Are Plants Safe For Cats
Rest assured that the majority of plants are safe for cats to eat, so if you witness your feline puking up grass or other plants its probably not anything to worry about.
But unfortunately, certain species of plants can be dangerous or even deadly to felines. The best way to avoid your pet eating a toxic plant is to be aware of the ones that pose the greatest risk and keep them out of your home .
According to Poison Pet Helpline, these are the most toxic and common plants that are dangerous to felines:
- Autumn Crocus
- Sago Palm
- Tulips and Hyacinths
This is not an all-inclusive list, so if youre curious about a particular type not mentioned, do your research. Some plants, like Aloe Vera, are mildly toxic but not usually deadly.
If youre worried or unsure about a plant your cat ingested, heres the information to get in contact with Animal Poison Control:
Number: 888 -426-4435
Website:
How To Keep Your Cat From Eating Plants
If you have a cat that goes outdoors, this may be impossible. The best thing to do is to make sure there are no toxic plants in your yard that kitty can access. Also, stay away from using any chemical sprays in your yard that could be harmful as well. If you do use sprays, read the labels carefully to make sure theyre cat safe.
For indoor cats that munch on your houseplants, there are a few things you could do:
- Keep plants out of reach try hanging them from the ceiling instead of keeping them somewhere a cat could jump, or shut them up in rooms your cat is unable to access
- Only keep houseplants your cats wouldnt be tempted to eat cactus, roses, rosemary, and scaredy cat plant may work.
- Put lemon peels in the soil
- Use cat deterrent sprays, or make your own spray with 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water. Simply spray on the leaves and in theory, it can keep cats away
When To Contact Your Vet
It may not be necessary to see your vet each time your cat vomits , but it is important to monitor them and call your vet for advice if they vomit more than once, seem unwell, or have any other symptoms. Contact your vet straight away if your cat has been vomiting for more than 24 hours, is unable to keep food or water down, is very young or old, is otherwise unwell, or has any of the following symptoms:
- Has eaten something they shouldnt have
- Has pale gums
- Is drinking or peeing more than usual
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Causes Of Chronic Vomiting
- Cat hyperthyroidism, which occurs mainly in middle-aged cats that are thin and active.
- Pancreatitis, which also causes vomiting pancreatitis in cats is usually a manifestation of trichotillomania
- Middle ear and inner ear infections
- The nerve in the inner ear has a role in controlling balance, and cats with chronic deep ear infections may experience nausea and vomiting due to damage to this part of the nerve
- Cat heartworm infections often result in asthma and vomiting symptoms
- Hypoadrenocorticism
- Heatstroke can also be associated with vomiting, and cats that stay in the cat bag for too long in summer are especially prone to heatstroke.
- Other causes: kidney failure, liver failure or cholecystitis, tumors, postoperative, poisoning , certain drugs, etc. can also cause vomiting
Additional Symptoms To Look For
In many cases, vomiting is considered to be a non-specific symptom, making it challenging to diagnose a disorder solely on the presence of vomiting.
Thankfully, there are other clinical signs to look for in conjunction with cat vomiting:
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy and weakness
- Fluctuation in water intake
Furthermore, pet owners should monitor the frequency of the vomit and when it occurs
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Why Do Cats Vomit Undigested Food
- Overeating
If your cat regularly gorges on food, quickly eating more than their stomach can comfortably contain, they may vomit the undigested food back up, reasonably soon after eating. Some cats are prone to this behavior and it can happen regularly, even daily.
To try to combat your cats gorging, you must try to change the speed at which they eat. It can be tough to know how to make a cat eat slower, but there are some methods you can try. One of the most reliable methods would be using a slow feeder. Store-bought puzzle feeders or slow-feeders will help by making it trickier for your cat to get at the food so that they have to make more effort and arent able to guzzle.
If your budget is tight, you could try your own method of making a slow feeder, by feeding from a flat plate rather than a bowl so that food moves around more and is, therefore, more of a challenge for your cat to eat. Failing that, you could try splitting meals into smaller amounts and feeding more frequently.
- Regurgitation
Its useful to know whether your cat is actually vomiting, or just regurgitating food since that will have an impact on the possible causes and treatments. If you see your cat bring up food, note whether there is any heaving or abdominal effort, or whether the food just seems to come up easily with no effort.
Regurgitation is normally a consequence of gorging behavior however, some rare conditions affect the muscles and function of the food pipe which may lead to regurgitation.
Eating Too Much Too Quickly
If your cat eats too much, too quickly vomiting will likely result soon after they eat. A number of fun cat bowls are available to help slow your cat’s eating, if your cat eats too quickly. That said, throwing up right after eating can be an indication of a more serious problem such as hairballs, dehydration, esophageal issues, or a digestive tract obstruction. If your cat frequently vomits right after eating, a trip to the vet is required.
