suspected in the cat's esophagus, the veterinarian will conduct an oral exam. Enlarged tonsils are a good indicator of such an obstruction.

The term for black feces that has blood in it

A type of slime that is made up of certain salts, cells, or leukocytes

A medical condition in which the pancreas becomes inflamed

The tube that extends from the mouth to the stomach

The fluid created by the liver that helps food in the stomach to be digested.

Any substance that creates the urge to vomit

Term used to imply that a situation or condition is more severe than usual; also used to refer to a disease having run a short course or come on suddenly.