Why do cats wretch

Additionally, developing immature worms can set off a severe, inflammatory response in the smaller lung blood vessels, in the airways and in the lung tissue itself 1. Foreign bodies On occasion, a foreign body such as a grass awn or blade of grass will be inhaled and cause a stubborn cough. Many cats like to eat grass and sometimes the blade of grass can become lodged in the throat.

This can cause a gagging, hacking cough. Most such foreign bodies will be difficult to see on radiographs. Persistent coughs might have to be evaluated by directly examining the airways using a bronchoscope. This instrument will also allow for removal of the foreign body.

This is another reason why keeping cats inside is a good idea. Skip to main content. Some signs to look out for are: reduced appetite, listlessness, constipation, unkempt haircoat, reduced activity and irritability or depression. Gasterointestinal obstruction is a life threatening emergency Coughing and gagging may be caused by many other conditions besides hairball. Vetiquette What your vet would like you to know.

Visits to the vet can be traumatising, but they do not have to be if you go prepared. Pet ownership. Pet Medical Insurance: Is it for you? I reached out to. Deworming your pet parrot. Deworming your parrot is key to keeping him healthy. A The problem with hairballs is that they can be confused with other serious health conditions, such as feline asthma.

The main symptom of feline asthma is usually a dry cough, but if your cat has developed a sore throat laryngitis at the same time, she can make a retching sound similar to bringing up a hairball. A Hairballs may need a prescribed medication if they cause a blockage in your cat's intestine, but this is very rare. If your cat does seem vulnerable to developing blockages, your vet can recommend an anti-furball laxative. Its thick, sticky consistency 'de-fluffs' your cat's gut by gathering up all the hair and passing it out safely in her poo.

This will also remove the tickly feeling that irritates the gut and causes the cough-gag-retch reflex. A Brushing your cat regularly with a soft brush can definitely help, and you should aim for a once-a-day grooming session for longhaired breeds, or a weekly one for shorthaired cats. If your cat is prone to furballs, you can also consider an anti-hairball dry food.

Some cats just love to scarf their food down! If your cat ate their dinner too fast, sometimes they can dry heave before vomiting it back up again. Thankfully, this is an easy one to fix with a few small management changes. What to do about it: Start using a slow feeder bowl , which is designed to increase the amount of time that it takes your cat to eat their food.

You can also split their ration into smaller portions and spread this out into more meals over the day. It can be caused by a wide range of things, including bacterial infections, parasites, medication, viruses, and introducing a new food too quickly. We all know that our cats are clean creatures that spend plenty of time grooming themselves each day.

As your cat cleans their fur, they end up swallowing some of the shedding hairs. Cats often dry heave or retch as they try to regurgitate these hairballs. Some cats can develop asthma, which can be a response to something in the environment like pollution, pollen, dust, or a new perfume that their human is using! Undiagnosed asthma can cause your cat to have a sore throat, and that can sometimes cause dry heaving. Just like us, cats can end up feeling nauseated for any number of reasons.

They may have eaten something spoiled half-rotten mouse, maybe , reacted to a new feed, or consumed too much in one sitting. Most cats will dry heave before bringing the offending food back up again. Any foreign body like a hairband, a large insect, small ball, and so on has the potential to cause major problems for your kitty.

The foreign object may get stuck in their throat, causing them to dry heave, and your cat might manage to dislodge it this way.