If your kitty vomits up a hairball, the vomiting might have been caused by the hairball. But most vomiting in cats has nothing to do with hairballs. More importantly, a cat vomiting is never “normal”. Let’s look at what causes vomiting in cats and the treatment options available.
What Causes Vomiting in Cats?
A cat Vomiting is an indication of gastrointestinal distress, and the most common cause in cats is a foreign body (usually toys, thread, or anything long and skinny). It could also be a sign of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD).
IBD is a chronic inflammation of the GI tract due to an overreaction of the immune system to stimuli in the GI tract. Any vomiting, whether one time or several times in one day or over the course of weeks, months, or years, can be due to IBD. IBD also causes diarrhea, both sporadic or chronic.
Diagnosing IBD as the Cause of Vomiting in Cats
IBD is difficult to diagnose. Bloodwork rules out other causes of vomiting but cannot diagnose IBD. Radiographs can sometimes demonstrate some thickening of the gastrointestinal walls but are not completely diagnostic for IBD. Ultrasound is the best diagnostic tool to check the health of the pancreas, liver, and kidneys. IBD may affect these organs along with the gastrointestinal tract.
Ultrasound can visualize chronic inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract. However, it is sometimes hard to distinguish between IBD and lymphoma, an invasive cancer. A definitive diagnosis can be made by getting tissue samples that will also help grade the severity of the IBD.
The Cause of IBD in Cats
The exact causes of IBD in cats are not fully understood, but several factors may contribute to its development, including:
- Certain genetic predispositions may increase a cat’s risk of developing IBD.
- IBD may be an autoimmune disorder where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy intestinal tissue.
- Food allergies, intolerances, or changes in diet can trigger inflammation in the gut. Cats are carnivores and need to be fed a balanced, meat-based diet.
- Bacterial or parasitic infections can damage the intestinal lining and lead to inflammation.
- Environmental factors: Stress, exposure to toxins, or changes in living conditions may exacerbate IBD.
Other Medical Conditions:
Conditions such as hyperthyroidism or exocrine pancreatic insufficiency can contribute to IBD.
The balance of bacteria in the gut may play a role in IBD development. An imbalance or shift in the microbiome can lead to inflammation.
Treating IBD
Treatment of IBD depends on the grade of its severity. Many cases of IBD can be successfully treated by using hypoallergenic diets. The most common are made by Hills Science Diets or Royal Canin. A novel protein (a protein type that the cat has never been exposed to) is the reason for not trading diets around during the cat’s lifetime.
Highly digestible, low-fat diets are also important. Fat prolongs the time food spends in the stomach and causes nausea.
Medications to Treat Vomiting and IBD in Cats
Some cases of IBD require a drug called Metronidazole, which has immunomodulating and antimicrobial properties, along with diet. More severe cases require Prednisolone to suppress the immune system and allow the digestive tract to heal.
Environmental Factors May Lead to IBD in Cats
There is more and more supporting evidence every year that many illnesses that cats develop are related to stress and diet. Indoor cats (who are natural predators) are stressed by a lack of stimulation, activity, and interaction (boredom).
In contrast, other animals, cars, and loud noises can stress outdoor cats.
Cats are carnivores and should be fed an all-meat diet with taurine. Raw meat diets are extremely beneficial to maintaining a perfect lean weight, but the recipes need to come from nutritionists in the veterinary field.
Cats given an unlimited supply of dry food are the cats that tend to be obese and have more health problems such as diabetes.
Conclusion
So please feed your kitty lean meat diets approved by veterinarians and find ways to exercise and stimulate them inside such as fishing pole toys, lasers, food toys, toys, changing location of food and other animal companions.
Better health is the first step in avoiding IBD and preventing your cat from vomiting those nasty hairballs.
