cat vomit

by Sheryl
(Canada)

Tinky

My cat is 8 yrs old. She throws up at least 4 times a day. Sometimes it is clear liquid but most of the times she is throwing up food. I give her medications for hairballs and maybe once a week in her throw up there will be a hairball. She throws up so much that sometimes I find blood in her vomit. I have talked to my vet about this problem and all her says that she has a hairball and give her Tonic Lax.(hairball medication)
I feed her premium brands of food. She used to eat Iams, then I switched her to Blue Buffalo and now I switched her to Science Diet Sensitive Stomach.. I thought that I finally found food that she could handle but after 2 weeks on the Science Diet she has started to throw this up now.

All the vet says is that it is hairball and keep giving her the medication. He wont run any test or anything else with this cat. I am at my wits end with all this throwing up that I am about ready to put her down, which I dont want to do, but my carpets are just stained so much from her

Answer by kate
Well it does sound like hairballs to me, if she is a cat that grooms herself a lot or has a dense coat then hairballs are common. Do you groom her? if not then daily grooming by you with a special cat brush will remove the loose hairs and prevent your cat from digesting them.

If you really do think that she may have further problems, then i would suggest either finding another vet or asking you vets to do tests any way. they will do them if you are paying. But it could be expensive and if the vet really does not think they are necessary then the decision for tests is entirely up to you. If the tests come back negative then the hairball situation will still remain.

it is important that you do not change your cats food too often as this can also cause tummy upsets and possibly vomiting. Try mixing her wet food with a few dry kibble bites this may help her digestion and also clear any hair from her throat etc.

Lastly, if you really can't find a solution and you feel that you can't cope with the vomiting. PLEASE DO NOT PUT HER DOWN have her re homed. She looks like a beautiful cat and if she is not ill as such does not deserve to be put down. perhaps someone who has outside areas would be good for her.

i really do hope that you can find a solution to this problem.

best wishes kate