As a pet owner, it can be highly concerning when your furry friend gets sick. Unlike humans, animals cannot verbally communicate how they feel. So, if they have an upset stomach, you might not discover that something is wrong until there's throw up on your floor.

Cats vomit for different reasons, says Dr. Bruce Kornreich, director of the Cornell Feline Health Center − and it's not uncommon.

It is important, however, to understand your pet's behavior because the reason for their sickness could be serious.

Why is my cat throwing up?

A cat may throw up for many reasons, ranging from benign to fatal. According to Kornreich, undigested hair – commonly referred to as hairballs – could be the cause of some cats' vomiting. It is not out of the ordinary for your cat to expel a hairball once every week or two, he says.

In general, cats will vomit if they have an obstruction to their gastrointestinal tract. "Obstructions can be caused by things other than hairballs," says Kornreich. This could include small toys, tinsel, rubber bands or paper clips.

There are also "non-mechanical obstructions" that may cause your cat to vomit.

Antifreeze is one of these hazards. "If you're in an area where it's cold, be very careful about making sure you don't spill any antifreeze," says Kornreich. "Just a drop can cause a problem."

Some plants, such as lavender and tulips, are poisonous to cats and can cause intoxication when ingested, triggering your pet to vomit, he adds. The same goes if your cat eats certain foods, like chocolate or onions.

Having a parasite or suffering from constipation, hyperthyroidism or inflammatory bowel disease may also make your cat throw up, says Kornreich.

You should contact your veterinarian if your cat is vomiting more than once per week or is showing other symptoms, such as:

• Lethargy
• Increased appetite
• Blood in the vomit
• Increased thirst
• Increased urination
• Diarrhea

It is also important to note the difference between vomiting and regurgitating, says Kornreich. In rare cases, cats may regurgitate after eating. Regurgitation is not associated with the heaving noises and abdominal reflexes often seen in vomiting, he adds.

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What should I do if my cat is throwing up?

If your cat is vomiting, you should focus on its frequency, other symptoms and if blood is present. From there, contact the veterinarian, says Kornreich.

"The initial steps are to get a rough idea of where the problem might be," says Kornreich. "If the veterinarian feels something, a mass in the abdomen, is that compacted stool? ls the cat constipated?"

Bloodwork will also provide a "roadmap" to see if your cat has any underlying conditions, such as kidney disease or liver disease, he adds.

Other procedures may be done depending on the reason for your cat's vomiting. "As you move along that spectrum of diagnostics, ultimately it may be that a cat has to undergo something that's perhaps a little bit more involved and perhaps invasive," says Kornreich. This may be a biopsy, X-ray or abdominal ultrasound.

Prevention tips

While you can't always stop your cat from vomiting, there are ways to prevent it.

If your cat is throwing up due to a hairball problem, it is important to maintain their coat and keep them well groomed. "If you can remove the hairs, it's less likely that it's going to be kind of bound up in the GI tract," says Kornreich.

Make sure you keep plants and other materials away from your cat to prevent them from ingesting it.

"The more important thing is to be vigilant about what might be causing it," says Kornreich.

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