Why is my friendly cat hissing and growling after she vomited?

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Blue. She may have been stressed by your friend's visit. Even if she has met them before, visitors can be overwhelming to a cat. In this case, if she is eating and drinking normally, then give her some alone time to calm down. Let her seek you out for attention. Her behavior should return to normal in approximately 24 hours. If she is not eating and drinking, then I worry she is sick. This can create a behavioral change in a cat. In this case, I recommend that she sees a veterinarian today for a thorough physical examination. Based on these results, treatment can be started if necessary. I hope this information helps!

Vomiting and increased vocalizations can sometimes indicate pain or distress. This could be due to GI upset, underlying illness, etc. If the symptoms continue, worsen, or you see additional issues such as increased vomiting, attempting to urinate or defecate but can't, loss of appetite, etc, then it would be best to seek veterinary care ASAP to find the underlying issue.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Vomiting can occur from many conditions such as foreign body ingestion and obstruction, pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, among other possibilities. Hiding is a sign of sicknesss or discomfort in cats usually. I recommend that you have Luna evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. This will likely require bloodwork and abdominal imaging in terms of diagnostics. Treatment would be based on findings. At the very least your veterinarian could start her on medications to make her feel better. In the meantime, keep water available at all times to try to prevent dehydration. Good luck and have a good night!

Hello, and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor Izzy! Vomiting and lethargy are very nonspecific symptoms and can mean a number of possible problems. I don't see an age in Izzy's profile; if she's young, I would worry more about a problem with her stomach or intestines, such as if she ate something that upset her tummy, or more seriously if she had foreign material stuck in her GI tract. If she's an older kitty, I would worry about a possible organ problem, such as kidney disease or diabetes. However, all of these problems could affect any age. If she was acting pretty normal, I'd suggest you could wait 24 hours and see if it self-resolves - but if she's also lethargic, then I recommend having her seen by your vet as soon as possible in case it's something serious. Be very careful when you get her in the carrier - her growling is telling you that she's feeling crummy enough that she wants to be left alone, and if she's prone to nipping she might try to do so when you pick her up. I hope this helps and she feels better soon!

Theo could be experiencing some abdominal pain after his vomiting episode if he is growling when you pick him up. Possible causes of his vomiting and abdominal pain certainly could be related to some gastrointestinal upset from his diet, viruses, pancreatitis, kidney disease, among others. If the growling continues, or if Theo stops eating, becomes lethargic, or vomits more, he should see his vet for an exam.

Vague behavior changes like you are describing can be the first sign of illness in an older cat, so if you feel something is wrong I would encourage you to see your veterinarian again. Blood work might be recommended to rule out kidney or liver disease. The vomiting could be a sign of inflammatory bowel disease or even an intestinal mass and if the blood work is normal an abdominal ultrasound might be recommended. Finally, the vocalizing and hissing could be a sign of pain from something like arthritis and there are some supplements and now pain medications that can be used in cats.

I would have Nurmal (love her name!) checked out by a vet. Sudden changes in behavior in a senior cat can point to medical problems such as hyperthyroidism and arthritis (pain may make her cranky). I recommend getting a physical exam, geriatric blood panel, and urinalysis. These tests will help the vet identify if she is suffering from a medical illness. Should one be found, the vet can discuss treatment options with you. I would take her into the vet on Monday if possible. Good luck, I hope this helps!