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Why Does My Cat Vomit After Eat: The Truth
Q: Cats often vomit after eating cat food, vomit, then want to eat. How to do it?
A: If the frequency of occurrence is not high and the vomit is still the cat food just eaten, it is usually caused by eating too fast, or strenuous exercise just after eating, or drinking a lot of water, and is prevalent in homes with more than two cats. It is recommended that multiple cats be fed separately, the number of single feedings is reduced, and each cat is fed alone for more than 20 minutes.
The above is the general way to answer this question. However, cat vomiting is, in fact, a very complex problem.
How To Know If Your Cat Is Throwing Up
Your cat can get nauseous before they throw up. They can be restless, salivating, or repeatedly swallowing. Vomiting starts with intense contractions in your cats abdominal muscles. They then expel whats in their stomach or throat.
Coughing in cats can look similar to throwing up. When a cat coughs, theyll crouch down on all four legs and stretch their neck out. They then cough up froth or foam, which they might swallow again immediately.
Theres also a difference between regurgitation and vomiting. Regurgitation takes your cat less effort and usually doesnt involve abdominal contractions. Regurgitation often happens right after eating or drinking and may be a sign of a problem in the cats esophagus.
Showing your vet a video of your cat vomiting can help them differentiate between vomiting, coughing, and regurgitating.
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How To Clean Up Cat Vomit
Lets get down to the dirty truth cat puke can leave stains and odors in your carpets. You will want to act fast.
If youre dealing with a particularly bad mess, you may need to bring in a professional carpet cleaner. There are also a lot of store-bought sprays and powders you can try. Look for an enzyme-based product that will help break down the proteins that cause permanent damage.
Here are some cleaning tips that use items you probably already own:
Preventing Your Cat From Throwing Up
Cats are curious creatures, and they can accidentally get into things that make them sick. Its best to keep toxic plants, human medications, yarn or string, chocolate, or other small objects out of your cats reach. They may eat or swallow these items and cause digestive complications.
If your cat vomits frequently, youll want your vet to diagnose the underlying causes. Its best to not hesitate to take your cat to the vet if you suspect they are sick.
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Why Is My Cat Vomiting
Hairballs / Furballs
Hairballs are undigested, wads of fur that clump in your cat’s stomach as a result of the cat’s self-grooming. Hairballs are especially common in longhair cats, and cats that groom excessively. Hacking noises and spasms commonly accompany vomiting if your cat is trying to rid itself of hairballs.
In the majority of cases, hairballs are easily brought up by cats, but if your cat is experiencing difficulties when trying to expel a hairball it’s time to see a vet. Occasionally hairballs become trapped and can lead to intestinal blockages which may be fatal.
Eating Too Much & Too Quickly
If your kitty eats too much food, too quickly, vomiting will likely result soon after they eat. If your cat often eats quickly then vomits, there are a number of fun cat bowls available to help slow your cat’s eating and help to prevent vomiting.
That said, vomiting right after eating could be an indication of a more serious health issue such as hairballs, a digestive tract obstruction, dehydration, or esophageal issues. If your cat frequently vomits right after eating, it’s time to visit the vet.
Some Serious Conditions Which Can Cause Vomiting In Cats
It can be tempting to dismiss your cat’s vomiting as normal cat behavior, however vomiting can be a symptom of a serious underlying health condition. A few of the more serious causes of vomiting in cat include:
- Poisoning
- Metabolic Disorder
Why Is My Cat Being Sick
Anything that irritates your cats stomach or prevents the contents of their stomach from moving through the digestive tract can cause vomiting. Reasons for a cat being sick include hair balls, eating too much or too quickly, eating new or unusual food, an allergic reaction to food and parasites. Other causes include gastrointestinal conditions, pancreatitis, heat stroke and ingesting poisonous substances. While some of these issues are mild, others will require emergency veterinary treatment.
Why is my cat being sick? is one of the most common questions our vets are asked. Short-term cat vomiting is generally for a mild reason and not a massive cause for concern, especially if your cats health is otherwise fine. This may be down to a mild tummy upset.
Long-term or severe cat vomiting is a far bigger concern and if your cat keeps throwing up or you think its something to worry about you should contact your vet or, out of hours, your nearest Vets Now pet emergency clinic, straight away.
If its not an emergency but you would like some advice you can book an online video consultation with our vets between 8am and 11pm every day. Learn more here.
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Is Vomiting Normal For Cats
Just like their people, our feline friends can suffer from an upset tummy for a number of reasons.
