A cat that vomits its kibble can do so for several reasons, because it has hairballs, because it has stomach irritation, because of stress… is to analyze this vomit: is it yellow? Does it contain undigested food or is it digested, is it a clear liquid substance, is it foam? This will allow you to find the cause and react to it.
So, how to know where the problem comes from and how to react to it? I tell you everything in this article.
Cat vomiting its kibble: The different causes and their solutions
Pay close attention to the following causes because they will help you determine why your cat is vomiting his kibble. I give you what to recognize them and especially how to react to solve this problem that your cat is experiencing with his kibble.
The stress
One of the most common reasons your cat vomits up his kibble right after eating is anxiety, which leads him to eat in large bites or too quickly. Typically, these cases occur for the following reasons:
- Coexistence with another cat: The bowls are shared, which is very bad, cats being territorial animals. The cat will not want to run the risk of having nothing to eat later and will eat as much as possible until it vomits.
- Having the impression that the food can be removed: Always leave the bottom of the bowl available after he has eaten, otherwise he will act in advance and try to eat as much as possible by foreseeing the possible lack in the future.
- Not being comfortable in their food court: A cat must eat in a quiet place where he feels completely safe and finally, the place must be clean. Otherwise, he will eat as quickly as possible, running the risk of vomiting his kibble.
- Not having a clear routine : A cat must eat at regular intervals, otherwise it can overeat suddenly if it has not eaten for a while. Cats have an organism made to eat little but regularly.
What to do ?
Make sure your cat eats in a quiet, hygienic place and always has food in its bowl for future meals. Especially if it’s an indoor cat that can’t hunt outside.
If your cat naturally gulps food like a goose and does so at top speed, you will need to buy special feeders for her that will help her eat better while sharpening her hunting instincts. This stress can also come from your daily life, so make sure you have enough stimuli at home for him to let off steam and if something scares him, remove it or get him used to its presence.
If your cat is naturally stressed, you can also diffuse soothing pheromones, which will also work to make him feel better at home, acting on your cat’s very fine sense of smell.
Disease
If he has a problem with his kidneys, pancreas, liver, or gastritis, he might have trouble digesting food. It’s usually due to gastritis or irritation, it’s not always due to something as serious as kidney failure.
If your cat is old, that is to say he is over 12 years old, he probably has a chronic illness that makes him vomit up his kibble, such as transit problems.
One thing that can help you figure out the problem is to look at his throat and see if it is very red, same for the gums, which may also be pale. In this case, the cat vomits its kibble because of the itching caused by kibble, dry food, at this level.
What to do ?
Start by replacing the kibble with wet food and if the problem does not pass, take him to the vet. You can also give him wet kibble, which is sometimes enough. To make the cat eat without it vomiting its kibble, give it the softest food possible, and lukewarm, so that it does not attack its throat, gums or stomach.
You can also check the condition of his throat and gums to see if they are bright red, and monitor the problem closely if this is the case.
He regurgitates hairballs
Cats can have hairballs stuck in their stomachs and on contact with food, they can make them vomit, especially after eating kibble because they are dry.
You can then see hairs in its throat or coming out of its mouth, in which case you will have to avoid removing it yourself at the risk of potentially injuring one of its organs to which it may be attached.
What to do ?
Make sure he always has catnip to purge himself. If the hairball is stuck, do not attempt to remove it and delegate this to a veterinarian. You can give him a special cat food to make him swallow his hairball so that it doesn’t bother him anymore, he can then eat without vomiting his kibble. You can also act in prevention by brushing your cat during periods when he loses a lot of hair.
An allergy
Cats, like dogs and humans, can suffer from food allergies. They can be caused by a new food and in this case kibble which may contain an element to which he is allergic.
What to do ?
It is often difficult to find which exact component is responsible for vomiting kibble, a veterinarian is recommended to be sure to get the correct diagnosis and a good replacement food.
He is sad
If he’s throwing up and his behavior has completely changed, he’s sad and downcast, you need to start assessing for depression. Lack of appetite, vomiting and sadness are common to many ailments, both physical and psychological.
What to do ?
It is important for a cat to have stimulation in its environment, to play, to rest, to have a routine and to try things that it likes, especially if it is young and if it is an indoor cat.
Parasites
Parasites can cause vomiting in cats when they are present inside your cat’s body, they are recognized in the cat’s stool, in the form of small white dots. They are dangerous because they can suck your cat’s nutrients and weaken them as they breed.
What to do?
You can already take a solution in a drugstore to defeat its pests, but if that is not enough, a visit to the veterinarian will be essential to get rid of it.
General solutions
If you are unable to determine the exact cause of the problem causing your cat to vomit up his kibble, here are the best practices to prevent him from vomiting his kibble:
- Moisten his croquettes: Because they will in any case be easier to eat than completely dry ones, which are more aggressive for the digestive system. You can also give him softer food and skip the kibble as long as he tends to vomit.
- Give him a food puzzle: Which will allow him not to eat too quickly because the puzzle will force him to move a little so that he can eat, you can also take him a kibble dispenser which will have a similar consequence, preventing your cat to binge.
- Do not play with him after he has eaten: This is also essential because your cat will have a full stomach and even if he wants to play, he risks regurgitating his kibble because of the upheaval for his stomach.
- Distribute its diet well: The cat must be able to have 1/3 of wet food in its diet, patée for example, for outdoor cats, it all depends on whether they hunt or not, because rodents and birds are part of this soft food.
My cat vomits kibble with blood
Vomiting blood with your kibble can reveal several things. Most commonly it’s gastritis or something like a chicken bone that’s slipped off and caused an injury. In the case of blood, the appointment with the veterinarian is essential.
Because this blood can also be the symptom of a painful disease, cancer or ulcer. Take a sample of this blood to see if it is black or rather shiny, this will help your vet determine what is going on.
How to clean cat vomit?
To clean the vomit, do not use chemicals that could make your cat vomit again because of their smell and prefer natural products such as baking soda, which will also absorb the smell, and then vacuum so that there is nothing left.
Start by dusting with baking soda and leave on for 10 minutes so that even the odor disappears, this product being the odor absorber par excellence.
Then, vacuum or take a maximum of it with paper towel, if halos remain, pour soda water on it so that nothing remains.
Cat vomiting his kibble: The final word
A cat that vomits its kibble can do so for many reasons, so it is important to be attentive to find the cause, and if necessary, to take it to the veterinarian.