If you have a cat that vomits and has diarrhea, it is normal for you to be concerned about it because it obviously reveals an illness. But don’t worry, this is a very unpleasant problem, but one that can be easily treated. I explain everything in this article.
Cat Vomiting and Diarrhea: The Causes and Their Solutions
Diarrhea and vomiting often go hand in hand when your cat has an upset stomach, the irritation of the latter is responsible for your cat’s vomiting. But where does this irritation come from?
A change of diet
If you have recently changed your cat’s diet, it may have a tolerance problem for one of its ingredients. If you changed his diet recently, the problem is probably a specific ingredient in his new food.
You will therefore have to go back to the old food and if you want to change its diet, you will have to contact the veterinarian so that he can find the cause of the problem and tell you which alternative to direct to avoid any stomach irritation of your cat.
Toxic ingestion
Cats are known for their impeccable hygiene, and indeed they hate anything that is dirty or unhealthy. If he ingests something that is toxic to him, his stomach will not like it and will reject the toxic element as best it can.
These can be poisonous plants, household products, chocolate, raisins and many other sources. Try to trace what he ingested to determine the likelihood of this cause.
If the problem does not pass within 48 hours, it is best to go to the veterinarian.
Gastroenteritis
This condition causes vomiting and diarrhea, and occurs when the stomach lining and small intestine are inflamed. Here, the culprits are often viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi.
The list is too long for you to figure out on your own, but if you have no way of finding the source of the problem, it’s probably this problem.
Again, beyond 48 hours, it is best to go to the veterinarian for a thorough examination and appropriate treatment.
Parasites
The best-known parasites are worms, fleas and ticks, present in tall grass and infesting your cat’s body to reproduce there and absorb everything it ingests. The parasites will often be present in the cat’s stool and in its coat.
If he is scratching and losing weight, he is probably responsible for his vomiting and diarrhea and you will have to act quickly by going to the veterinary emergency room if no veterinarian is available today.
Indeed, these parasites absorb the nutrients that your cat eats, and will eventually kill him.
To prevent them from reappearing in the future, deworming your cat is the only solution and will keep them away from your cat.
Salmonella
Salmonella is a bacterium found in contaminated carnivorous food, so make sure the food doesn’t smell rotten, hasn’t been stored improperly or has expired. Salmonella is a serious infection and should be treated medically.
What will the vet do?
The veterinarian will ask you questions to get a precise opinion, and you can film your cat so that he can see the problem directly on video. After asking you these questions, he can do several things:
- A blood test: To look for possible problems present in the body.
- A fecal analysis: To check for certain abnormalities revealed by the appearance of the stool.
- An x-ray/ultrasound: To look for signs of foreign bodies.
Once his analysis is done, he will prescribe a suitable treatment for your cat.
What can I do myself?
While waiting for the visit to the vet or to help your cat heal if the problem does not require a visit to the vet, you can put in place the following habits:
- Give her easy-to-eat foods: No dry or hard-to-chew foods. You can grind his food to help him the most. Warm food is preferable because it is easier to digest.
- Do not give him too much to eat: His stomach must be able to rest as much as possible.
- Leave him alone: He must be calm and in a healthy environment to recover.
Cat vomiting and diarrhea: The final word
A cat that is vomiting and has diarrhea should always be investigated for the possible causes of the problem. Sometimes the causes are easily removed and can resolve the disease directly. In other cases, finding the cause will allow you to act in the best way.