Reviewed by 3 Stone Vets Small Animal Team
From 3 Stone Vets in Te Awamutu, caring for pets and farm animals across the Waikato.
Cats vomit more readily than dogs, and the odd hairball can be normal. But regular vomiting is not something to shrug off - cats are experts at hiding illness, and repeated vomiting is often the first clue that something's wrong.
This guide covers the usual causes, when a hairball is really a hairball, and the signs that mean a check-up is due.
Common causes in cats
- Hairballs - though frequent ones can point to over-grooming or gut issues
- Eating too fast, or a change of food
- Intestinal worms
- Eating something toxic (lilies, human medicines, antifreeze - all emergencies)
- Kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes and other conditions common in older cats
- Inflammatory bowel disease or, less commonly, a blockage
Contact us straight away if your cat…
- Is vomiting repeatedly, or can't keep water down
- Is off their food, hiding, or much quieter than usual
- Has blood in the vomit
- May have eaten a lily, human medication or another toxin
- Is losing weight, drinking more, or is an older cat
Why regular vomiting is worth a check
It's a myth that cats 'just vomit sometimes'. Bringing up food or bile more than the very occasional time is a reason to have them looked at - particularly in older cats, where it's often linked to a treatable underlying condition.
A simple examination, and sometimes a blood or urine test, usually gets to the bottom of it. Catching these conditions early makes them far easier to manage, so please don't wait it out - call us on 07 870 2696.