If your cat vomits after eating, it’s understandable to want to feed them again right away. However, it’s important to wait before offering food again. Rushing to feed your cat soon after an episode of vomiting can lead to more throwing up or other gastrointestinal issues. Knowing the proper wait time helps settle your cat’s stomach, prevents reoccurring vomiting, and avoids potential dehydration or malnutrition. This article will explain why you should wait to feed a cat after vomiting, how long to wait, and tips for caring for your cat during this waiting period. Understanding the appropriate wait time and approach will help ensure your cat’s health and comfort after a vomiting episode.
What Causes Cats to Vomit?
There are several common causes for vomiting in cats:
- Eating too fast – Cats that eat their food too quickly can vomit soon after. This is because they swallow air while gobbling down food, which then comes back up.
- Hairballs – As cats groom themselves, they ingest hair. This hair can form into balls and cause vomiting as it passes through the digestive tract. Long-haired cats are especially prone to hairballs.
- Allergies – Cats can develop allergies to ingredients in their food, which causes stomach upset and vomiting. Common culprits include beef, dairy, and fish.
- Infections – Viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi can all infect a cat’s digestive tract leading to inflammation, nausea, and vomiting. Some examples are panleukopenia virus, salmonella, giardia, and trichomoniasis.
- Blockages or obstructions – Foreign objects, tumors, or intussusception (telescoping of the intestine) can partially or fully block the GI tract. This prevents food from properly passing through, resulting in vomiting.
- Medication side effects – Certain medications like antibiotics, pain relievers, chemotherapy drugs, and anesthesia can sometimes cause vomiting as a side effect.
- Toxins – Ingestion of toxins like antifreeze, lead, or toxic plants can irritate the digestive tract and induce vomiting.
If your cat is vomiting frequently or seems ill, take them to the vet for an examination. The vet can help pinpoint the underlying cause and provide appropriate treatment.
How Long Should I Wait Before Feeding Again?
The general recommendation from veterinarians is to withhold all food and water for 4-6 hours after an episode of vomiting in adult cats. Kittens have less reserves and need nutrients faster than adult cats, so the recommendation for kittens is usually 2-3 hours before slowly reintroducing water and bland food.
According to veterinarians, a cat’s stomach needs time to rest and settle after vomiting. Eating too soon may cause more vomiting episodes. Allowing the stomach to fully empty before feeding again gives the best chance for recovery.
As explained on Wikihow, “Because your cat’s stomach is sensitive, the vet might tell you not to feed your cat for 6 to 24 hours. If your cat stops vomiting after this period of time, you can start feeding it a bland diet” (source).
What Should I Do During the Waiting Period?
There are a few tips to follow while waiting to reintroduce food after a vomiting episode in cats:
– Monitor your cat closely. Watch for signs of lethargy, continuing nausea, or straining to vomit without bringing anything up. Contact your vet if you notice any of these signs.[1]
– Restrict activity and playtime. Allow your cat to rest and recover. Excess activity can cause further vomiting.
– Do not force-feed. Let your cat’s stomach fully settle before attempting to reintroduce food.
– Offer small amounts of water frequently to prevent dehydration. Use a syringe if your cat is unwilling to drink.
– Avoid giving anti-vomiting medications unless prescribed by your vet as they can further irritate the stomach.[2]
– Keep your cat comfortable by providing easy access to the litter box, warm bedding, and affection if desired.
Staying vigilant during this waiting period allows you to monitor your cat’s recovery and identify any ongoing issues requiring veterinary attention.
When to Call the Vet
In most cases, it is fine to wait and monitor your cat after an isolated vomiting episode. However, there are certain circumstances where you should contact your veterinarian right away instead of waiting and feeding as usual. These include:
- Recurring or projectile vomiting – If your cat vomits more than 2-3 times in a short period or if vomiting persists beyond 24 hours, this indicates an underlying issue that requires veterinary attention.
- Presence of blood in the vomit – Bloody vomit could signal a more serious medical problem that needs immediate evaluation.
- Lethargy or lack of appetite – If your cat appears weak, depressed or completely disinterested in food, do not wait as this can be a sign of a greater problem.
- Diarrhea – Vomiting coupled with diarrhea is cause for concern, as dehydration can occur rapidly.
- Weight loss – Sudden weight loss along with vomiting is a red flag for medical issues.
- Difficulty breathing – Labored breathing, panting or distress indicates an urgent need for veterinary care.
- Underlying conditions – Cats with pre-existing conditions like kidney disease, diabetes or hyperthyroidism require quicker vet intervention when vomiting.
- Recent diet change – Vomiting after starting a new diet warrants a timely vet visit to check for food intolerance or allergy.
In short, any repeated vomiting, concerning symptoms or behavior changes in your cat after throwing up are reasons to call the vet right away rather than wait. When in doubt, do not hesitate to contact your veterinarian, as catching issues early greatly aids treatment and recovery.
Transitioning Back to Food
After the waiting period, you’ll want to slowly transition your cat back to their regular food. Start by offering small amounts of a bland diet like boiled chicken (without seasonings) and rice, or low-fat cottage cheese.1 Give a few teaspoons at first and wait an hour to see if your cat keeps it down. If vomiting doesn’t reoccur, you can gradually increase the amount at each feeding.
