Food vomiting

[jblilbear]

My adult cat, (about 7 yrs old) can't always keep food down. I've changed it to easier to digest foods and out of the blue she throws it all up. She seems to lick herself much more than the average cat, like she's got a bad habit of it or something. Sometimes she has hairballs. The vet gave her caster oil once, but that's not something I can seem to find in the grocery store. I'm not sure what to feed her. She gets stressed easily, so I've considered giving her her own box and food and dishes away from the other 2 cats.

Any suggestions?

[nanamouse]

If the hair is her problem you might try brushing her once or twice daily to reduce the amount of hair she swallows. If she's eating real fast to keep the other cats from taking her food, then feeding her by herself should help. Has she always had this problem, and has the vet tested for stomach problems?

[Luna123]

I agree with nanna mouse. If this has always been a problem then try feeding away from the other cats. If this does not work, have her blood tested for thyroid disease. Sometmes vomiting can be due to pancreatitis.

[special]

My adult cat, (about 7 yrs old) can't always keep food down. I've changed it to easier to digest foods and out of the blue she throws it all up. She seems to lick herself much more than the average cat, like she's got a bad habit of it or something. Sometimes she has hairballs. The vet gave her caster oil once, but that's not something I can seem to find in the grocery store. I'm not sure what to feed her. She gets stressed easily, so I've considered giving her her own box and food and dishes away from the other 2 cats.

Any suggestions?

If it is a hair ball problem, regular dosing with a hairball remedy such as laxatone or petromalt should help. By regular I mean every other day, or every second day, forever. I have a cat that cannot bring up hair balls, and she gets laxatone every other day.

Give the laxatone on an empty stomach and do not feed for at least a half hour after, better an hour, because the medicine can interfere with nutrient absorption.

It may be that she is a "scarf and barf" cat which simply means she is eating too fast and vomiting it all up. If this is the case you will have to start feeding her in smaller portions, and it may work better, at least at first, to feed her away from the other cats, so she doesn't gobble hers then steal theirs. I have had many scarf and barfers over the years. Cats seem to jsut love to throw up! Rationing and measuing servings is a bit time consuming, but once you get used to it, it can be worked into your regular routine.

I just feed ALL my cats in "courses" that way no one gets a chance to scarf and barf or steal another's food, and I can monitor who is eating what. I've been doing it this way for so long, I wouldn't know how to do it any other way!

Each of them have their own "spot" in the kitchen, away from eachother, and they all wait in their specific spots for their food. Even the new one, rescued stray Jennie, has already learned meal time manners and does not barge in to steal someone else's food when I put it down. It took her only about a week to learn the routine!

[special]

By the way, if this is a new behavior I recommend a complete vet check up with blood work and possibly an x-ray to check for obstructions. YOur vet did not seem to be very thorough or concerned.

You should have at least four litter boxes for three cats, and by all means put one someone isolated so she can get to it in peace.

Is she having normal bowel movements?

[jblilbear]

This isn't new behavior, she's always been a gulf it all up eater. Well, more just the hairballs and vomiting has been a problem more recently. I have some remedy for her, so I'll try your tactic special.

I think I will get Jasmine her own box. I have one big box, (no room for 4 :o ) and keep her from the other cats for a while. I just gotta figure out where to put it.

[jblilbear]

I'm going to the pet store, it's not close so that's why I haven't gotten there yet while working full time. Jasmine threw up all over today. She threw up right back into her bowl too. :( I'm working hard at this, it's just not easy.

[jblilbear]

I just wanted to say that Jasmine has been doing much better for a week now. But it's only one week, I feel I need a good two more weeks to really know if she's better. She's still licking way too much, but she hasn't had any vomitting and now that she's the only one that uses her box, I know that her poop is normal. She's on an indoor formula also handles hairballs and sometimes gets wet hairball remedy food and even regular hairball remedy but only two or three times this week. She doesn't see much of the other two cats at all so I think she's less stressed too.

[jblilbear]

I just wanted to say that Jasmine has been eating by herself for about 3 going on 4 weeks now. I've gradually changed her food to a better hairball prevention food and she's doing great. Hasn't thrown up at all with the new food. :) Oh and she has her own litter box too. Her droppings are normal.

[special]

thanks for the update, gld to ehar Jasmine is doing better..

What kind of food are you using, and what were you using before. All but one of my four cats are on special diets, but others might like to know.....

[jblilbear]

It's Hills Science Diet for adult cats/hairball prevention. That's not the exact name but it's Hills Science Diet.