6 yr old cat throws up twice a week its not hairballs what shoudl i do i cant afford a vet?

Question

She is an indoor cat also. She hasn't lost any weight. She goes up and down one pound all the time...I feed her dry food, the same food all of the time so I havent switched brands at all. If someone has some advice, I woud like to hear it, thanks!

Answer 1

What is your cat throwing up? food or just stomache bile?

My dog does the same thing....she vomits stomach bile occasionally. the vet recommended i give her an antacid...like pepcid...when she shows symptoms of being sick.

She's been good even sense....when she starts i give her the pill and it fixes the problem.

Answer 2

If you can't afford a vet, why do you even own a cat?

Answer 3

Try switching brands. If she lives with other animals she may eat it fast, and then barf it up and re-eat it later. If she throws up watery gunk its stomach bile completely harmless, if its chunky food she's got a health problem, if it lasts longer than 2 weeks its in her best interest to go get checked out. Try feeding her small amounts at a time.  

Answer 4

may be she needs more variety in her diet .please prioritise and take her to the vet.

Answer 5

NEVER EVER give any medication without the vets advice! Many medications used for Humans are DEADLY to CATS & DOGS.

The following poisonous plant index lists common household plants, outdoor greenery, as well as wild varieties of plants, shrubs, trees, leafy fruit, herb plants, etc. While this list is extensive, it is by no means a complete list of known plants toxic to animals. It is important to remember that although certain plants listed here, such as aloe vera and poinsettas, may not be lethally toxic, it is never safe to assume that certain PARTS of these plants are not equally as toxic or potentially lethal if ingested, or if large amounts are ingested. Remember that toxicity can occur when certain leaves, stems, buds, flower petals, roots or leaf and stem secretions are ingested.

If at any time you feel that your kitty has eaten, ingested, or come into contact with any of the plants listed here, do not hesitate to have your kitty seen by your vet or an emergency vet immediately. Time is of the essence in most toxicities, and prompt, agressive treatment is necessary to ensure your kitty's health and survival. In the event of an emergency involving a toxic plant, call your vet immediately!

Vomiting is the forceful ejection of food from the stomach & upper intestine. The cat salivates, appears to attempt to swallow, wretches, abdominal muscle contractions can be seen & the cat will retch, make a gagging sound & produce vomit. Vomit will often contain bile, blood & mucus.

What are the causes of vomiting in cats?

Some causes of vomiting include;  

Food/Diet Related:

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      Eating too fast

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      Rapid change in the diet. If you are going to switch brands or type of food, gradually introduce the new type over a few days

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      Eating inappropriate foods such as old or mouldy food, food inappropriate for cats etc.

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      Food allergies

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      Food intolerance

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      Foreign object. Bones, wool etc.

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      Ingestion of toxins such as antifreeze, aspirin, poisonous plants etc.

Parasites

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      Intestinal worms

Miscellaneous

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      Hairballs

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      Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach)

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      Heat stroke

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      Renal failure

Diseases

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      Liver disease

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      Pancreatitis

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      Ulcers

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      Intestinal lymphoma

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      Inflammatory Bowel Disease

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      Feline Panleukopenia

Endocrinopathies

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      Hyperthyroidism

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      Diabetes Mellitus

Infections

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      Salmonellosis

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      Giardia

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      Coccidiosis

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      Acute Metritis (infected uterus)

When should my cat be taken to a veterinarian?

An isolated incident of vomiting where the cat shows no other signs of illness is not uncommon & generally doesn't necessitate a trip to the vet.

You should seek veterinary attention if;

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      If your pet vomits repeatedly

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      Also has diarrhoea

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      If the vomit is foul smelling

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      If your cat acts lethargic

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      If your cat has ingested a poison or toxin

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      If the vomit contains blood

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      If the cat appears listless & unwell

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      If the abdomen is bloated  

If possible, when you take your cat to the veterinarian, bring along a sample of the vomit too. This will assist the vet to determine the underlying cause of the vomiting.

How is vomiting diagnosed & treated?

Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical examination of your cat & obtain a medical history including possible exposure to toxins.

Being able to assess the vomiting will assist your veterinarian. He may ask about the type of vomiting your cat has been experiencing such as:

Repeated vomiting, sporadic vomiting, vomiting blood, fecal vomiting, projectile vomiting, vomiting foreign objects (hairballs, pieces of cloth etc) or motion sickness.

He will wish to perform some tests, some of which may include;

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      Complete blood count

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      Biochemical profile

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      Urinalysis

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      Fecal flotation to evaluate for parasites

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      Total T4 may be performed on an older cat to evaluate for hyperthyroidism

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      FeLV/FIV test

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      Abdominal X-rays or ultrasound to for gastrointestinal obstruction, neoplasia & organ size.

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      TLF (Feline specific trypsin-like immunoreactivity) is a 12 hour fasting serum sample to evaluate for pancreatitis.

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      Heartworm testing.

Treatment is aimed at finding & treating the cause of the vomiting. Also, your veterinarian may wish to correct fluid & electrolyte imbalance & feed a low-fat, easily digestible diet.

Answer 6

One possibility is to raise her food bowl several inches.  That may sound silly, but someone recommended it for my cats.  And they used to throw up food regularly.  Since elevating their bowls, they do not throw up food.  

You might check about free or sliding-scale vet services in your area.  How about checking with United Way in your area?  The local animal shelters?  Local vets?  Even if your cat is basically okay, which I truly hope, it may need serious help at some point.  

Answer 7

I had a male cat for 18 years and he used to toss hairballs.  If you brush his fur regularly there won't be so much loose fur for him to swallow. Also there is an over the counter ointment that the cat licks that helps with this problem

Answer 8

my cat was throwing up everyday too, when i took her to the vet, we found out that she had hypothyroidism.  so, i know that it isn't easy but you have to find room in the budget to take her in.  if nothing is seriously wrong at least you will have piece of mind.

Answer 9

Can't afford a vet..shouldn't own a cat or any pet for that matter! If you were puking twice a week for no reason you would need to see the doc. treat your pets conditions as your would treat your own! Good Luck!