Feeling a Little Pukey

This past week, Finnegan was feeling very sick. For about three days, he couldn't keep food down; he vomited multiple times throughout the day. I wasn't sure what was making him sick, and was considering taking him to the vet.

He moped around the house, wanting to be held for extended periods of time, and slept nearly all day. By looking at his face, I could tell that he just didn't feel well at all.

Cats get sick for many different reasons. Pets.webmd.com talks about some of the causes and treatments for cats when they vomit. The most common reason that cats get sick is because they swallowed something that irritated their stomachs, like hair, grass, or bad food.

Webmd explains that it is normal for cats to vomit a time or two if they eat something that makes them sick. The site also warns cat-owners to take their pet to the vet if it vomits for more than a few days or too many times in a row.

You can oftentimes tell what is wrong with your cat by determining the way your cat is vomiting. Webmd identifies five different types of vomiting to watch out for in cats because they can indicate a more serious problem.

A type indicated with a * means that if your cat presents this sort of vomiting, get your cat checked out immediately by a veterinarian.

1. Persistent vomiting: Suggests the consumption of indigestible substances such as grass, hairballs, or spoiled food. Could also be a sign of infectious enteritis.

2. Sporadic vomiting*: Has no relationship to meals and leaves the cat looking haggard and listless. Suggests liver or kidney disease, worms, digestive track diseases, or (in older cats) an intestinal tumor. 

3. Vomiting blood*: Indicates bleeding between the mouth and small intestines.

4. Vomiting feces*: Suggests an intestinal obstruction or peritonitis. 

5. Projectile vomiting*: Suggests a complete blockage in the upper gastrointestinal tract that might be caused by hairballs, tumors, or small objects. Brain diseases such as a tumor, encephalitis, and blood clots, also can be an indication.

If you ever have a question about the severity of your cat's vomiting, always seek help from a vet. Vomiting can also quickly lead to your cat becoming dehydrated, which is also a serious problem. 

Webmd also explains how to treat your cat at home for normal vomiting. If your cat is only vomiting and does not show signs of any other serious problem, you can easily treat it at home. After the object that is bothering your cat's stomach is expelled, it is best to withhold food for a few hours to allow the stomach to rest. If your cat is thirsty, you can give it some ice cubes to lick initially and then a few sips of water after its stomach has had time to rest. If the vomiting has stopped after a few hours and water is being tolerated well, you can offer some food to your cat. 

Thankfully, Finnegan's little stomach bug passed and he suddenly got better yesterday. He feels a lot better now and is back to being his silly, wild, lovable self.

~RL