Vomiting: When is a Trip to the Vet in Order?

The unmistakable noise of a cat upchucking is all too familiar to those of us who have owned a kitty. In fact, there is hardly any other feline-related sound that will get me to immediately stop whatever I am doing to run around the house and check out which of our two cats is the culprit. Armed with a Sham Wow, one of the best products on the market I have yet to discover (it thoroughly and efficiently handles what can be a daunting task), the clean-up process is finished in record time. And while an occasional barfing event is generally no cause for concern (since there are so many reasons for a cat to hurl), when one of our cats vomits frequently my next step, after quickly getting rid of the mess, is to contact my veterinarian. Of course, one of the most common causes is those nasty hairballs, the bane of a cat keeper. But even if we see hair in the vomit, since a kitty will upchuck whatever is in the tummy, including fur, it is important not to immediately assume a hairball is the root of the problem. While cats have the reputation of being picky eaters, consuming their food slowly, some cats can exceed the quick pace which dogs are famous for gobbling their dinner. If the food goes down too quickly or the kitty overeats, often it comes up. Canned food, if left out for an extended period of time, can spoil, causing cats to vomit. Additionally, dry food can become rancid, which can disagree with a cat's delicate digestive tract. And while it is a good idea to vary a kitty's diet, to prevent addiction to one particular product, if food changes are done too quickly they can cause a digestive upset. Vomiting can also be caused by cats nibbling on house plants. Indoor-outdoor kitties often vomit after grazing on grass in order to relieve an upset tummy. So when is veterinary intervention necessary? If your cat upchucks persistently, is lethargic, or consistently refuses his or her favorite food, has diarrhea or is constipated for more than a day or two (since vomiting in cats can be a sign of a serious underlying health issue), a visit to your veterinarian to have your cat thoroughly evaluated is definitely in order. If you have had any experience with a cat that vomits chronically, please share in a comment. Image Source: Flickr User I have seen this before