What's going on when a cat vomits water?

Cat vomiting water may be caused by various reasons such as gastrointestinal discomfort, hairball syndrome, gastroenteritis, and feline distemper. The vomited water could be the water the cat just drank or secretions from the gastrointestinal tract.

If the cat vomits infrequently, such as 1-2 times a day, it is recommended for the owner to observe and feed the cat easy-to-digest food, such as prescription intestinal food. If the cat vomits frequently and shows abnormal symptoms such as lethargy and loss of appetite, it is advised to take the cat to the pet hospital for further examination and treatment.

Gastrointestinal discomfort

A cat's gastrointestinal tract is fragile. If the cat drinks water too quickly or suddenly drinks cold water, it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and lead the cat to vomit. The owner can observe the cat at home for a period of time to see if it will vomit again. If there is no frequent vomiting, there is no need to go to the hospital. Otherwise, it is necessary to take the cat to the pet hospital for inspection and treatment in a timely manner.

Hairball syndrome

If a cat has hairball syndrome, the accumulated hair in the gastrointestinal tract will cause the cat to vomit frequently. The owner can observe whether there is hair in the water vomited by the cat. If so, the cat should be fed with hair removal gel or catnip to help it expel the hairballs.

Gastroenteritis

If a cat vomits water along with symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc., it could be acute gastroenteritis. If acute gastroenteritis is not treated in time, severe diarrhea can lead to dehydration and even death in cats. Therefore, it is recommended that the owner take the cat to the pet hospital for professional treatment as soon as they notice symptoms of gastroenteritis.

Feline distemper

If a cat has not been vaccinated or has come into contact with an infected cat, it is important to consider whether the vomiting is caused by feline distemper. It usually occurs along with symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. In this case, it is advised for the owner to take the cat to the pet hospital for infectious disease screening, and to start treatment promptly after diagnosis.