A cat’s vomiting isn’t so uncommon. Chances are every cat parent has encountered this problem multiple times while sharing their home with a feline friend.
However, it still isn’t normal for a cat to vomit. It’s especially worrying if you notice your cat vomiting after every meal.
Imagine throwing up every day or seeing one of your family members having this type of problem. Just like it isn’t normal or healthy for us to vomit this often, the same thing is true with cats.
But don't worry, you're not alone in this. Many cat owners face similar challenges.
Understanding the common causes behind your cat's post-meal vomiting is crucial. Let’s look at five of them and see the best ways to help your cat.
1. Eating Too Much Or Too Fast
Eating too much is, of course, the main reason why so many cats get fat. This is also the potential cause of your cat vomiting after every meal.
You probably see your cat getting all excited around mealtime. It nervously waits for you right next to the food bowl, eager to start eating its delicious meal already.
Their great love for food can lead them to eat too much and end up vomiting a good deal of their meal.
Another factor could be the pace at which your cat eats, particularly in households with multiple cats. In such environments, some cats get the impression that they need to eat their food fast, so as to avoid other felines eating their meal.
Eating too rapidly can cause a cat's stomach to expand too quickly, leading to vomiting after meals.
Both overeating and eating too fast is bad for your cat and can lead to other health complications together with vomiting.
This is why you should think about giving your cat multiple smaller daily meals. Automatic wet food feeders are also a good solution to avoid your cat eating too much or too fast.
2. A Change In A Diet
Have you recently changed your cat’s diet? There’s nothing wrong with this and I’m sure the food brand you choose is a quality one.
However, a quick change in a cat’s diet can cause stomach upset, resulting in frequent vomiting.
I suggest you always consult a veterinarian before switching your cat’s food. There are also some general directions you can use as your guide to avoid vomiting in your pet. PetMD suggests the following steps:
• Feed your cat 75% old food and 25% new food in the first two days
• Change the distribution to 50%-50% the next two days
• Your cat should eat 75% of the new food on days number 5 and 6
• Your cat should eat the new food exclusively on day number 7 without any signs of stomach upset
Bear in mind that this is the ideal schedule. Perhaps your cat will need more than seven days to get used to the new food.
Just don’t give up and be patient until it accepts it entirely.
3. Food Allergies
A cat vomiting after every meal could be allergic to certain ingredients in the food.
According to the VCA Animal Hospitals, some of the foods that typically cause allergic reactions in felines are dairy, beef, chicken, and fish. Cats of both genders can have food allergies, as well as both young and old cats of any breed.
Together with vomiting, some of the other signs here are skin inflammation, hair loss, itching, and frequent bowel movements.
Jacqueline Bryan and Linda Frank [1] point out how the only way to diagnose a food allergy in a cat is to identify the causative food component through a food elimination trial.
This problem can be managed by avoiding the ingredient that triggers the allergic reaction. Veterinarians also suggest a specific diet that a cat should continue to eat for the rest of its life.
4. Stress And Anxiety
Cats can become stressed and anxious for many different things. For instance, a change in their home, loud noises, unknown people in their surroundings, other pets in the house, veterinary visits, and so on.
Not every cat will have the same symptoms of stress. Some will hide, while others will groom excessively, resulting in an unhealthy coat look.
It’s also possible that an anxious cat shows changes in its litter box habits or has gastrointestinal issues, like vomiting after eating.
The most important thing to do in this situation is to try to figure out what’s causing stress in your feline friend.
After this, do your best to help it feel safe and protected and eliminate the source of stress from its surroundings.
5. Gastrointestinal Issues
Finally, gastrointestinal problems can cause your cat to throw up everything it eats. Feline inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is one of the most common issues in this area.
WebMD explains how this condition impacts various sections of a cat's digestive system, including the stomach and both the small and large intestines.
If your cat is affected with IBD, you will also notice other common symptoms, such as weight loss, diarrhea, bloody feces, reduced appetite, and lethargy.
The veterinarian will need to perform blood tests, ultrasound, and a biopsy to diagnose your cat with Feline inflammatory bowel disease.
IBD treatment includes several drugs, like corticosteroids and metronidazole, as well as prebiotics and probiotics to promote gut health in a cat.
Conclusion
Noticing your cat vomiting up everything it eats is something you should never ignore.
This can be due to eating too much or too fast. Sometimes a food allergy may cause vomiting, as well as a quick shift of a cat’s diet.
Some cats that throw up after every meal are stressed about something in their surroundings. Finally, this can also be a symptom of gastrointestinal issues such as Feline inflammatory bowel disease.
No matter what’s the cause of your cat vomiting too often, I suggest you take it to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Vomiting in cats is never normal, especially not when seen after every meal.
References:
[1] Bryan J, Frank LA. Food allergy in the cat: a diagnosis by elimination. J Feline Med Surg. 2010 Nov;12(11):861-6. DOI, Retrieved January 18, 2024.
