The cat is choking on empty: This could cost you her health

Every cat owner knows this. You may not be woken up at night when the animal is making a mess all over the apartment, but as soon as you hear him stretching, you are on your feet checking that he doesn’t vomit on the carpet and at least runs into the hallway where there is lino. At least that’s how I feel and I suppose I’m not alone. Of course, worrying about whether the cat is okay is even a bit more than worrying about the carpet. Often, though, it’s sometimes more serious when the cat just stretches and vomits nothing.

Cats vomit quite often, it’s usually not a serious problem. The most common cause is hair that the cat swallows when it is cleaning itself. Another reason may simply be that the pet is overeating, or if he is gobbling the kibble too much. If your cat vomits this way even on a regular basis, it is usually not a reason to take her to the vet. Of course, in the event that it happens daily, or for several hours at a time, seek help. But what if the animal just stretches and eventually gets nothing out?

It’s not a good sign

If a cat starts to stretch, most owners are already standing at the ready with a mop or paper towels. When the animal doesn’t get anything out after a moment of seemingly suffocating, they are relieved. Just because you have less to do doesn’t mean good news. This stretching without expelling food or hair from the cat’s body is very dangerous for the animal.

So-called dry heaving in cats is definitely not a trivial thing. If it happens once, one probably waves one’s hand at it. However, if the cat tries to vomit several times, you should start worrying about the animal and ideally take it to the vet as soon as possible.

Some things digest, others must go out

Cats clean themselves by licking themselves. Normally they lick off quite a lot of hair. In addition, they tend to gobble up food, especially if you have more. My cats have been throwing up far more often since they were two and feel like eating their morning canned food is a race. Animals also often vomit when there is a sudden change in food.

In the event that something makes the cat sick, there are two routes for the substance to go out. Either they will digest it and expel it through the normal route after a minor abdominal pain, or they will vomit it up. Clumps of hair and undigested food are the most common products of this happening.

If the cat is dry-heaving, something else is probably bothering it. For example, she may have eaten a rubber band, a piece of plastic, foil or other food wrapping. But it could also have a string stuck in its throat or a piece of a plant it has chewed at home. If she fails to get these objects out, they could seriously endanger her health. If your cat is gagging but not vomiting, watch her. If she tries to vomit several times in a row, or the problem continues to bother her the next day, see a vet.