Is Vomiting or Diarrhoea in Cats Normal?
Our pets rarely show any signs of pain or discomfort and more so in the case of pet cats. When it comes to vomiting and diarrhoea, many times they could be mistaken as normal tendencies for a cat. In fact, most cat owners often think that vomiting is pretty natural, especially if it is a hairball every now and then. But vomiting and diarrhoea continuously for over 24 hours can be worrisome and would require immediate medical attention. In this article, you will look at common symptoms, causes, underlining health concerns and when to seek medical help and what treatment you could provide in case of an emergency.
Common Causes of Vomiting in Cats
On occasion, you would notice your cat vomit a white foamy liquid, fur balls or bile. All these occur mostly when your cat has an empty stomach. You would notice that their behaviour doesn’t change after one instance. They move on with their day as if nothing really happened. However, if you notice changes in their behaviour like lethargy, weakness or continuous vomiting then you should take necessary veterinary advice.
● Hairballs and Digestive Irritation:
Often after grooming themselves, you might notice your cat throwing up hairballs. Sometimes, your cat might even vomit undigested food, immediately after a meal. This is referred to as regurgitation.
● Diet and Food-Related Causes:
If you have recently introduced a new food or given a new brand of treats that could explain the reason for sudden vomiting.
● Medical Conditions That Cause Vomiting:
Medical cases of gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, liver or kidney disease could cause your cat to vomit.
Common Causes of Diarrhoea in Cats
● Mild Digestive Upset:
Diarrhoea is common in cats, with the change in weather, food options, overeating or eating scraps off the table or sometimes spoiled food. Other reasons could include, traveling, stress, a change in environment like a new location.
● Parasites and Infections:
Exposure to viral, bacterial or fungal infections can be the leading cause for diarrhoea in cats. Parasites like hookworm and roundworm could also cause digestive issues and diarrhoea.
● Chronic Health Conditions:
If your cat is suffering from a medical condition and is on medication, that can have a side-effect and cause diarrhoea too. Conditions like hypothyroidism, liver, kidney disease or pancreatitis all can contribute to weakened gut and thereby diarrhoea.
Vomiting and Diarrhoea in Cats: Symptoms to Watch For
| Stages | Symptoms | What must you do |
| Mild Symptoms | ● Vomits just once with normal activity afterward.
● One or two soft or runny stools. ● Reduced appetite, but alert and active. |
● Monitor at home |
| Concerning Symptoms | ● Repeated vomiting (more than 2 -3 times in a span of 12–24 hours).
● Persistent or worsening diarrhoea, especially with mucus or blood. ● Signs of dehydration: tacky gums, sunken eyes, decreased skin elasticity. ● Lethargy, weakness, hiding, fever, continuous vomiting or refusal to eat. |
● Contact vet within 24 hours |
| Emergency Warning Signs | ● Blood in vomit or stool.
● Severe weakness, lethargy or difficulty breathing. ● Severe abdominal pain, distension or signs of shock. ● Persistent vomiting/diarrhea with inability to keep water down. |
● Rush to emergency medical veterinary care |
How Vets Diagnose Vomiting and Diarrhoea in Cats
At your local veterinary hospitals, your trusted doctors perform several tests from physical examinations to blood tests and ultrasound to determine the cause of these severe symptoms.
In the table below, you will see what tests are done and what is determined from each of these tests to narrow down the root cause of your cat’s condition.
| Diagnostic Tests | Primary Purpose |
| Stool exam | Detects parasites, ova, protozoa |
| Blood panel | Assesses organ function, hydration, infection/inflammation. |
| Imaging (X-ray) | Checks for obstructions, foreign bodies, gas/distension |
| Ultrasound | Evaluates organs, masses, wall thickness, fluid |
| Fecal PCR/culture | Identifies bacterial or viral pathogens |
| Endoscopy/biopsy | Diagnoses inflammatory bowel disease or tumors |
Treatment Options for Vomiting and Diarrhoea in Cats
Veterinary doctors provide IV fluids to rehydrate your cat, along with medicines to stop the diarrhoea and vomiting as well as antibiotics to fight parasites, infections and worms.
Vets will also advise dietary changes like introducing GI diets to eliminate hypoallergenics and food intolerances. In severe cases of vomiting or diarrhoea, doctors would advise hospitalization to relieve your cat of pain, and treat it for dehydration, electrolyte imbalance and run advanced diagnostic tests if required.
Home treatment:
Once discharged from the hospital, monitor your cat for weakness. Ensure that it is well-hydrated and has a bland diet or as advised by the vet. Give your cat medicines that are only prescribed by your vet. You can gradually introduce normal cat food once symptoms clear and your cat is back to its usual healthy state.
Can Vomiting and Diarrhoea in Cats Be Prevented?
Yes, to a large extent if your cat lives indoors and you provide them with healthy food, keeping their annual medical checkups updated, you could keep your cats safe from these two draining conditions. Ensure you keep an eye on their stools to check for traces of blood. A lack of appetite is an indication of a weak gut. Reduce the portion size or provide only bland food if you notice your cat in any discomfort. Always have easy access to water or a water fountain in case of picky cats. Keep any human medication, cleaning agents and other chemicals out of reach so that your cats do not accidentally consume them.
Remember to complete all their annual deworming and faecal tests as recommended by your vet to prevent any parasites from infecting their gut. Keep a calm and stable environment to avoid stress and disrupt your cat’s GI system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
● What causes vomiting in cats?
Hairballs, dietary indiscretion, infections, parasites, toxins and organ or GI disease, all can cause vomiting.
● What to do when your cat vomits?
When your cat vomits, observe their behaviour and track the number of times and frequency. Stop their food intake and provide them with plenty of drinking water. In case vomiting continues beyond a day (24 hours) consult a vet immediately.
● Is diarrhoea dangerous?
Diarrhoea is dangerous if it continues for over 24 hours and does not stop. This weakens and dehydrates the cat. It also depletes the cat of all necessary nutrients and electrolytes which should be replenished with the help of immediate veterinary care, if not can lead to complications
● When should I visit a vet?
If you notice severe weakness, your cat collapses or is breathless, you should rush your cat to the vet immediately. If you notice prolonged diarrhoea and vomiting for over 24 hours accompanied by blood in the stool, it’s time to take your cat to the emergency vet care.
● Can vomiting and diarrhoea happen together?
Yes, combined vomiting and diarrhoea can happen in severe cases of ingesting something toxic. If not treated immediately, it can rapidly reduce your cat’s vitality leaving it dehydrated and extremely weak.
Conclusion
Vomiting and diarrhoea in cats is fairly common if it’s just 1 instance over a period of time and you find that your cat’s behaviour is fine after some time. But if there are a number of instances of vomiting and diarrhoea in the day, accompanied with blood in the stool, weakness or lethargy, lack of appetite, breathlessness or any other serious signs, you must seek urgent medical help. Once your cat has received necessary medical help and is on the road to recovery, observe them for any symptoms. Start with small bland meals and access to plenty of water. Follow preventative steps mentioned above like regular vet checkups, keeping toxic products out of reach and reducing stressful environments or situations to reduce the strain on your cat’s stomach and keep them healthy.