My cat throws up weekly. What causes it and should I be concerned?

If the slow feeder hasn't helped, I recommend to have Simone examined by the veterinarian. It's possible she has a parasite, a food allergy, IBD...etc When pets don't respond to home care, it's time to visit the veterinarian. I hope this helps.

George's intermittent vomiting can be a frustrating problem to diagnose and manage. While eating quickly can cause vomiting, other possible causes of this waxing and waning frequency of vomiting could be related to inflammatory bowel disease or chronic pancreatitis. These conditions can both require fairly extensive diagnostic testing to get a definitive answer, including blood tests, abdominal ultrasound and intestinal biopsies. At this point, you can certainly try to slow down George's eating pace, but you can also consider trying a diet change, as this can help both of the issues I mentioned. If you decide to change his diet, I recommend using a novel protein diet (one protein source/one carbohydrate source), such as Dick van Patten's Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets or prescription based formulas. Choose a flavor of food that he has never been exposed to (i.e. venison, rabbit, etc.) and gradually mix his old and new foods slowly over 5-7 days. Avoid feeding any treats or table food while feeding this diet to eliminate any exposure to other foods. It can take 6-8 weeks to determine if a diet change is successful, so don't give up after a few weeks if you haven't noticed a change. If George continues vomiting intermittently on a new diet that he is eating slowly, I would consider taking him back to the vet to discuss further diagnostic testing. I hope that all goes well!

It could be that Archi eats his food too quickly, leading to him vomiting. You can try feeding him out of a slow feeder bowl, which you can find online or at a pet store. I'd also recommend a check up with his vet to make sure everything is ok health wise. Best of luck.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bentley. I do recommend that he sees a veterinarian. That is too much vomiting for a cat. He will likely need bloodwork to determine an underlying cause. Vomiting is a vague sign and can be related to many diseases. It is important to diagnose though so treatment can be started. Some disease can get worse if left untreated. I hope this information helps!

It depends on how soon after eating your cat vomits. If food is consumed and then almost immediately regurgitated (still looks whole, not digested), then s/he may be eating too fast. If it is several hours later and the food is partially digested, s/he may have a food allergy or intolerance, a gastrointestinal disorder, or some other underlying medical condition. For cats that gobble their food, it helps to feed more frequent, smaller meals throughout the day. Or you can put a couple balls or small blocks (too large to be swallowed) in the bowl so your cat has to eat around the obstacles. This will slow down his/her eating.

Many cats routinely vomit from eating too fast, hairballs, or for no specific reason. Since Mikie is long haired he may have hairballs causing him to vomit. Often the hairballs are forming in the stomach and are not always vomited up, even though they are present. I recommend daily brushing to remove the dead fur, and giving cat laxative, about an inch once a week for prevention. There is also specific food for hairball prevention. If he’s healthy this is annoying and messy but usually nothing to be overly concerned about. If he should start to lose weight or appear sick then please bring him in right away for and exam and treatment. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Mikie.

Try feeding smaller, more frequent meals. If Smokey eats fast, try a 'slow feed' bowl to address the issue. Sometimes, switching to a canned food may help. If the vomiting persists or worsens, have him examined by your veterinarian.