It’s a running joke among cat owners that cats gag frequently, often at night or while sitting on their owners’ beds or upscale rugs. Most of the time, your cat is just dealing with a pesky hairball, but cat puke can be a sign of a more serious problem, so pay close attention to your cat’s puke and know if it’s a problem. If you suspect this is the case, it is important to take your dog to a veterinarian. However, there are many reasons why cats gag, and thankfully some of them are not serious and can be easily fixed.
11 reasons why cats gag
1. hairball
The most common cause of nausea in cats is the presence of hairballs. Hairballs are made up of hair that collects in your cat’s stomach, esophagus, and intestines during grooming. Hair is not digested like food and is mostly passed through the digestive tract and excreted in the stool. However, it is not uncommon for hair to build up over time. If it’s in the large intestine, it can cause constipation, if it’s in the small intestine, it can cause vomiting, and if it’s in the esophagus or the entrance to the stomach, it can cause nausea and nausea.
Hairballs are not uncommon in cats, but they can cause serious problems such as intestinal blockage, so always be on the lookout for hairballs and if your cat regularly spits them out or vomits. should talk to your veterinarian about how to treat hairballs.
2. nausea and vomiting
Nausea is a common sign of nausea in cats, and your cat may gag multiple times before successfully vomiting. The causes of nausea and vomiting in cats can range from mild to severe. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to how often your cat is gagging and whether or not they are vomiting.
Cats may occasionally vomit, but regular vomiting is not normal and may indicate that your cat has chronic digestive problems, which should be addressed by your veterinarian. .
It is also important to be able to tell the difference between vomiting and regurgitation.
- vomiting: It usually occurs several hours after eating and is accompanied by abdominal effort. The food appears to be partially digested.
- Backflow: It occurs immediately after eating or drinking and is a more passive expulsion of food and water from the esophagus. The food comes out in a tube shape, similar to what it looks like when you eat it.
3. respiratory disease
There are many viral and bacterial infections that cats can contract, and respiratory tract infections can cause your cat to choke, cough, and gulp. Inflammation of the airways caused by respiratory infections can be irritating to cats and can cause nausea.
Rhinotracheitis, sinusitis, and other upper respiratory tract infections are relatively common in cats, especially in unvaccinated cats. If your cat has watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, or vomiting with mucous secretions, veterinary attention is required.
4. Kidney, heart, liver disease
Kidney disease is more common in older cats, but cats are also more likely to develop heart disease and liver disease. Over time, these diseases can lead to the failure of the affected organs and cause nausea for various reasons. Nausea from toxins that build up in the bloodstream, extreme dry mouth, and fluid buildup in the lungs from heart disease can cause nausea.
These illnesses are usually accompanied by other signs of illness, such as vomiting, bloating, loss of appetite, increased urination and drinking, as well as changes in energy levels and behavior. All of these diseases can be life-threatening and require immediate veterinary attention.
5. ingestion of toxins
Ingestion of harmful substances is not as common in cats as it is in dogs, but it can still occur. There are many toxins that cats can be unintentionally exposed to, including houseplants, detergents, automotive chemicals, insecticides, and rodenticides. Some toxins can cause nausea and vomiting, causing nausea.
Many people do not realize that some toxins are corrosive, meaning they can cause burns. When cats ingest corrosive chemicals, their mouths and throats can become burnt and painful, and they can cause nausea. This will almost certainly leave visible chemical burns on your cat’s tongue and gums.
6. Ingestion of foreign substances
Similar to ingesting toxins, cats ingest fewer foreign substances than dogs, and cats tend to get into trouble with linear objects. Common foreign objects for cats include ponytail holders, floss, string, rubber bands, ribbons, and tinsel. Foreign objects can cause intestinal obstruction, causing reflux into your cat’s digestive tract, causing pain and nausea.
Due to the linear nature of these objects, it is not uncommon for them to become entangled at the base of the tongue and cause irritation in the mouth. Sewing needles and fishing hooks are also common items that can get stuck in a cat’s mouth or esophagus.
7. tumor
Unfortunately, there are many different types of cancer that cats can develop, including cancer of the mouth and throat. Chondrosarcoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and lymphosarcoma are all cancers that can affect your cat’s respiratory or gastrointestinal tract and cause nausea. If a cat develops a tumor in its throat, it may experience a constant feeling of irritation and may need to gag to relieve the sensation in its throat. Fortunately, pharyngeal cancer in cats is fairly rare, but oral SCC is very common.
8. Eating quickly
Some cats can become so obsessed with food that they eat it so quickly that they try to get back to it. Eating too quickly will often cause cats to regurgitate some of the food, but it can also cause nausea and vomiting without vomiting.
Although this behavior can be a frustrating problem to deal with, there are some ways to slow down your cat’s eating rate. Hiding small piles of food around the room or scattering food to encourage your cat to “hunt” can also prevent this, as can slow-feeding bowls and puzzle toys. You may also need to divide your cat’s diet into several smaller meals throughout the day, rather than one or two meals each day.
9. overwhelming smell
We’ve all smelled bad odors that made us gag. Cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans, so a smell that’s unpleasant to them means it’s even more unpleasant to us.
Some of the odors that cats dislike include odors that humans like, such as citrus, rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, mint, pine, and thyme. Other odors are unpleasant everyonethings like dirty toilets and peppery smells. Some odors can be unpleasant and dangerous for cats, so be sure to research the smell before bringing your cat into your home.
10. ear polyps
Also called a nasopharyngeal polyp, it is a benign tumor that originates from the middle ear. It is more common in young cats, but can also affect older cats.
Although these are thought to be a congenital problem, some studies have linked them to upper respiratory tract infections or ear infections. When polyps grow in the nasopharyngeal area, they can cause coughing and nausea.
11. dental disease
It is very common for pet cats to develop dental disease. This is because a cat’s home diet lacks the teething properties found in wild-caught prey, such as sinew, cartilage, and bone. Without us even realizing it, cats can accumulate large amounts of tartar on their teeth, which can lead to severe dental infections. When this happens, your cat may experience pain or discomfort in the mouth and gums, or vomit because tartar and plaque irritate the back of the throat.
Regular dental exams are essential to your cat’s health, as is frequent cleaning and providing products to help keep your cat’s teeth clean and healthy.
What to do if your cat is vomiting
How you deal with your cat’s nausea depends on the frequency and severity of the nausea. If your cat is frequently gagging, vomiting, or showing other signs of unwellness or discomfort, contact your veterinarian immediately. If your cat only vomits occasionally, but is otherwise cheerful, happy, and healthy, it may be worth using the suggestions below to see if you can address the problem.
Hairballs are usually easily managed by frequent grooming with a shedding brush, dietary changes, and supplements that help your cat shed hairballs. Supplements containing essential fatty acids such as omega-3 can also help improve skin and coat quality and reduce hair loss.
As mentioned earlier, there are several ways to reduce or prevent regurgitation and nausea from eating too quickly, including food puzzles, distributed feeding, and feeding smaller, more frequent meals. It is also very important to avoid unpleasant odors and be aware of potentially toxic substances.
conclusion
For the most part, cat vomiting is a fairly common and harmless problem, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored. Occasional nausea symptoms are probably nothing to worry about, but they can also be a sign of something more serious.
Understanding why your cat is gagging is the best way to deal with the problem. A veterinarian can examine your friend’s cat to determine if you’re dealing with a simple problem like a hairball, or if your cat’s vomiting is an abnormal illness. Signs of underlying disease.
Featured image credit: sophiecat, Shutterstock
