Cats can vomit for a variety of causes, and they can vomit a variety of items. Brown vomit, however, could be a sign of a serious illness. Vomiting alone is considered to be a non-specific symptom. It could be connected to a variety of medical conditions. Some of these include allergies, internal obstructions, pancreatitis, kidney failure, parasite infections, liver disease, inflammation, poisoning, and neurological illnesses. However, specifically what might be causing your cat to vomit a dark liquid?
What Causes Brown Liquid to Vomit in Your Cat?
Brown vomit could be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. There may be esophageal or oral irritation in cats that have been vomiting often for some time, which could lead to bleeding from the affected area. In cats that have not been vomiting constantly, brown liquid vomit may be a sign of internal bleeding further along the digestive tract. This could be brought on by ingesting a foreign body or by having a large hairball impaction clog the intestines, causing damage and edema.
Vomit that occasionally has a brown tint could be your cat’s liver bile.
It may be a sign of an issue with one of your cat’s internal organs if it is determined that the brownish liquid your cat is vomiting is actually bile, which is generally yellow in color.
Food: Brown kibble cat food is, of course, the most popular color. If your cat routinely “scarf and barfs” or has intestinal sensitivities, they may be vomiting up partially digested or undigested food. If your veterinarian is confident that the food your cat is vomiting up is actually food and they have ruled out all other possible medical explanations, they can suggest that you give a commercial, sensitive systems food a try. If your cat continues to vomit food while on this particular diet, they may decide to move them to a strict, hydrolyzed protein diet.
According to research, protein is more commonly the cause of food allergies in cats than any other nutrient. When a protein in a food has been hydrolyzed, it has been broken down into its individual amino acid components. This prevents an allergic flare-up in your cat and prevents your cat’s immune system from identifying the food as containing an allergen.
Making sure your cat doesn’t consume food too rapidly
Additionally, your veterinarian might suggest giving your cat puzzles. Food puzzles can be a really fun and enriching activity for your cat. The market is seeing an increase in the sales of prefabricated food puzzles designed to spark your cat’s foraging and hunting instincts. Meal puzzles help a cat who frequently vomits its food because they slow down the eating process, preventing the cat from overeating and becoming ill as a result. If your cat routinely eats from puzzle feeders but still throws up the food, talk to your veterinarian about changing your cat’s diet. A diet adjustment may be required to calm your cat’s GI system if they have a food allergy, which is the primary cause of their food vomiting.
How Should I Respond If My Cat Vomits Brown Liquid?
While some cat owners might describe their cat as “puke-y,” frequent vomiting is never usual for cats, it should be noted. Unquestionably, chronic vomiting or vomiting that has persisted for more than two or three weeks is a sign of a problem. If your cat is frequently throwing up brown liquid and/or in combination with other symptoms including anorexia, weight loss, lethargy, or diarrhea, make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately once. Your veterinarian will first perform a physical examination of your cat, checking its vital signs first, including its temperature and feeling its stomach.
After a thorough inspection, your veterinarian can also decide to perform other testing, including as blood work and x-rays. A blood test will look at your cat’s platelet and red blood cell counts as well as their function, looking for any signs of liver or kidney issues. An X-ray examination may reveal intestinal gas patterns that could be indicators of a blockage as well as any abdominal fluid that may be blood.
Depending on what your doctor learns, your cat may require hospitalization for fluid therapy and supportive care, or they may only require outpatient treatments and oral medications to go home. If your veterinarian believes the obstruction is an intestinal blockage, your cat might need surgery to have it removed.
Even if the cause is as simple as eating breakfast too soon, routine vomiting in cats is never natural. If your cat is throwing up, call your veterinarian and ask them if they can assist you determine what’s wrong and how to make them feel better.
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