If your cat vomits after eating, it can make you nervous. Why does this happen? Is this a sign of a serious problem, or perhaps the body’s reaction to something banal? In this article, we will analyze in detail why a cat burps after eating and how to help her cope with it.

What is vomiting in cats?

Vomiting is a physiological process in which the cat’s body expels undigested food or foreign objects from the stomach through the oral cavity. This is, in fact, a protective mechanism that helps avoid poisoning, injury or excessive pressure on the stomach.

Vomiting should not be confused with regurgitation. When regurgitating, food comes out almost effortlessly and usually shows no signs of digestion. Vomiting is accompanied by contraction of the abdominal muscles and may include liquid, mucus or even bile.

 

What are the causes of vomiting in cats after eating?

Vomiting can have many causes, from poor nutrition to serious health problems.

  1. Unsuitable food. Not all types of food will suit your cat if your pet has an allergy or intolerance to certain food components. Eating unsuitable feed can irritate the stomach, cause vomiting, diarrhea and itching.
  2. Instant eating. If a cat eats too quickly, it can swallow a lot of air along with large pieces of food. This creates excessive pressure in the stomach, causing vomiting.
  3. Overeating. If a pet eats more than its stomach can digest, the excess food can cause vomiting. This often happens if food is constantly available or you offer treats outside of main meals.
  4. Swallowed wool. Cats regularly lick themselves, and the hair they swallow can accumulate in their stomachs. This leads to the formation of woolly lumps, which can cause vomiting.
  5. Swallowed inedible objects. During the game, the cat can swallow objects that are not intended for food: pieces of plastic, fabrics, threads, toy fillers. It can block the digestive system, causing vomiting.
  6. Disease. Gastritis, ulcer or intestinal inflammation can cause regular vomiting after eating.
  7. Worms and parasites. The presence of parasites in the intestine can irritate the stomach and cause vomiting.

 

How to determine the cause by the appearance of vomiting?

If the cat vomits immediately after eating or after a short period of time, it is important to pay attention to the appearance of the vomited masses, because this will help to identify the cause of this process and to contact the veterinarian in time if necessary.

  1. Vomiting of undigested food (Cat regurgitates food). It comes out almost in the same form in which it was eaten. This always indicates instant eating or overeating.
  2. Vomiting wool. Woolly lumps will predominate in the vomitus, although a small amount of mucus or food remains may be seen. In this case, the cause of vomiting is the cat’s licking of fur and the lack of consumption of a special paste for its elimination.
  3. Vomiting with bile. If you observe a yellowish or greenish liquid, sometimes mixed with food or mucus, consult your veterinarian. This can be a symptom of poisoning, diseases of the liver, gall bladder, pancreatitis. Or the reason is the long-term starvation of the animal.
  4. Vomiting with mucus. It has the appearance of a transparent, viscous liquid, sometimes mixed with food. In this case, you may also be dealing with health problems in the cat, namely: irritation of the stomach lining, infection or chronic disease of the digestive system, swallowed by an inedible object.
  5. Vomiting with foam. The mass does not contain food residues, only white or yellowish foam. Immediately analyze whether your pet was hungry or whether the parasite treatment was carried out on time. And if there are no problems with this, there may be a suspicion of stomach disease or gastritis.
  6. Vomiting with blood. If there are reddish or brown specks in the vomit, contact your veterinarian immediately. Blood indicates serious diseases of the digestive system, including damage to the esophagus and stomach.

What should be the diet of a cat after vomiting?

Vomiting exhausts the pet: the stomach is irritated, important electrolytes are removed from the body, and appetite often decreases. Eating the wrong food after that can lead to repeated vomiting or worsening of the problem. Therefore, it is important to first give the stomach time to recover. Usually 6-12 hours without food is enough. Despite the fact that the cat does not eat during this time, it must drink water to avoid dehydration. To do this, periodically offer water in small portions. You can buy a special solution for restoring the water-salt balance.

When the vomiting has stopped, gradually introduce easily digestible foods into the cat’s diet, such as boiled chicken meat without skin, spices and salt, boiled rice, chicken broth without spices, special medical food for sensitive digestion. Food should be divided into 4-6 small portions per day and observe the pet’s reaction. If vomiting does not recur, you can gradually increase the amount of food and add other foods to the diet. It can be boiled turkey meat, mashed boiled pumpkin, wet food for sensitive digestion. And after 3-5 days, you can begin to return the cat to its usual diet. To do this, it is worth mixing the medicinal food with the main food, gradually increasing the amount of the usual food until it completely replaces the medicinal food.

Prevention of vomiting in cats

Prevention is the best way to avoid vomiting after eating, so it’s important to know what to do to prevent your pet from ever having to deal with this problem.

  1. Choose high-quality food that will correspond to the age, weight and physiological needs of the cat.
  2. When switching to a new feed, mix the new and old feed in different proportions for 7-10 days until you replace the entire portion with the new one.
  3. If your cat eats quickly, use special bowls for slow feeding. They have sides or partitions that make it difficult to eat quickly.
  4. Divide the daily portion into 3-4 meals to avoid overloading the stomach.
  5. Do not leave food in constant access if the cat has a tendency to overeat.
  6. Create a clear feeding schedule and do not allow prolonged starvation.
  7. Try using an automatic fountain if the cat does not want to drink water from the bowl.
  8. Brush the cat to reduce the amount of hair that can get into the stomach.
  9. Add to the diet pastes for the removal of wool or fodder, which help to dissolve wool lumps.
  10. Remove small objects from the cat’s reach.
  11. If the cat’s toys are torn, have threads or pieces of filler sticking out of them, throw them in the trash.
  12. Conduct timely deworming.
  13. Even if your cat seems perfectly healthy, regular check-ups with the vet once a year are a must.

Conclusion

Vomiting in a cat after eating can indicate both minor and serious problems. However, proper care and monitoring of your pet’s behavior can help you minimize the risks of this phenomenon. If vomiting does occur, you can always consult a veterinarian to find out the reasons and solve the situation in the best way. Even a small adjustment in grooming can significantly improve a cat’s quality of life.