CAUSES OF VOMITING IN CATS: And How to Induce Vomiting in Cats?
1. INGESTION OF A HARMFUL SUBSTANCE – Like any other animal, cats are known for their unique ability to swallow or eat things that may be potentially harmful or poisonous. Cats can swallow all sorts of objects including toys, plastic bags, yarns and strings, small pieces of food items, etc.
If your cat eats something it shouldn’t have, including medication (e.g., NSAID painkillers), cleaning agents (e.g., bleach), plants (incl. house plants), or even non-food items like stones, coins, or marbles; you should induce vomiting in your cat timely.
2. TOXINS – Cats are too curious and they love to explore new things; which can be potentially dangerous for them. They come across many household toxins like antifreeze (ethylene glycol), rodent poisons, or insecticides that can be fatal if not treated on time.
Sometimes, even the treatment itself (e.g., deworming medication) may lead to side effects which include vomiting when administered inappropriately. For example, ivermectin is a commonly used deworming drug, but when it is given at an excessively high dose it causes severe side effects including vomiting and neurological issues in cats and dogs alike!
3. INDIGESTION OR GASTROINTESTINAL UPSET – Cats usually vomit when they are suffering from indigestion or gastrointestinal upset. The stomach feels bloated, causing vomiting to rid the stomach of food items by force.
4. VIRAL INFECTIONS – Viral infections can cause cats to throw up as a result of nausea associated with the infection. Note that these viruses attack the lining of the stomach and intestines causing inflammation, which triggers vomiting in affected cats.
5. BACTERIAL INFECTION – If your cat’s case is caused by bacteria-related infectious agents then it will show signs like diarrhea, loss of appetite, etc., along with vomiting as well because just like humans, cats need an immaculate balance of good bacteria in their stomach and intestines.
6. INFESTATION OF TAPEWORMS, COCKROACHES, AND MICE – Cats can be infected with certain parasites that require immediate veterinary intervention as they cause an intestinal blockage which leads to severe vomiting along with other symptoms like fever, lethargy, etc., or even death if not treated on time.
7. EPILEPSY OR SEIZURES – Vomiting can also be a sign of seizures in cats especially those younger than 2-years old though older cats are subject to this condition as well. Veterinarians have reported cases of cats being affected by epilepsy caused due to the lack of the cat’s required medication for seizures!
In many cases, it has been observed that while some cats become excessively sedate due to lack of required medication, others may even show signs of seizures – which is a very critical condition requiring immediate veterinary care.
8. MOTION SICKNESS – While humans are known to suffer from motion sickness caused by the movement of vehicles but it has also been reported in cats too! Think of it as an equivalent of a car or sea-sickness where cats feel nauseous because they are being moved around.
This usually happens when you have bought your cat on a plane or boarded them with you on a boat trip irrespective of whether there is any prior history of this condition in the feline family members. Though not very common, if it does happen then just try to remain calm, talk softly to your cat, and place them in a cool, shaded area.
Note that vomiting is also known to cause electrolyte imbalance especially when the cat has vomited extensively which requires immediate veterinary attention. If not treated on time it may lead to severe problems like dehydration which can become life-threatening for cats.
9. FOOD POISONING – Food poisoning in cats is usually caused by Listeria or Salmonella bacteria although certain other contaminants in food items consumed by cats have been known to cause similar symptoms. Therefore, if your feline friend suffers from this condition then you should visit your veterinarian immediately rather than try treatment at home because some of these cases are fatal!
10. ACUTE NEPHROPATHY – Acute Nephropathy is an immune system-mediated kidney disorder caused by poisoning of the blood due to bacterial infection. Although vomiting is not very common in this condition if it does happen then just be patient and try to administer some medications that your veterinarian prescribes for its treatment.
11. ACUTE INTERSTITIAL NEPHRITIS – This condition occurs when the renal tubules become inflamed causing them to lose their ability to properly process urine causing cats to experience vomiting along with other symptoms like loss of appetite, excessive urination, etc., Veterinarians say that medical management is the only way available for controlling this condition which usually responds well to antibiotics supportive therapies like fluid therapy, medications to control vomiting, etc.,
Conclusion on How to Induce Vomiting in Cats?
So, if your cat is not responding to treatment or experiences symptoms like nausea repeatedly then just visit your veterinarian for a complete checkup. However, always remember that while some cats may show signs of repeated episodes of vomiting for reasons beyond their control, others can experience this condition even when they are in good health.
So, the only thing you can do in such cases is to wait and watch until some improvement occurs because more than often all your kitty needs is a little time to recover comfortably without any medical assistance!