The cat is retching but does not vomit: possible causes, when to worry and remedies
It looks like it is going to vomit but in the end it does not: why the cat is retching but does not vomit and what to do to avoid this annoying problem.
The cat’s stomach can play tricks and those owners who are forced to often collect and clean the ‘traces’ of these unpleasant gastric episodes that involve our poor domestic feline know well. But when the cat is retching but does not vomit, what does this mean? What are the processes behind this manifestation and, above all, what are the most effective remedies to avoid them? All you need to know if the cat has this attitude in spite of itself.
Vomiting in the cat
Most of the time it can also be an episode that ‘goes unnoticed’ and not due to the negligence of the owner, but because it is quite frequent in felines: on the other hand, it is the cats themselves who do not seem to suffer as much from the consequences.
They often throw up and then they are absolutely normal, with no health effects. They have a very sensitive stomach and the causes of vomiting are almost always the same:
hairballs,
foreign bodies ingested,
intestinal parasite infections,
excessive amount of food,
voracity.
The cat is retching but does not vomit: because it is still a problem
It is true that we do not find ourselves cleaning its gastric residue on various surfaces and floors, but it is equally true that a cat that has retching but does not vomit cannot get rid of what makes it sick. It is also rather unpleasant for the owner to hear these ‘efforts’ ending in nothing.
In short, when the cat has retching without vomiting it is still a problem: it is in fact a much more frequent problem than what is believed, symptomatic of a not perfect physical shape of the feline.
The possible causes are usually the same as for vomiting, but with the difference that something prevents the vomit from coming out of the mouth: it is important to evaluate all the possible scenarios involving our feline and understand how to help him.
Nausea and more: other signs that should not be underestimated
It is not just a feeling of nausea, but also other symptoms that we can find in the cat, such as:
drooling of saliva,
presence of bile from the mouth,
agitation and sense of restlessness,
lack of appetite,
nervousness,
cough,
apathy towards everything and everyone.
It is true that these signals, taken individually, can all be ‘symptomatic’ of something more ‘generic’ but it is equally true that coughing is the one to pay more attention to. In fact, it can be due to numerous causes, including the one that is most frightening: the presence of something obstructing the canal.
The cat is retching but does not vomit: when to worry
This gastrointestinal discomfort in cats can be very dangerous for their health if it is caused by something that prevents the vomit from coming out normally. The greatest risk, which can also lead to the death of the animal, is that of suffocation, due precisely to the possible presence of:
external objects,
sideways food,
hairballs.
It is not excluded that the factor that determines this unproductive effort of vomiting is linked to a stressful condition in the cat: we know how sensitive these animals are and how even the smallest change can affect their psycho-physical health. If we cannot understand the nature of this stress on our own, it is advisable to rely on an ethologist specialist.
If, on the other hand, the cat usually spends most of the day away from home, it is also advisable to evaluate the possibility that they are the symptoms of a cat poisoning: it is better to take them immediately to the vet and submit them to an urgent examination.
How to help the cat that has retching: remedies to be adopted
In reality, every remedy depends on the cause: if it is stress for example, we must try to guarantee the feline a life as peaceful as possible and away from factors that could upset it. Some, for example, are absolutely ‘indispensable’, so if we really cannot avoid them, we must also give our cat the time and the way to get used to new conditions and lifestyles.
A good remedy is certainly to take care of the cat’s fur : in addition to being a relaxing activity for both, this moment of intimacy will also be able to strengthen the bond between the cat and the owner. Better to get some accessories for the grooming of the feline and in particular brushes and combs: there are brushes for long-haired cats and brushes for short-haired cats.
Finally, we can also give a final touch to its diet, not only in choosing the best foods for the cat but also in terms of food doses (better not to overdo it!). We never forget to fill the bowl with fresh and clean water, but also to serve the cat, in the post-prandial moment, a beautiful catnip plant or malt paste to facilitate the escape of any hairballs.
In all these cases, the advice of the expert can be essential to help us not only in the choice of food, but also to reassure us about the state of health of the cat and the dangers it could run.