Over the next 1-2 days, slowly mix in more of your cat’s regular food. For example, on day 1 do 25% regular food mixed with 75% bland food. On day 2, do 50/50. Finally on day 3, you can return to 100% regular food. This gradual transition gives your cat’s stomach time to adjust.2 Going too fast can shock the system and cause more vomiting episodes.
Keep a close eye on your cat during this reintroduction period. If vomiting recurs, go back to the bland diet for another 12-24 hours before trying to transition again. Call your vet if your cat is unable to keep any food down.
Avoiding Future Vomiting Episodes
There are several things you can do to help prevent your cat from vomiting again in the future:
- Feed smaller, more frequent meals – Feeding your cat several small meals throughout the day rather than one or two large meals can help prevent vomiting. This keeps your cat’s stomach from becoming too full and irritated (Source: https://www.webmd.com/pets/cats/what-to-do-if-my-cat-is-throwing-up).
- Slow down rapid eaters – If your cat tends to eat very quickly, get a puzzle feeder or ball to make them slow down. Eating too fast can lead to vomiting (Source: https://www.hillspet.com/cat-care/healthcare/why-your-cat-is-vomiting).
- Switch to a gastrointestinal or sensitive stomach diet – Your vet may recommend switching to a food formulated for sensitive stomachs. This type of food is highly digestible and contains nutrients to support the GI tract (Source: https://www.affordablepetvetclinic.com/site/blog/2022/05/15/cat-vomiting).
- Increase playtime – More regular play sessions will help your cat burn energy and relieve stress, reducing vomiting caused by those factors.
- Use calming supplements or toys – Products like Feliway or calming treats can soothe anxious cats prone to vomiting.
While vomiting is common in cats, recurring episodes could indicate an underlying health issue. Contact your vet if your cat vomits frequently to rule out illnesses. With some simple diet and lifestyle changes, you can help minimize vomiting in the future.
Special Considerations for Kittens
Kittens have smaller bodies and can become dehydrated more quickly than adult cats when vomiting. It’s especially important to pay close attention to a kitten’s hydration level after an episode of vomiting.
The general guidelines for waiting before feeding after vomiting apply to kittens as well, but the waiting period may need to be shorter for kittens. Kittens have very high metabolisms and need to eat frequently. Wait at least an hour after vomiting, but if the kitten seems very hungry, go ahead and offer a small amount of bland food like boiled chicken or hill’s i/d after an hour.
Be sure to provide the kitten with water during the waiting period, either in a bowl or with an oral syringe if the kitten won’t drink. Kittens dehydrate rapidly, so call your vet right away if you notice signs of dehydration like lethargy, dry gums, or sunken eyes after vomiting episodes.
Kittens also have less reserves compared to adult cats, so be alert for other signs of illness beyond just vomiting. Take the kitten’s temperature rectally twice daily during illness and contact your vet if it goes over 103F or under 99F. Weigh the kitten daily as well to ensure they are not losing weight from vomiting and diarrhea.
Don’t hesitate to call your vet sooner if your kitten experiences repeated vomiting episodes or if the vomiting persists more than 24 hours. Kittens can decline rapidly compared to adult cats. It’s always better to call your vet and be safe when caring for a sick kitten.
When to Worry
While the occasional bout of vomiting is normal in cats, certain symptoms require immediate veterinary care. Here are some signs that vomiting may be a medical emergency:
- Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
- Severe and persistent diarrhea, especially if bloody
- Lethargy or lack of interest in food/water for more than 24 hours
- Repeated projectile vomiting
- Vomiting along with other symptoms like weakness, abdominal pain, breathing issues
- Signs of poisoning like dilated pupils, tremors, seizures
- Ingestion of toxic or foreign substances
- Unproductive retching or gagging
- Crying or whining while attempting to vomit
- Weight loss, fever, abdominal swelling or tenderness
Vomiting can lead to rapid dehydration and electrolyte imbalances in cats, so it’s important to seek emergency care if you notice any of the above symptoms. Timely treatment can help prevent potentially serious complications. Contact your veterinarian or emergency animal hospital right away if your cat displays any alarming signs along with vomiting.
Conclusion
If your cat vomits, don’t panic. The key is to withhold food and water for 1-2 hours to allow their stomach to rest and settle. During this time, monitor them closely for improvements or worsening symptoms. Once the waiting period has passed, slowly reintroduce small amounts of bland food and water. If vomiting continues or other concerning symptoms develop, contact your vet right away. With proper care and supervision, most cats recover quickly after an isolated vomiting episode.
Going forward, keep an eye out for dietary triggers that may be causing your cat to vomit. Feeding smaller, more frequent meals, sticking to a consistent diet, and avoiding unhealthy human foods can all lower the chances of vomiting in the future. Though unsettling, occasional vomiting is common in cats. Just remember to respond appropriately by giving the stomach a brief rest, transitioning slowly back to their normal diet, and watching them closely during the recovery period.