Companion Animals

Cat Chronic Vomiting Causes and Care

Frequent vomiting in cats is often dismissed as normal but frequently signals underlying health problems that affect quality of life.

Key Facts

Chronic vomiting is defined as occurring more than once or twice monthly
Common causes include inflammatory bowel disease, food intolerance, hyperthyroidism, and hairballs
Vomiting more than weekly warrants veterinary investigation
Distinguishing true vomiting from regurgitation is important for diagnosis
Intestinal lymphoma is a significant cause of chronic vomiting in older cats

Welfare Considerations

Cats that vomit regularly experience discomfort and nutritional compromise. The casual acceptance of frequent vomiting as normal can delay diagnosis and treatment of painful conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or cancer. Veterinary investigation including blood tests, ultrasound, and sometimes biopsy can identify treatable causes. Dietary modification, medication, or surgery can significantly improve quality of life.

What You Can Do

Keep a vomiting diary recording frequency, content, and timing
Seek veterinary attention for vomiting more than once per week
Discuss elimination diet trials if food intolerance is suspected
Do not assume hairballs are always the cause without ruling out other conditions
Follow through with diagnostic testing even if the cat seems otherwise well