Dr. Wise answers two questions regarding vomiting in kittens.

I have a four-year-old spayed female cat that has had recurring problems with vomiting.  She vomits usually within thirty minutes of eating a meal.  This is an off and on problem, not a daily occurrence.  There has not been any change in her diet, and this has been going on for over a year.   What could be causing this type of problem, and is there anything I can do to solve it?

I have a kitten, Masha. She had an episode of vomiting and diarrhea for two days.  She is about six weeks old.  What should I do?

Some reasons your kitten could be having such problems include parasites (such as worms or coccidia), infections or dietary indiscretion.  By dietary indiscretion, I mean anything from suddenly changing food to the kitten eating bugs.

Many owners feel that kittens should have milk, which can actually lead to vomiting and diarrhea.  As kittens are weaned, they lose their ability to digest milk well and become lactose intolerant. Consequently, it is better to give them no milk at all or, if you must, buy kitten milk replacer which is better formulated for them.  If you decide that you need to change their kitten food to a different type, remember to wean them from the old to the new food over about a week or so to get them used to the new food.  Finally, check your houseplants!  Sometimes kittens chew on plants, which can make them quite sick depending on what type of plant it is.

When your veterinarian has finished the exam, he/she may send Masha home with medication, keep her for hospitalization and IV fluids, or if she is not doing badly, he may recommend home care and monitoring.  Usually this means that you first take away food and water for about 8-12 hours.  If Masha does not vomit during this time, you can move on to offering her a small amount of food. Your veterinarian may recommend a bland food or tell you to try the kitten’s regular food.  If Masha eats the food and does not vomit, you can try a bit more in about one hour.  It is a good idea to keep her in the bathroom or laundry room where it is easier to spot the tiny area of vomit.  If Masha continues to have problems, additional diagnostics such as blood work and x-rays may be indicated.  It is important to clean the litter box frequently so you can monitor the stools.  Always remember that to keep your kitten as healthy as possible, follow your veterinarian’s instructions about when to return for regular dewormings and vaccinations.

This information, prepared as a public service by the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association, answers problems Rhode Island veterinarians currently are seeing in their practices, as well as new developments in animal care.