People knowledgeable about cats, why do they vomit?

I had a cat that threw up several days in a row, then would be ok for a few days. It went on for
years. I was told she had stomach issues, like IBD. But I was reading the website, petmd, and it’s really kind of complicated. There’s even a difference between retching/vomiting, regurgitation and coughing. Rather than try to help you based on my cat’s experiences, I’m linking to what seems like a very good source of info.

https://www.petmd.com/cat/symptoms/why-your-cat-throwing-and-what-do

My opinion, based on what you’ve said, is that it’s not worrisome. Cats do vomit now and then without anything being wrong. Best of luck.

I have two cats, so that I hope that qualifies me to answer your questions. So, there are two reasons that cats can vomit up substances. One is when they are having a hairball, and that generally looks like a clump of hair although it may be moist to the touch. If it’s more of a conglomeration of dry food, or any type of food where you can see bits of it still in there, then it could be for a couple different reasons. If it’s only once a month, and everything seems fine, then I don’t think you have to worry overly much. If it starts happening more often, that’s when you probably want to get them in to see the vet to see if there’s some other underlying, more concerning reason.

If it’s a hairball, you want your cat getting those up when they need to. In fact if you constantly see them retching and nothing is coming up, that’s when you need to be concerned if it continues because it could mean that they have a mass of hair that they are unable to bring up, and over time that can be life-threatening. So if you see your cat retching like they’re trying to pass a hairball and it is constantly non-productive, there are products you can buy to give them that will help them pass the hairball, but honestly, if you’re like me and you have to watch your money, I just take a little bit of Vaseline and put it on the end of their nose. They may not be happy with you in the moment but it really is in their best interest. Because they won’t like it on their nose, they will lick it off and then that ends up being much easier than you trying to put it in their mouth. And what those kinds of substances do is help to clump the hairball in their stomach and then it will come up much easier. Just make sure that it is the old traditional Vaseline and not some fancy product that might have something harmful for cats in it.

If it’s just once a month or so that they’re throwing up food, it may just be that their stomach wasn’t agreeable that day, or maybe the food wasn’t the best. I know that it’s better to give your cats moist food over dry food as much as possible. I give my cats moist food everyday, but I do have some dry food out for them to nibble on throughout the day.

I hope this helps! I didn’t mean to go on for so long. Wishing your kitties all the best!

I find with one of my cats, he will throw up sometimes because he gobbles his food like a glutton, and then right after that, he throws up.

I’ve had cats throw up from eating grass outside and then they throw up a thin, slimy looking puke with the grass in it. I know that’s not your cat’s issue because the cat is an indoor cat, but I just wanted to mention what is one of the reasons for some cats.

Some cats have a delicate stomach.

I’ve almost always had cats in my life and almost all of them have thrown up at one time or other, some more frequently than others.

@jca2 that’s a very good point about the thing where cats eat too fast and then throw up. They actually have dishes now you can buy for cats who do that a lot that forces them to slow down while they’re eating. I didn’t think to mention that in my response so I’m glad that you brought it up!

Hairballs.

@LifeQuestioner That was very helpful. Thank you.

@Hawaii_Jake you are very welcome! Always happy to help anyway, but when it comes to taking care of our feline friends, that’s something I am very passionate about!

Mine vomits primarily when she goes a little too long without food. Cats need to eat a little food often to keep their stomachs settled.

The other instances is when she’s had some cat grass, or she’s groomed up a lot of fur.

I’ve had 2 or 3 cats at a time for over 50 years & what you’re describing sounds fairly normal for a short-haired cat. Long-haired cats will throw up a little more frequently. They groom 24/7/365 & that hair doesn’t digest in their system. Their system is set up to expel any excesses to protect them.

There is a tube of hairball gel that’s supposed to help them, but ALL my cats hated using that. I used Meow Mix Hairball Formula dry cat food & that seemed to help with the problem. Yes, they would still throw up, but it didn’t seem to be as often. The main thing I liked about the Meow Mix was that they had NEVER had a recall. There is a difference between expelling a hairball & your cat being sick & throwing up & when it happens, you should be able to tell the difference.

Our cat would vomit only if she ate something she wasn’t supposed to, that is something over and above the cat food we gave her. She was an outdoor cat, and I appreciate yours isn’t, but is it possible she is eating things you don’t give her?

^I don’t know. I don’t think so. I’ve decided not to worry about it. It’s not happening often, and her behavior is completely normal. Thanks.

Hairballs.

Also, @jca2 mentioned when they eat grass. I was always told this also, and I thought they ate the grass on purpose to unclog themselves. I don’t know if that is correct, or they ate grass and didn’t think about the side effects.

I grew up with three cats, and the long haired cat (he was so cute!) puked the most.

I’ve had one cat (who I loved madly) and puking was her hobby.

The smell of our freshly laundered comforter seemed to trigger it. She would puke on it, I would wash it, she would jump on the bed and puke on it. Etc., etc., etc. I learned to hang the thing up for a week to air before I put it back on the bed.