Hairball or vomiting

  • Hairball: tube-shaped, made of fur, occasional, and the cat eats and plays normally afterwards.
  • Vomiting: food, liquid, yellow bile or white foam, more than once a week, or with other signs.

More than one or two hairballs a month is itself worth a check; it can point to slow gut movement or a skin problem causing over-grooming.

When to come in straight away

  • More than two or three vomits in 24 hours, or repeated retching
  • Blood or coffee-ground material in the vomit
  • Not eating, lethargic or hiding as well
  • A hard, swollen or painful belly
  • Possible ingestion of string, hair ties, thread, lilies or medication
  • A kitten or an elderly cat, which dehydrate quickly

A cat that does not eat for 24 hours risks fatty liver disease, so "vomited and now not eating" is an emergency sign.

Common causes

  • Eating too fast or a sudden diet change: slow-feeder bowl, smaller frequent meals.
  • Food intolerance or allergy: long-term intermittent vomiting with soft stools.
  • Foreign body: string-type objects are especially dangerous because they cut the gut.
  • Gastroenteritis, parasites
  • Chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes: common in older cats, with increased thirst or weight loss.
  • Pancreatitis, inflammatory bowel disease, lymphoma: need ultrasound and further tests.
  • Poisoning: lilies, human painkillers, essential oils.

Tests at the visit

  1. Abdominal palpation, temperature, hydration check.
  2. Blood tests: kidney, liver, glucose, thyroid, pancreatic markers.
  3. X-ray and ultrasound: foreign bodies, thickened bowel, masses.
  4. Urine and stool tests where needed.

Treatment

Mild cases get an anti-nausea injection, fluids and a gastrointestinal diet for a day or two. Dehydrated cats or suspected foreign bodies are admitted for fluids, medical treatment or surgery. Long-term conditions such as kidney or bowel disease get a diet and medication plan.

At home

  • One mild vomit in a bright cat: withhold food for 4 to 6 hours (never more than 12), then offer small bland meals.
  • Never give human anti-nausea or pain medication; paracetamol is fatal to cats.
  • Note the number and timing of vomits and photograph the vomit for the vet.