Why are cats sick?
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Simpo Two

Original Poster:

91,613 posts

289 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
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My neighbour's cat is throwing up all the time. My own cat throws up occasionally for no apparent resaon (not rich food, mostly supermarket own brand) - and today after I gave her a slice of her much-loved ham, two minutes later, 'ulk-ulk-ulk waaargh' there it was back on the carpet. What is going on and how can I prevent it? Cats never used to be like this. She is about 13 if that's a clue and has been doing it for 2-3 years, but otherwise in fine health.

8bit

5,429 posts

179 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
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Ate too quickly perhaps? Our elder one does this from time to time, usually immediately after eating so it still almost looks like fresh cat food out the pouch.

Also maybe yours had just cleaned her behind and made herself a bit ill? Our lad did that last week. I'd just cleaned up after the other one had a hairball in her bed. Heard the elder one being sick downstairs. Came down to find lumps of poo in the hall and a massive pile of sick in the spare bedroom. Checked him out, he had poo stuck to his arse. Had to shut him in the bathroom, clean up the poo, clean up the sick, get the wife, lock us and the cat in the bathroom, she held him while I did my best to clean his backside.

Gotta love long-haired cats...

Pistom

6,254 posts

183 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
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It's very rarely as a result of being ill. We had cats that were regularly sick and found that if we gave them small amounts, they'd be fine.

TeaNoSugar

1,429 posts

189 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
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We have two cats. One eats like he thinks he'll never be fed again, and the other just grazes "little and often". The result of this is that the one who eats really fast is constantly throwing his food back up, and the other rarely if ever throws up. We now have to give the cats their food bit by bit if we don't want cat sick on the floor (or more often - and almost as if he does it deliberately - all down the stairs).

0a

24,107 posts

218 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
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Pistom said:
It's very rarely as a result of being ill. We had cats that were regularly sick and found that if we gave them small amounts, they'd be fine.
My parents have a female that spend her growing up time in a cat rehoming centre where she was fed with the other cats. She "wolfs" down her food and then vomits it up and eats it later (yuk!).

The solution is to give her half of her food, and then the rest 30 mins later and she's fine.

Jasandjules

72,035 posts

253 months

Saturday 18th January 2014
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Do you give any hairball stuff in the food?

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

91,613 posts

289 months

Sunday 19th January 2014
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Thanks for the ideas. I think she must be eating too much/too quickly, which is a trait I associate with dogs rather than cats. I only give her half a sachet at a time but perhaps 1/3 would be better. No furball additive.

Sometimes the vomit - I can't think of a better word - is just a small amount of liquid, sometimes the whole lunch. Strange.

A new carpet is arriving next weeks; I have warned her that if she pukes on that I'll make her into a Davy Crockett hat...

anonymous-user

78 months

Sunday 19th January 2014
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+1 for bolting their food as the cause. Our Maine Coon is perpetually hungry, and occasionally will bolt and vomit. If it were to happen regularly, I'd worry, but as it is it seems pretty obvious what's going on.

8bit

5,429 posts

179 months

Sunday 19th January 2014
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Simpo Two said:
A new carpet is arriving next weeks; I have warned her that if she pukes on that I'll make her into a Davy Crockett hat...
Red rag... When I was clearing up the various unholy messes mine made that night I vowed to change all the carpets in the house for lino...

lenats31

438 posts

197 months

Monday 20th January 2014
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Eating too much, eating too fast and stress

PaulG40

2,381 posts

249 months

Monday 20th January 2014
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Good to hear we are not alone. smile Ours does it usually if she eats immeadiately after running inside or if shes been out all day so tries to speed eat, she usually pukes almost immeadiately and usually on the rug!! Grrrr!!!

thatdude

2,660 posts

151 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
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My wife and I have resorted to giving our cat half a pouch, letting him wait for 30 minutes then giving him the other half of the pouch. He has it sort of sussed out himself now though - he usually goes out after the first half, does his morning perimiter checks of the garden then is back and gets more food


if we give it to him in one go the stupid fecker eats it all, is then sick, then asks for more.

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

91,613 posts

289 months

Tuesday 21st January 2014
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Well today she managed to be sick before breakfast... at least the new carpet is going to be three weeks late so it can soak up another 3 weeks' vomit!

lenats31

438 posts

197 months

Thursday 23rd January 2014
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Simpo Two said:
Well today she managed to be sick before breakfast... at least the new carpet is going to be three weeks late so it can soak up another 3 weeks' vomit!
Hairballs? Looks like womit but really is hairs (and womit). Throwing up hairballs is normal.

They do it if they are stressed too.

HungerfordBridge

11 posts

159 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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Just thought I would share this. My dear cat-now deceased, had the same problem just after Christmas. I gave her a varied diet of meat and fish plus dry biscuits. Certainly all the 14 years that she I had her. Whether this was a prelude to her demise I just don`t know. However, Jessie never complained and carried on eating until two days before her passing.
Ergo, I would suggest that you should take your feline friend to a vet, for a check up at least,I failed to do so! Please learn from my error.
Thanks
cry

McWigglebum4th

32,414 posts

228 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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As you have something new and they must claim it by puking on it

Big_Dog

994 posts

209 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
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We now give our Maine Coone, Royal Canin breed specific food. It has bigger bits that force him to slow down and chew properly.
Doesn't mess the carpet up any where near as much now.