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Question

My cat vomits intermittently, that is, every few days or so. Rarely, the contents of the vomitus is hairballs. Usually it is the exact color of her dry food (Kit & Kaboodle). The expelled stomach contents are well chewed, and probably partially digested. I give her a half of a can of food daily. I have been noticing that she is retching, without expelling anything in the process. This retching usually lasts for a couple of minutes or so, and then subsides, with no discernible after affects. She is a (estimated) 7 to 8 year old rescued cat. She is declawed, so her prior owner evidently kept her inside. My neighborhood is relatively safe, and she is a wiley animal, so I do permit her to go outside. She remains outside only for short periods of time, but, perhaps, she's getting into something out there. She hasn't been vaccinated for two years, at which time she got everything available. Tomorrow, I plan to take her in to the vet for a three-year rabies vaccination, and distemper.

Submitted: 105 days and 23 hours ago.
Category: Cat
Value: $9
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Pet's Sex: Female
Pet's Age: 7

Already Tried:
Nothing.

Accepted Answer

The most common cause of vomiting is hairballs. So, the first thing that I would do is start her on laxatone every few days.

laxatone http://www.1800petmeds.com/Laxatone-prod1342.html

Hairball vomiting does not always contain hair. It is often just undigested food.

 

Kit n Kaboodle is not an easily digestible diet. It has a byproducts instead of real meat, corn, and chemicals and dyes to make the pretty colors.

 

If she is not used to canned food that will make her vomit. Try just dry food.

 

You can try a sensitive stomach diet. They will have these at any larger pet store. You can try "nutros" or "proplan." Organic would be even better.

 

I feed mine "Wellness" which does not have any chemicals or byproducts and the hairballs and vomiting stopped. The more organic diets seem to work well in my own cats if you would like to try those as well.

 

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/cat_index.html

 

If it is not hairballs, then it could be a number of things.

 

She could have inflammatory bowel disease.

www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=598

 

She could have a partial gastrointestinal foreign body obstruction. This means she has eaten something in the past and it is stuck in her gastrointestinal tract and it is causing problems when food material tries to pass through.

 

She could have a bacterial or parasitic infection.

 

She could also have a metabolic disease like kidney, liver, or hyperthyroidism.

www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=516 hyperthyroidism

www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1960 liver

www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=572 kidney

 

She could also have food allergies.

www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=652

www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=468

 

If she eats too fast, you can put a big rock in the middle of the food dish so she has to move it around to eat. Another option is to feed her on a cookie sheet but that takes up more space.

 

I would start with the laxatone and a better diet for a week or two and see if that resolves the issue.

 

 

 

 

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Expert: Dr. Gabby
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 8/9/2009

Veterinarian

10 years vet in companion animal practice and humane society

105 days and 22 hours ago.

Reply

I will certainly try the laxatone, and I will take her off the Kit & Kaboodle and put her on a diet which has fewer additives, and certainly no corn. I will try just dry food for a while, but she knows the time of day that I give her the canned, and she'll probably drive me up the wall with her begging me to give her her half-can.

Dr. Gabby seems to be a knowledgeable vet, and she seems to have provided me with some solid leads.

Posted by Dr. Gabby 105 days and 22 hours ago.

Answer

You can still give her a spoonful of the canned. I don't want her to drive you crazy. You will save money on dental cleanings too if you feed her only dry. : )

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