Q: Kitty throws up a lot

Answered by raffles on 8/21/03, 1:36 am

A: Kitty throws up a lot

> I have a 2 1/2 year old cat that I took in when she was
> about 6 weeks. The litter was born in the alley behind work
> and we in the office found homes for all 6of them (the
> mother too). Squeak was the runt and started nibbling on
> the adult cat's food at about 3 weeks as she was hungry. I
> had her on special kitten food and she was fine until I
> started her on adult cat food at 1 year. Then she started
> vomiting her food up. The vet said she had a sensitive
> stomach and suggected a special cat food. This did not
> change things and I started her (and my other cat) on a
> natural cat food with special herbs and enzymes and this
> seemed to do the trick (Though my 12 pound cat is now up to
> 16 pounds).
>
> Squeak has that hunter instinct and we constantly find her
> up on the counter, looking for something to eat. We tuck
> everything away, but if she manages to find something in the
> middle of the night we always know as there is vomit to
> clean up in the morning. She is a small cat and but she is
> painfully thin. The vet assures me that she is healthy,
> though I cringe to pick her up as I feel she might break.
>
> Does anyone know anything about cats with sensitive
> stomachs? I have managed to stop her from getting sick, but
> she scrounges for food all the time. Perhaps there is
> something wrong with her - a parasite or somthing with her
> digective tract from starting on solid food so early? Would
> I be better off finding another vet? The one I have assures
> me she is just small, but the bones sticking out along her
> spine scare me - she should weigh more I think. But I maybe
> I am just over-reacting? What do you think?
---------------
I think you are right to worry and personally I would go for a second opinion and have the cat thoroughly checked out.
A cat being small due to genetics or a bad start in life is acceptable but feeling/seeing the actual spine is not.
It may be the diet that is causing the regugitation but there are other medical issues that can cause this too and that is why I suggest a second opinion.
This little cat sounds to me as if she needs a slow change to another diet and fed in a different manner.
It may be worth trying feeding her little and often as some cats are better off in a free feed situation rather than set times. I would assume that free feed is not really feasible because of the other cat but small frequent feeds can be managed. I would also spread the feed out on a larger plate and feed the cat at cat shoulder height as well. That way it is bending less and also having to slow down in it's feeding.
I know this sounds disgusting but it may be worth considering feeding as one of the meals green tripe in a large piece that she can chew on overtime rather than bolt down. I personally found green tripe very beneficial for both young pups adult dogs and my cats and kittens. It was received with eagerness, slowed the eating speed down and cleaned the teeth. The dogs had a large piece each raw more or less a whole piece of tripe but the cats had it steam cooked and served in very large chunks. The smell while cooking was not very good but the cats went crazy for it and the benefitrs were apparent. They had cleaner teeth, took ages to chew it and eat it and they benfited health wise too.
I have put in here the same links that I posted for a very similar question further down as it is well worth considering for this little cat if not both of them
--
I have enclosed some very useful links for you to give you more information as to feeding cats home made recipes. :)

Home prepared cat food with pics
http://www.touchmoon.com/dotters/raw/kitties.html
Feeding Cats For Maximum Health
http://www.ighawaii.com/naturally/newsletter/barfcat.html
RawCats was born with the intention of helping people feed their feline friends an appropriate raw food diet. In addition to promoting a natural raw diet, RawCats is holistically oriented. Your list owner, Leslie, asks that you keep an open mind when learning about herbs, homeopathy and the dangers of the vaccines and drugs which are used with increasing frequency, much to the detriment of the health of our cats.

Preparing a raw food diet may seem intimidating at first, but don't let that stop you in your efforts to bring back health and vitality to your feline friends. A properly prepared diet is easy and inexpensive, and should not rely on the addition of reams of supplements to balance it out.

Please join us and find out how your cats and kittens can benefit from a diet and health plan Mother Nature would highly approve of!

Leslie
List Mom for RawCats!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rawcats/



the raw food store for discerning cats & dogs
http://www.truecarnivores.com/


Guidelines for Feeding Cats Cats have a very low need for vegetables in their
daily diet. ... A gradual switch is much better for cats than fasting.
What's On The Feline Menu?

Congratulations! You are among the growing number of cat owners who are researching/choosing a biologically appropriate raw food diet that can help prevent disease and promote optimal health in your companion animal. At NDN we have formulated our products to give cats a varied diet that meets their need for fresh, wholesome foods. Our organic and chemical-free food provides the absolute best nutrition available for your companion animal with the maximum convenience and flexibility. At NDN we developed our formulas with the intent and knowledge that each animal is an individual and has unique health and dietary needs. Our formulas are blended to ensure that cats with special health needs can enjoy our foods as well as those already in optimum health. NDN foods are designed to be feed alone or with occasional raw meaty bones. The amount and type of raw meaty bones is totally within your control. Whether you add raw meaty bones or not, you can tailor the NDN diet to optimize the health and well being of your feline companion animal.
http://www.nudimensionsnutrition.com/NDN_For_Your_Cat.htm



>