Some of the most common causes of upset stomach in cats include, a reaction to eating something bad, viruses and parasites, or more serious problems such as cancer or organ conditions.
Pet parents should be aware that if your cat vomits more often than once a month, or keeps vomiting repeatedly, it’s time to see your vet to determine the underlying cause of your cat’s vomiting.
What Can I Do If My Cat Is Being Sick
If your cat has been sick once or twice but otherwise appears well:
- Remove food for two hours, but continue to provide water
- After this time, try offering a teaspoon of their usual food or bland low-fat cooked food such as chicken or white fish
- If they keep this down, offer small amounts every few hours for thenext 24 hours
- Then go back to your usual routine
If this does not resolve the sickness and you are concerned about your cat vomiting repeatedly, call your vet or, out of hours, your nearest Vet Now emergency clinic or 24/7 hospital immediately.
You should also contact your vet if:
- Your cat cannot keep water down
- Has blood or unusual material in her vomit
- Has pale or cold gums
- Is displaying signs of listlessness, diarrhoea, fever, or another illness
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Why Do Cats Eat Grass
Cats are known to be carnivores eating only meat and whole prey, so why would cats be eating anything plant-based such as grass?
The simple reason for cats to eat grass, is to be able to vomit.
Wait? That sounds weird for an animal race that is considered to be intelligent. So why would you eat grass only just to puke it out again? How does that even work?
Upper Respiratory Tract Infections
Almost all cats will catch a respiratory virus at some time in their life. The Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery surveyed 740 cats, finding respiratory viruses in 82% of them.
The symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections are more commonly linked to the common cold. Cats with a respiratory infection will cough and sneeze a lot, usually releasing discharge. The cat will also likely endure streaming eyes.
Some cats struggle with vomiting and diarrhea while battling a respiratory infection. This can be problematic as the cat will also lose appetite. In addition to feeling lethargic and unwell, the cats scent receptors will be blocked. The smell is a huge part of a foods appeal to cats.
Most of the common respiratory infections in cats can be treated with rest. Eventually, the virus will run its course. Antibiotics will aid with this and are advisable in the case of senior cats. Older cats have weaker immunity and are hit harder by respiratory infections.
Cats need to eat when feeling under the weather. The nutrients found in their food will boost recovery. Open your cats sinuses with steam. Closing the door in the bathroom and running a hot tap will do the trick. Once the cat breathes easier, it will regain its appetite.
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What Should I Do If My Cat Eats Vomit
Stay calm if your cat eats vomit. This behavior in itself isnt the end of the world, although its best to be discouraged. We recommend cleaning up after your cat anytime they throw up, that way they wont have a chance to eat the remaining cat vomit.
Then carefully watch your cat to determine if you need to call your vet. Has your cat thrown up more than once? Is the vomit not just a hairball? Is there blood in the vomit? Is your cat showing other signs of illness? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should contact your veterinarian pronto.
Does your cat snarf and barf? Has your cat ever eaten their vomit? Let us know on !
Most Common Diseases In Cats
If you found this article helpful, you may like to take a look at our YouTube video where we discuss the most common diseases in cats!
This article is purely informative. AnimalWised does not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or create a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian if they are suffering from any condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Why Does My Cat Vomit After Eating?, we recommend you visit our Intestinal problems category.
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What Are The Main Causes Of A Cat Being Sick
While cats dont have the same reputation as dogs for scavenging, some do habitually eat things they shouldnt.
Common causes of cats being sick include swallowing foreign objects such as pieces of string, rubber bands and ribbons, dangerous human foods such as onions and chocolate, and poisonous substances such as antifreeze, plants and human medications.
Internal parasites and serious diseases such as cancer or diabetes are also reasons for cats throwing up. If your cat is being sick regularly, there may be an underlying problem that will need to be diagnosed by your veterinarian.
Why Do Cats Eat Plants And Then Throw Up
February 3, 2020 by Wendy
My cat Charlie is a plant junkie. I cant keep plants around the house because he will gobble them up, and he never misses a chance to escape out the back door and eat grass. The thing is, he ALWAYS immediately pukes it all up afterward. It got me thinking, why do cats eat plants and then just throw them up? Maybe an oddly specific question, but I was genuinely curious.
Theres no exact answer to why cats may eat grass and other plants. Some theories include boredom, nutritional deficiency, OCD, or stomach upset. However, according to the most recent research , its believed cats may eat plants due to an inherited trait from wild ancestorswho gnawed on greenery in an attempt to purge the parasitic loads from their intestines. Some cats vomit afterward because their bodies arent evolved to chew and digest plants.
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