Let’s get straight to the point; cat’s won’t vomit because they’re hungry. However, if a cat does vomit when they’re hungry (i.e. their stomach is empty), they’ll display a host of uncomfortable symptoms. This is called bilious vomiting syndrome.
Bilious Vomiting Syndrome
Vomiting on an empty stomach is a common sign of bilious vomiting syndrome (when a cat is hungry). Due to the fact that many cats don’t feed during the night, this frequently happens first thing in the morning. All that comes up because the cat’s stomach is empty is fluid, mucus, and frequently some bile, which could give everything an orangey-brown tint. There are no other gastrointestinal symptoms in cats with bilious vomiting syndrome (diarrhea, weight loss, poor appetite, etc.).
The majority of cats suffering from bilious vomiting syndrome benefit from more frequent feedings. Feed a meal just before going to bed and then first thing in the morning if the vomiting usually happens in the morning. Leaving food out all day and night is a fine idea, provided weight gain is not an issue. Small, metered meals can also be provided at regular times throughout the day and night using an automatic feeder. As part of the management of bilious vomiting syndrome, some veterinarians also suggest converting cats to a high protein diet, ideally canned.
Medication can be added to the therapy regimen if a cat suspected of having bilious vomiting syndrome doesn’t improve after eating more frequently and other potential causes of chronic vomiting have been ruled out. Some cats respond to medications that lower gastric acidity, such as famotidine or omeprazole, while others do better on metoclopramide, which causes the small intestine to contract more frequently, or on maropitant, a general anti-vomiting agent.
Increase Frequency of Feedings if Your Cat is Vomiting When Hungry
This is what you may anticipate if your cat develops bilious vomiting syndrome going forward.
- Diet: The most common form of treatment for bilious vomiting syndrome is to increase the frequency of feedings or to leave food out all of the time.
- Medication: If more frequent feedings do not resolve the problem, medications (e.g., famotidine, omeprazole, metoclopramide, or maropitant) may be prescribed.
What to Expect at the Vet’s Office
To ascertain the reason why your cat is throwing up, your veterinarian will take a thorough medical history and do a physical examination. They may conduct certain diagnostic tests to rule out some of the other potential causes of persistent vomiting in cats if they are not fully convinced that bilious vomiting syndrome is the only explanation. among the possibilities are
- Fecal examinations
- Bloodwork
- Urinalysis
- Abdominal X-rays and/or ultrasound
- Endoscopy of the gastrointestinal tract with biopsies
- Exploratory surgery with biopsies
Questions to Ask Your Vet about your cat vomiting when hungry
Inquire with your vet about any medications your cat is taking’s potential negative effects. Find out how often they want to check in on your cat’s progress and what to do if your cat’s condition doesn’t improve after starting the recommended course of therapy.
Possible complications to watch for
If you have any queries or worries regarding the health of your cat, speak to your veterinarian.
Medication-related adverse effects in cats can include appetite reduction, vomiting, diarrhea, odd behavior, etc. Make sure you are aware of how your cat should react to any given treatments.
Why is my cat throwing up after eating?
There are several reasons why your cat can vomit after eating. While some are harmless, like eating too quickly, others are a sickness that shouldn’t be disregarded.
- Eating too fast or too much
- Fur balls
- New food
- ‘Off’ food
- Stress
- Bowel obstruction (foreign body)
- Worms (intestinal parasites)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Kidney disease
- Hyperthyroidism
- Cancer
If your cat is throwing up after every meal and isn’t keeping food down, there may be a very serious problem. However, cats that occasionally vomit after eating but otherwise appear healthy are less likely to have a major illness. Even if your cat appears to be doing okay, you should still keep a watch on them because vomiting cats can swiftly deteriorate.
Why is my cat throwing up food but acting normal?
Cats are sly animals which frequently attempt to act normally despite being ill. Even if your cat is acting normally despite vomiting food, they can still be dealing with a major issue. Even if your cat is acting normally, it is advisable to have them checked out if they are spitting up their food.
Why does my cat only throw up wet or dry food?
Your cat may occasionally become ill from eating just one particular meal, you’ll notice. There may be a food intolerance behind this, but more often than not, there is a simpler explanation. Wet cat food is a favorite for many felines. They will graze on dry food all day, but as soon as you give them some wet food, they will eat it quickly before throwing it back up. Determine whether a specific brand or taste is the culprit or if your cat vomit up after eating any wet food. To prevent your cat from eating too quickly and throwing up later, you might want to check for slow feeders.
When should I be concerned about my cat vomiting?
Knowing what to do if your cat vomits is essential because there are so many potential causes. The frequency of vomiting is crucial; if your cat throws up only sometimes (once a month or less), you can keep an eye on them and bring it up with your veterinarian at their next checkup. You should schedule a visit with your veterinarian if your cat vomits after eating at least once each week. Make an urgent appointment with your veterinarian if your cat vomits more than once per day or is having trouble swallowing.
You should also check to see if your cat is displaying any additional signs of illness. Although it’s unlikely to be an emergency if your cat throws up after eating but otherwise appears healthy, you should still schedule a checkup with your veterinarian if it happens more frequently than once a month. On the other hand, even if your cat only sometimes throws up, you should still take them to the doctor if they exhibit additional symptoms like lethargy, diarrhea, or a lack of appetite.
When to visit your vet
If your cat throws up after eating and exhibits any of the following symptoms, you should take them to the clinic right away:
- Poor appetite
- Hungry all the time
- Weight loss
- Drinking more
- Urinating more
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
Additionally, you ought to believe your gut. Even if your cat only sometimes vomits and otherwise seems healthy, take them to the vet for a checkup if you are concerned.
How do I stop my cat from throwing up after eating?
Without identifying the root of the issue, it might be challenging to stop a cat from vomiting after eating. But for many cats, a definite reason is never identified. There may be some home remedies you may try to stop your cat from throwing up once you and your veterinarian have ruled out some of the more serious ailments that might cause it.
Home remedies for cat vomiting
Before attempting any at-home treatments for vomiting cats, it’s crucial to get any potentially harmful causes of the condition ruled out at your veterinarian’s clinic. Never use over-the-counter drugs because many of them are poisonous to cats.
For many cats, eating excessively quickly is the cause of vomiting, which is known as “scarf and barf.” If your cat prefers one flavor over another, this might occasionally happen with a certain flavor or type of food. The answer in this situation is to get your cat to eat more slowly. To check if it affects your cat’s vomiting, you can try a slow-feed cat dish or an anti-vomit cat bowl. If stress is the likely culprit, think about how you may assist your cat in coping with their distress. Your cat will be more relaxed and more likely to keep their food down if you provide hiding spots and minimize changes about the house.
Do anti vomit or slow-feed cat bowls work?
If a cat likes to “scarf and barf,” slow feeder cat dishes can help them eat more slowly and avoid throwing up. There isn’t any proof from science that higher cat bowls can stop vomiting, therefore it’s uncertain if they can.
