Cat Vomiting
When you own a cat, occasional cat vomiting is often a part of the package. We worry about it of course, as it seems to be a sign that something may be seriously wrong with our feline friend. This could be the case, but unless the vomiting is frequent, accompanied by diarrhea, or there is blood in the vomit, there is probably nothing much wrong.
Cat vomiting can be quite an inconvenience of course. We have a cat who will vomit in several locations, but her favorite spot is on the upstairs carpet, about two feet from the tile floor of the upstairs bathroom. About one time out of ten we'll catch her in time to get her onto the tile floor, but haven't figured out how to train her to do her vomiting there on her own. We have stain remover supplied by our carpet cleaning specialist to take care of the mess on the carpet, but have found when it is particularly colorful (orange dry cat food) that white vinegar works best.
The main issue is of course the cat's well being, and not carpet problems. Cats often seem to eat fastidiously, but will also on occasion bolt down their food. Bolting down their food, eating too much, or eating while stressed, can all lead to the cat vomiting soon after. If the meal is very rich, it can also lead to a bout of vomiting, and it might be necessary to withhold food for a day, or feed the cat a bland diet for a few days. Even drinking too much water can contribute to the problem.
Many cats seem to spend a good part of the day creating hairballs. They will lick and groom themselves continuously, a hairball will grow in its stomach, and sooner or later your cat will decide its time to get rid of it. A hairball can be the size of your finger and one wonders just how many hairs are contained in one. Outdoor cats will sometimes eat grass, and then vomit it up (dogs do the same). Cats eat grass for nutrients, and some believe that they also do it to throw up a hairball. Cat food that claims to contain hairball preventatives actually contain fiber designed to help hair pass through the cat's system, and not accumulate. Hairball-preventive cat food seems to work well for some cats, and not particularly well for others.
A visit to the veterinarian would be in order if your cat vomited up something it ate that it should not have, such as a poisonous plant leaf, chocolate, or a piece of string. Kittens also are more apt to eat something they should not. An elderly cat may be throwing up due to liver disease or kidney failure. Heart worm or the presence of another parasite is another possibility. If your cat appears to be ill at the same time you are witnessing an incident of vomiting, by all means get to the vet as quickly as you can.
Most of the time, after a session of cat vomiting, you cat will go on about its business as if nothing is wrong. That is a good indication that, in all likelihood, nothing is wrong.