Cat Throwing Up

[Tuesday]

I have a 1 1/2-year-old cat, Maisey. For the past few weeks, she has been throwing up on and off. She will go for two days or so without doing it, then she'll start up again. She's actually gone three days this week, but threw up again today. I changed her food from Nine Lives to a more expensive food - Hill's Science Diet Hairball Control two weeks ago. I thought it was hairballs at first because she won't eat her hairball gel, but the new food didn't help. I've had her for six months, and the only time she's thrown up before was when she had tapeworms. She's on flea/tick meds and is inside, so I don't think it's worms. I also don't see worm eggs anywhere. She seems fine otherwise - that's why I haven't taken her to the vet yet. I don't know what a vet can do for this, if anything. From what other cat owners have told me, it's hard to find a vet around here that knows how to treat cats properly. Do you think this vomiting is a big deal, or can it be helped with a change of food or something? Thanks!

[Traci]

What is she vomiting, ...hairballs, undigested food, bile, or??? Does she eat her food too fast? Do you schedule her meals or free feed her?

As frequent as this is, I would not wait to get her seen by a vet, mainly to rule out a potential obstruction, inflammation in the GI tract or a food sensitivity...only your vet can determine these.

[Guest]

Hi Traci, it is food that hasn't been completely chewed - sometimes whole pieces of food. She's a pretty quick eater. She eats very little at a time, but eats frequently during the day and night. It is at night when she throws up. I give her about a 3/4 cup food before I go to bed, then refill it sometime during the next day.

I think I'm going to make an appointment to have her checked out. Thanks!

[Traci]

You said she is on flea/tick meds, but what meds are these? If they are over-the-counter by chance, need to notify your vet of that and the product name. You said she's inside, but getting flea meds, do you have fleas in your home? If not, I wouldn't use flea products at all unless there is clear evidence of them, and then, only use Frontline or Advantage from your vet, nothing else.

Not knowing the product you're using for hairball remedy, I would suggest laxatone instead of any commercial brand of hairball remedy...only need to give it once a week or less, depending on degree of hairball problem.

Do discuss with your vet the frequency of the vomiting, the dietary change recently, and her eating habits.

[Guest]

She is on Frontline - the gel-type one that I rub on the back of her neck. She used to take Cat Lax (the gelly stuff) for hairballs - not sure if that's the same as laxatone (?). I had to put it on her paw so she'd lick it off since she wouldn't eat it out of her bowl. It got to be such a hassle to chase her down, and then she'd rub most of it off on the furniture! I don't think she has hairballs. I've never seen her cough any up. She also refuses to take her Heartguard - I know she probably doesn't need it since she's indoors, but I've read that mosquitos can get in, so I wanted her to have it. But, she won't take it, so I guess that's that. She's very finicky! I've been having these bugs in my apartment alot during the summer - they are either fleas or fruitflies. That's why I treat her even though she's indoors. Also, sometimes I take her outside on her leash to get some fresh air.

[Guest]

Well, the vet decided to worm her again just to make sure it wasn't worms. If she still throws up, she's going to come back for X-rays. So far, so good. She's not throwing up - I hope she continues to do well!