Cat sick: causes, symptoms, first aid, treatment, recovery period and veterinarian advice

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Probably, every person in whose house a cat lived or lives has at least once encountered her vomiting. This is primarily due to the fact that the part of the cat's brain, which is responsible for the gag reflex, is much better developed than in humans. Therefore, such a nuisance happens to animals quite often. Let's try to find out why the cat is sick and how the owner can help her in this situation.

What is vomiting in cats

What is vomiting? Everything is quite simple: at the same time, the diaphragm and abdominal muscles contract in the body, as a result of which intra-abdominal pressure increases and all the contents of the stomach are ejected through the esophagus. Vomit is incompletely digested food that has already been soaked in gastric juice. In some cases, it can be stained with bile. That is why quite often vomit has a slightly yellowish tint and a sour smell.

In general, vomiting is a kind of protective reaction of the body, whichoccurs when toxic or poisonous substances, foreign objects enter the gastrointestinal tract. Also, a similar embarrassment happens to cats if they eat too much at one time.

But in addition to the above reasons, vomiting can occur due to chronic diseases or increased intracranial pressure. Nausea is often caused by motion sickness, or by increased pressure in the stomach or duodenum.

As you can see, vomiting can be a symptom of various diseases, or it can be a sign of normal overeating. Here everything depends on the accompanying symptoms.

Safe vomiting

Many predators, including cats, regurgitate semi-digested food for their babies. This can be observed during the period when the young are moving from milk to more solid food, but their stomachs are still too weak and can only digest prepared food, which in the mother's stomach is disinfected by her gastric juice. In domestic cats, this instinct is quite rare, but such cases are recorded.

Sometimes cats vomit in the morning, it is also called "hungry". But this is typical only for those animals that eat only once or twice a day.

There are occasional cases of vomiting. This includes overeating or swallowing food too quickly by the animal. After all, the stomach of cats is not designed for too large pieces of food. To avoid such cases, you should feed the cat often, but in small amounts.in portions, then he will not be so hungry as to swallow pieces whole.

It's no secret that cats get their own fur in their stomachs, because cats wash themselves with their tongues. Because of this, from time to time, these animals experience the so-called "cleansing" vomiting, which frees the body from accumulated hairballs in it.

Cats, like humans, vomit during pregnancy. This usually happens in the third week due to the fact that some hormonal changes occur in the body of the female, the uterus is stretched. The cat does not stay in this state for too long, as its body quickly adapts to new conditions.

Some cats, like people, get sick in a car or on an airplane. This is also considered normal and goes away as soon as the trip or flight stops.

Let's consider the causes of vomiting that should cause alarm in the owner.

Poisoning

When the owner sees that vomiting is repeatedly repeated in his pet, the first thing that comes to mind is that he was poisoned. And this is indeed the most common cause of vomiting in cats. An animal can be poisoned not only by bad foods, but also by drugs, chemicals and other things. Especially dangerous is the poison that is used to poison mice, rats and moles. They are usually encountered by cats that live in private homes and walk freely on the street.

Even some indoor and garden plants can cause food poisoning in a cat. These include: dieffenbachia,hyacinth, lupine, rhododendron and many others. The same effect is given by some chemicals and fertilizers that are used for these same plants.

In this case, vomiting is seen as a defensive reaction that helps to remove harmful substances from the body that have entered it.

Intestinal obstruction

If you watch your pet and see that he has begun to vomit, but the stool is completely absent, then most likely it is intestinal obstruction. Obstruction cannot be called a safe symptom, since it is a clear sign that some kind of mechanical obstruction has formed in the intestine. The role of such an obstacle can be an accidentally swallowed sausage skin, a bone, a long thread, and many other items that are not edible and are not digested. This also includes hair that has accumulated after licking.

Detecting a blockage in the intestines is quite simple, as the cat's stomach becomes incredibly hard and tense, and if you feel it, you can see that the animal is uncomfortable.

Chronic diseases

Inflammation of the large intestine is one of the most common diseases that causes chronic vomiting in cats. In addition, toxins that are produced in the body of an animal in the presence of kidney failure or diabetes can also provoke vomiting. The gag reflex is also triggered in diseases such as increased pressure in the duodenum and stomach,intracranial pressure, gastritis, tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, enteritis.

If your cat is throwing up foam, it can also be a sign that your pet has got worms. In adults, this phenomenon is rarely observed, but in kittens it is quite common.

Vomiting blood

It happens that a cat is sick, and blood clots are clearly visible in her vomit. This is a clear sign that there is an injury in the animal's gastrointestinal tract. The reason most often lies in the presence of an ulcer or tumor, the presence of a foreign body inside is not excluded. The problem can be distinguished even by the color of the blood. Scarlet blood is damaged upper gastrointestinal tract. Brown blood is a damaged duodenum or stomach.

Sometimes vomit has a distinct odor and color of feces. From this we can conclude that the pet has intestinal obstruction or abdominal trauma.

Types of vomiting

If a cat is vomiting food that has not yet been digested, then this, as mentioned earlier, is a sign of overeating. This also happens during pregnancy. Such vomiting is not a cause for panic and goes away on its own.

Yellow vomit. If a cat is vomiting yellow, then most likely bile has entered her stomach. She irritates his walls. And, as a result, the cat is sick. The reason may lie in the fact that the pet ate too fatty food. Or maybe he has serious problems with the liver or gallbladder. If a cat is sick of yellow foam, then this is generally a serious reason to go immediately to the doctor. There are big he alth problems.

