Cat vomiting, diarrhea, and my pregnancy

by Sarah

Hello my name is Sarah and my cat’s name is Isabella. She is a large mix breed and is very fat, topping the charts at 18 lbs. For the past couple of years, she has had problems with diarrhea and vomiting. I have tried to switch her food many times. She is now on Science Diet Weight Control and the problems are still there. The diarrhea is not all the time, but today she has vomited twice in larger amounts. I am starting to get worried.

I am 4.5 months pregnant and am concerned about breathing something in. My husband takes care of the littler box so that is not a problem. I am also very worried about my fatty cat that I love, love, love. She is a long hair cat, so I started getting her groomed to keep her hair short. The vomit is always food and the diarrhea is the color of the food. Maybe it is a food allergy?

Sincerely,
Sarah and Fat Cat


Dear Sarah,

While a food allergy is one possible cause for the vomiting and diarrhea symptoms you have described, there are many other causes for these symptoms, ranging from stress to parasites to metabolic diseases. You can read about many of them on this page. Also, depending on the frequency with which you have been changing your cat’s diet, the changes in her cat food could actually be causing the cat vomiting and diarrhea. Cats have very sensitive digestive tracks, and frequent changes in diet can irritate the system.

It is also possible that, even though you bring your cat for regular grooming, she may be vomiting due to hairballs. Even if you have not seen any fur in the vomit, hairballs could still be contributing to the problem. In addition to having her groomed so her hair is shorter, I would recommend using a deshedding tool made by FURminator, which you can read about in my detailed review here.

All things considered, I would recommend that you bring your kitty to a veterinarian for an examination, and bring a stool sample along. The only way to determine the cause of your kitty’s vomiting and diarrhea will be to have her examined. Also, please discuss your concerns regarding your cat’s vomiting and diarrhea with your obstetrician for advice regarding your pregnancy and any dangers there may be to you and your baby.

Best wishes,
Dr. Neely