{"id":2622,"date":"2021-10-29T22:38:10","date_gmt":"2021-10-30T05:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foodypaws.com\/?p=2622"},"modified":"2021-10-29T22:40:20","modified_gmt":"2021-10-30T05:40:20","slug":"why-cats-throw-up-food","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foodypaws.com\/why-cats-throw-up-food\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Reasons Why Cats Throw Up Food (Regurgitating & Vomiting)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Cats are lovable yet mysterious animals \u2013 their curiosity and intrigue are what make them such fun pets! Domesticated thousands of years after dogs, cats are notoriously more difficult to read and still have much in common with their ancestors. In addition, they hide stress and discomfort particularly well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, it is no surprise many cat owners are baffled when they throw up on the middle of the floor, seemingly out of the blue. This article will discuss the different reasons a cat might throw up food, when it is time to be concerned, and when to head over to your veterinarian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to note that there is a difference between vomiting and regurgitating. Vomiting is a more forceful release of stomach contents, can last several minutes, and the cat may display symptoms of feeling unwell (such as excessive drooling or heaving). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The regurgitating typically happens suddenly and without symptoms; a common example of regurgitating is when your cat abruptly regurgitates undigested food. Keep an eye out on whether your cat is vomiting or regurgitating, as it is helpful knowledge to provide to the veterinarian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this article, the primary term used below is vomiting, but note that vomiting or regurgitating can occur for most of the noted issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. 1. Stress<\/a>
  2. 2. Diet<\/a>
  3. 3. Hairballs<\/a>
  4. 4. Eating Too Quickly<\/a>
  5. 5. Household Toxins<\/a>
  6. 6. Toxic House Plants<\/a>
  7. 7. Foreign Material<\/a>
  8. 8. Parasites<\/a>
  9. 10. Medical issues\u00a0<\/a><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n
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    You might need to move to the best tasting dry cat food<\/a><\/strong>, one which is tasty, healthy, and has a smell that cats love.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    What causes our feline friends to vomit\/regurgitate, and when should we begin to suspect something is wrong? There are a variety of reasons your cat may be throwing up. Below are some of the most common explanations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Stress<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Cats are creatures of habit and can experience many different types of stressors in the home. If you bring a new pet into the home (whether it is a cat, dog, or any other animal), the cat may feel stressed by the dramatic change. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Another stressor is packing up and moving to another home. Cats need time to adjust, and changing up their surroundings can be a significant source of stress. If you and your family find yourselves away from home more often, this could also trigger stress-induced nausea and vomiting in your pet cat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It is a myth that cats prefer to be alone – while most cats do not always need to be held and pet, many cats want to be nearby their owners and can experience separation anxiety if their owners are away for long periods. Even smaller changes can impact a cat\u2019s physical wellbeing and may lead to an upset stomach, although it is much less common. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    These smaller changes include changes to the litter box (such as changing the type of litter or moving the box to a different area in the house) or moving furniture. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To avoid stress-induced vomiting and reduce general stress and anxiety, implement small, incremental changes, so your cat has a longer period to adjust. For new pets, be thoughtful of how you introduce them to your cat and make sure your cat still has a private area it can retreat to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When moving into a new home, make sure to unpack familiar items your cat enjoys (like their bed or a comfortable blanket) so that they feel calmer and more relaxed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    2. Diet<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Since most household cats eat the same food every day, it is best to slowly introduce new food. Switching to a new type or food brand requires an adjustment period to avoid your cat experiencing an upset stomach and vomiting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Start by mixing in a small amount of the new food with the old food, and slowly increase the amount of new food each day until you have fully replaced the old food within 1-2 weeks. This will help minimize vomiting and an upset stomach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Typically vomiting due to a new food is not serious, but it is still uncomfortable for the cat and relatively easy to avoid. If your cat is vomiting from the new food frequently, is not adjusting, and\/or there is blood in the vomit, take your cat to the veterinarian right away. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

     Food allergies could be another reason your cat is vomiting. Be sure and feed your cat a high-protein, balanced diet (ideally a mix of dry and wet food) and avoid over-feeding treats. If you struggle to find a diet that works for your cat, consult your veterinarian about a special, personalized diet for your cat\u2019s needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    3. Hairballs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    One reason your cat may be throwing up is that the cat has hair stuck in its esophagus and needs to clear its airway (hence, you have a hairball on the ground). This is relatively common, particularly for long-haired cat breeds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Still, if your cat is throwing up hairballs more than once every couple of weeks or exhibiting an unusual frequency of hairballs, then it may be time to visit the veterinarian. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Cats may also over-groom themselves if they are stressed or anxious, leading to excess hairballs thrown up. One way to avoid hairballs is to brush your cat with a slicker brush regularly – this removes the hair they would have removed themselves during grooming and can reduce hairballs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If your cat is still throwing up hairballs frequently, the veterinarian may suggest an over-the-counter hairball remedy to help your cat pass the hair through its digestive system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    4. Eating Too Quickly<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The size of a cat\u2019s stomach is only around the size of a ping-pong ball, and it is easy for cats to simply eat too much too quickly and vomit undigested food onto the floor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To help alleviate this issue, try purchasing a \u2018slow feeder\u2019 food bowl, making it more difficult for your cat to inhale quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Additionally, be sure and feed your cat at regular intervals, so they are not exceedingly hungry when food is delivered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    5. Household Toxins<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Cats are naturally curious animals and often find themselves getting into all types of mischief around the house. Therefore, it is extremely important to make sure household chemicals and cleaners are safely stored out of reach so cats cannot access them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Additionally, some cats are interested in the food we eat and want to try some human food on their own time – be sure to throw away any unfinished meals and secure the pantry so you do not have access to anything they shouldn\u2019t put in their mouths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    6. Toxic House Plants<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Munching on indoor plants is a common reason cats throw up because many common household plants are toxic to cats. Cat owners can easily access information on which plants are toxic and safe through a quick online search. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some toxic household plants to cats include peace lilies, aloe vera, pothos, snake plants, and jade plants. Since cats have different personalities, some may be interested in munching on plants, and some may leave plants alone entirely. Here is a list of plants that are toxic for cats:<\/p>\n\n\n\n