Why Is My Cat Sick? Common Reasons and Expert Advice

Cats can often be dramatic when they are sick, vomiting unexpectedly or in unpleasant places, leaving owners worried and searching for answers. Understanding why cats vomit, what it means, and when to seek veterinary care is essential for responsible cat ownership and ensuring your feline friend stays healthy.

This comprehensive guide explores the common causes of cat sickness, from minor irritations like hairballs to serious chronic diseases, along with practical advice on managing and treating vomiting in cats.

What Is Vomiting and Why Does My Cat Feel Sick?

Vomiting in cats is a reflex controlled by the brain, specifically a protective mechanism designed to quickly empty the stomach to prevent harm from toxins or indigestible substances. The chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) in the brain detects harmful substances in the blood or irritation in the gut and initiates nausea and vomiting.

This reflex protects cats from poisoning and other digestive issues, but while occasional vomiting can be normal, repeated or severe vomiting often signals a problem that requires attention.

10 Common Reasons Why Cats Vomit

• Travel Sickness: Motion sensed in the inner ear conflicts with visual cues, causing nausea, often during car journeys. Symptoms resolve once motion stops.
• Hairballs: Grooming can cause cats to swallow loose fur which accumulates into irritating clumps in the stomach. Particularly common in long-haired cats, this often leads to retching to expel the hairball.
• Intestinal Obstructions: Blockages due to swallowed toys, hairballs, constipation, or tumours prevent food from moving through the digestive tract, triggering vomiting that needs immediate veterinary assessment.
• Gastroenteritis: Eating spoiled food or decomposing prey may irritate the stomach lining, causing vomiting, which is common in free-roaming cats.
• Infections: Viral infections like feline panleukopenia or bacterial infections such as salmonella can cause severe illness and vomiting.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): This chronic gut inflammation causes discomfort, nausea, and frequent vomiting in affected cats.
• Eating Grass: Many cats eat grass, which can irritate the back of the throat and stimulate the gag reflex, causing occasional vomiting.
• Exposure to Poisons or Medication Side Effects: Certain toxins, household chemicals, or medications may damage the stomach lining or cause nausea, sometimes resulting in ulcers and persistent vomiting.
• Chronic Medical Problems: Diseases such as kidney failure, liver disease, hyperthyroidism, and diabetes disrupt chemical balances in the body leading to ongoing vomiting and other symptoms.
• Parasites: Worm infestations and other internal parasites can irritate the gut and lead to vomiting and digestive upset.

Can Frequent Vomiting Harm My Cat?

Chronic vomiting causes loss of fluids, including water and stomach acid. This can lead to dehydration and an imbalance in body chemistry called metabolic alkalosis, which may cause organ damage, shock, collapse, and even death if untreated.

Persistent vomiting also means loss of essential salts and nutrients, weakening the cat and complicating recovery. If your cat vomits frequently or cannot keep food down, prompt veterinary intervention is crucial.

How Is Vomiting in Cats Treated?

For mild cases where the cat has eaten something upsetting, vets usually recommend withholding solid food for 24 hours while ensuring fresh water is available to rest the gut. After this, a bland diet such as boiled chicken or whitefish can be introduced slowly to soothe the stomach.

Veterinarians may prescribe antiemetics to control nausea and supplements to replenish lost electrolytes. More severe or chronic cases often require diagnostic tests like bloodwork, X-rays, endoscopy, or faecal analysis to identify the underlying cause.

Hospitalisation with intravenous fluids may be necessary to treat dehydration and provide supportive care.

When Should I See a Vet?

If your cat vomits more than once in 24 hours, shows lethargy, loss of appetite, blood in vomit, or any other concerning signs, seek veterinary advice promptly. Early diagnosis and treatment improve outcomes, especially for chronic diseases and severe infections.

Regular veterinary check-ups can help detect and manage health issues before they become severe. Responsible pet ownership includes monitoring your cat’s health closely and ensuring all vaccinations and parasite preventatives are up to date.

Remember, each cat is unique, and while occasional vomiting is relatively common, persistent or severe symptoms should never be ignored.

Additional Advice for Cat Owners

• Maintain a clean environment to reduce exposure to infectious agents and parasites.
• Groom long-haired cats regularly to minimise hairball formation.
• Provide a balanced diet appropriate for your cat’s age and health status.
• Keep hazardous substances out of your cat’s reach to prevent accidental poisoning.
• Monitor your cat’s behaviour and health changes vigilantly and keep records to support veterinary assessments.

By understanding why your cat might be sick and knowing how to respond appropriately, you can greatly improve their comfort, health, and quality of life.

Learn more about finding and adopting cats responsibly: find a Maine Coon kitten or find kittens from reputable breeders and rescues.