Why does my cat vomit after drinking water?
By dvmurphy
@dvmurphy (326)
United States
December 19, 2009 1:04pm CST
My cat demands fresh water from a running tub faucet several times a day but after he drinks he will go eat his dry cat food and then vomit water several times. It is always just water and cat food with no hair so I doubt it is a hairball. He is allergic to wheat so he is on a special blend of cat food. This has been going on for a while and the vet says it is because he is drinking alot and then wolfing down his food. Is this normal? He is nearly 10 yrs old and is th only cat or animal in my house.
3 responses
@kaylachan (71590)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
20 Dec 09
Its not uncommon for cats to want to wolf down their food. (ours do it all the time especially precious), but sometimes you have to take it easy. One thing to do is have him eat before he drinks, or have both readily abvaible. This way the cat can decide how best to devour the food and water. Since we have three, dry food is readily avaible and they can come and get it when they want. Its impossible to put three cats on a schedule especally when you can't be around to monitor their every movment. However, you can attempt to do this with your one animal.
Also older animals tend to require a smal portion of wet food a day. This often gives them more then the water can provide alone. which is essenctial to their health over all.
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
19 Dec 09
Hair balls don't always come up when they vomit. Sometimes they get stuck in the intestinal tract. Is he pooping okay?
Next, with his drinking the running water, he is getting air bubbles in his stomach. Then when he eats, he is putting food on top of the air bubbles. Somewhere along the line the air bubbles have to come out, and since they are under food and water, it ends up that he is vomiting them up with the food and water. If he doesn't have a self feeder, don't feed him for a few minutes after he drinks from the tub. (boy that sounded strange! LOL) Try to get him to move around a bit so that the air bubbles come up and out. (Better a belch rather than a kitty fart!!!) Once he has passed the air bubbles, then let him eat. Also, give him a little food at a time since he wolfs his food. All of the vet programs state that for an animal that tends to wolf his food you give them a few kibble at a time so that they keep the food down and they also learn to slow down when they eat. I also would either moisten the dry and moosh it in the dish so he has to work at getting it out (which will slow down his wolfing the food) or smoosh canned food into the dish.
I occasionally have that problem with my four cats. The biggest barfer is Dinglebeary who is a Maine Koon cat that has long hair. But Murphy, who is 15, does have the barf problem too. Usually when she eats too fast or is pissed at me. Willy and Khuay who are two aren't having any kind of problems- yet.
