Vomiting in cats is the most common problem seen in adult cats of all breeds and sexes. While it can be easy to think that vomiting is “just” due to hairballs, vomiting and nausea is not normal and should not be ignored–You wouldn’t want to be nauseous all the time, so don’t let your cat feel sick!
Vomiting can be a sign of an underlying medical condition and your veterinarian should rule out the common causes during a physical exam or with lab testing. Different age groups of cats are prone to different diseases. In cats over 7 years old, vomiting is often caused by kidney disease, thyroid disease, cancer, or other serious conditions. On the other hand, kittens can have vomiting due to parasites, bacteria, viruses, eating something they shouldn’t, or congenital problems. Adult cats 1-7 years old can get any of the diseases mentioned above and can also have hairballs or food sensitivities. Your veterinarian will be able to determine the likely cause of your cats vomiting and recommend an appropriate treatment.