Green vomit. If you are sure that your cat did not eat grass, then you should immediately contact your veterinarian. Since green vomit is a clear sign of a dangerous infection.

If a cat is sick of white foam and this happens once, then this is a sign of severe hunger of the animal. In this case, it is recommended to feed the pet immediately, but not to give too large a portion, as overeating can occur. But if a cat is sick of white foam several times in a row, then this can only mean one thing - a stomach disease.

Masses with mucus. In the role of mucus in this case, gastric juice most often acts. There are enough reasons for this: erosion of the stomach, helminthic invasion, viral diseases, chronic gastritis.

Animal First Aid

If a cat is not able to immediately consult a doctor when vomiting is detected, then you can try to alleviate the pet's condition yourself:

1. First of all, you need to completely limit the animal's access to food for a day. Only a limited amount of water is allowed and only if this does not cause new bouts of vomiting. If the cat does not eat, it should not throw up, but in the case when the vomiting does not stop, you should go to the vet.
2. If you are sure that your cat has eaten stale food, then you need to try to induce vomiting to cleanse the body. The cat should be laid on its side and put pressure on the root of the tongue. You can also try diluting a tablespoon of s alt in a glass of warm water anduse this to solder the animal until the cat starts to vomit.
3. If you notice that the animal has swallowed a sharp object, then you should give him a teaspoon of vaseline oil. This will protect the walls of the esophagus from damage.
4. It happens that animals accidentally eat chemicals, which makes them sick afterwards. In this case, the pet must be given a tablespoon of Enterosgel.

Even if you managed to alleviate the condition of the animal, you should not put off going to the doctor "for later." Your pet may need professional help. As soon as possible, you should contact your veterinarian, who will conduct all the necessary studies and prescribe treatment, if necessary.

Vomiting symptoms

We all know that vomiting comes after nausea. In animals, it manifests itself in restless behavior, and can also be observed:

• Profuse salivation.
• Frequent licking.
• You may notice that the cat swallows faster.
• Some animals begin to meow frequently.

After a while, we see that the animal is clearing his throat and stretching his head forward, breathing gradually quickens. Then there are contractions in the pharynx and abdomen, and vomiting occurs.

Cat sick: what to do

Actions during vomiting in a cat depend on the state of the animal. If a cat is sick once, and at the same time her body temperature remains normal, and her usual activity and appetite do not disappear, then there is no reason to panic. It will be enough if you just do not feed the pet for 12-24 hours.

Prolonged vomiting that cannot be controlled is a sign of poisoning or a manifestation of some serious illness. You should contact your veterinarian. A visit to the doctor should not be postponed if vomiting is accompanied by a lack of appetite, lethargy of the animal, body temperature rises, stool is disturbed, if the cat is sick of a yellow liquid, or blood has been seen in the vomit.

If your cat is no longer young, and she has recurrent vomiting, then most likely this is a sign that she has a chronic pathology of the internal organs, or there is a neoplasm in the gastrointestinal tract. This can only be determined by examination by a specialist using special devices.

Veterinary action

Of course, each case is unique, and with an individual animal, the doctor conducts a separate therapy, but the general tests and procedures remain the same for everyone. So, in order to determine where the cat vomited from, the doctor prescribes a general blood test, and sometimes also a biochemical one. Various tests are carried out to help determine the presence or absence of infections in the body. Abdominal x-rays and ultrasounds may be needed, and some cats have endoscopies. Treatment is prescribed only after all tests and studies have been carried out, and it depends on what diagnosis will be made.

Prevention of vomiting

Some cases of vomiting can be easily preventedfor this you need:

• Organize proper nutrition for your pet. If you prefer to feed the animal with natural food, then the menu should include products that contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. If you prefer dry food, then it should be quality products purchased from a specialized store. It's not uncommon for cats that eat communal food to develop serious kidney, intestinal, liver, and stomach problems.
• Every year, cats are vaccinated against various infectious diseases.
• At least twice a year, preventive measures are taken against the appearance of worms.
• It is recommended to brush regularly and give your pet a special paste that dissolves the hair accumulated in the stomach and removes it from there.
• It is necessary to limit the animal's access to various items that are not suitable for consumption: threads, needles, New Year's tinsel, household chemicals, poisonous indoor and garden plants. If you buy cat toys, then make sure that they do not disassemble and do not contain toxic substances.
• If you're taking your cat on a trip, you shouldn't feed it heavily before leaving, and only small portions of food are allowed on the way.
• Each pet once a year must undergo a complete examination in a veterinary clinic. And for those animals that have already crossed the age of ten years, such examinations are recommended to be carried out more often.

Conclusion

In the article we were able to find out why the cat is sickfoam, and what other types of vomiting exist. As you can see, not every vomiting is considered a cause for panic, and some even should be called on your own, for example, in the case when an animal eats something stale. It is important to observe the nature of the vomit. Because if a cat is sick of bile, then this is an occasion for immediate medical attention. In general, you should not delay in the treatment of your own animal, because some diseases carry a danger to the pet's life. It is also not recommended to self-medicate, since you can not only not help the animal, but also harm its he alth even more if you choose the wrong drugs. A caring owner always has a couple of hours to take care of the he alth of his beloved cat or cat.