My 5-month-old kitten threw up after treats but seems fine. Why?

If your cat only vomits when given a treat but otherwise is tolerating the wet food without vomiting or diarrhea, then there is little cause for concern. Cat do not need extra treats to be happy and healthy. In fact, some cats can be very sensitive to even minor changes in their diet. Your cat may just be sensitive to one or more ingredients in the treats. Your should seek veterinary attention, however, if your cat routinely has bouts of vomiting or diarrhea that aren't associated with changes in the diet.

Hello and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There are many different reasons why cats will vomit periodically. It could be an allergy or sensitivity to the food, to inflammation anywhere in the GI tract, pancreatitis, liver or kidney disease, and many more. These cases can be extremely frustrating and take lots of testing to figure out because of this. The first thing I recommend is screening blood work to look for organ dysfunction that could lead to vomiting. In the vast majority of cats who are acting normal other than the vomiting, the blood work is usually normal. X-rays are also performed to look for any obvious change in organ shape or size and to look for obstruction, masses, etc. Beyond that, the testing gets more involved and typically involves an abdominal ultrasound. Sometime this can give you an answer. Other times the only way to confirm a diagnosis is through biopsies of the affected organs. The other thing that is commonly recommended is a change in diet. If there is an ingredient that she is sensitive to, we want to try to eliminate it from her diet. This is best done with a prescription diet because over-the-counter diets can be contaminated with ingredients that are not on the label. Food trials need to be done for at least 6 to 8 weeks and they can't eat anything else during this time. If the vomiting resolves with the new diet, I recommend keeping her on that diet long-term.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Vomiting can be observed with gastroenteritis, dietary indiscretion, food sensitivity, foreign body ingestion and obstruction or other conditions such as pancreatitis or kidney disease. I am concerned that she is becoming dehydrated. I do not think this is because of the fish. I recommend that you have her evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Likely diagnostics to be performed include abdominal imaging and general bloodwork. Treatment would be based on findings. Good luck and have a great day!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. To be honest, you can probably just offer Esmeralda a small amount of her normal food. Start with about 1/4 of her normal meal size. If she keeps that down well, you can give her a little more in a few hours (or just give her her normal sized breakfast in the morning). Of course, if vomiting recurs or attitude and appetite are poor, it’s time to see the vet. Best wishes to you and Esmeralda.

Time will tell with this one. Since she's eating, drinking, and not lethargic, you certainly don't need to seek emergency care tonight. If tomorrow she still seems out of sorts, or continues to vomit, I would recommend scheduling a vet appointment for exam and x-rays of her abdomen. Good luck and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It’s hard to tell what the object is from the pictures but it looks like digested food in the shape of the esophagus. It is not uncommon for cats to vomit randomly and occasionally. If Gizmo continues to eat and drink and doesn’t vomit, I would continue to monitor her. If she isn’t eating or drinking or she vomits again, I recommend taking her to a vet before she becomes dehydrated. Good luck and kisses to Gizmo!

Hi there. I would have Kunsel seen by a vet. Vomiting and loose stool can be caused by a reaction to food, parasites or a virus, but when it's been going on for a few days she does need treatment. Your vet will be able to find out what's causing it and get her on meds to get her feeling better. She's very small and can become dehydrated quickly, so having her seen sooner than later is a good idea. I hope that helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.