Throwing up yellow liquid in cats is not always an indication of something serious. It could mean their stomach is upset or they ingested something yellow.
However, yellow vomitus should not be ignored, as it could be an early sign of something serious. Read on to find out more about why cats throw up yellow liquid and possible remedies.
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Why Is My Cat Throwing Up Yellow Liquid
Cats may throw up occasionally for several reasons, such as reflexes, allergies, or food poisoning. These factors result in different colors and textures of vomitus. A yellow vomitus would most likely indicate bile, as proposed by some studies.
“Yellow, foamy liquid vomitus is common in cats; this often indicates they are not eating much”, - Reddit User
Bile is a fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. This liquid helps in the breakdown of food, especially fats, into fatty acids. Generally, it presents as a yellow or green fluid that aids in digestion at the duodenum. When this liquid is found in vomitus, it could mean there is a dysfunction in the bile production process.
This is what happens: When cats go hungry for a long time, bile is produced in excess, which begins to irritate the stomach and leads to a reflex to vomit, resulting in throwing up yellow liquid. This liquid is produced continuously, whether the cat eats or not, so if they don’t, it is produced anyway, leading to stomach irritation.
However, there are some possible health conditions that could lead to cats throwing up yellow liquid. To be on the safer side, it is best to always look out for these conditions and their symptoms.
“Sometimes, cats throwing up yellow liquid could be the first sign of an underlying disease that needs treatment by a veterinarian”, - Dr. Brittany Kleszynski
The following are some of the reasons why cats throw up yellow liquid:
- Prolonged hunger or having an empty stomach for a long time
- Ingesting yellow substance that causes indigestion
- Eating stale food or indigestible items
- Hairball could also lead to throwing up, which sometimes comes with yellow liquid
- Disease conditions such as liver dysfunction, gastritis, gallbladder disease, or pancreatitis
Home Remedy for Cat Vomiting Yellow Liquid
Cats throwing up yellow liquid might be transient. Not all cases of this condition are indicative of a disease condition or something long term. Cases of hairballs and ingestions of yellow plants, which led to throwing up yellow liquid may be a one-time occurrence. For persistent cases, you may want to try out the following home remedies:
Safe Environment
Provide a safe environment for your cat that is void of items or yellow plants that could trigger allergy or vomiting.
Routine Feeding
Do not allow your cat to go hungry for too long. If you find it difficult remembering when to feed your cat, you might want to get an alarm for reminders or an automatic cat feeder that automatically provides food for the cat at different times of the day.
Healthy Diet
Avoid giving your cat stale or cold food. Stale food provides a thriving environment for bacterial growth, and if ingested by cats, could lead to indigestion and vomiting.
Grooming
Groom your cat regularly to help reduce chances of ingesting hair and thereby reduce the likelihood of throwing up hairballs associated vomiting.
Medical Care
If the symptoms persist, it’s best to visit the veterinarian for a proper diagnosis and treatment. A medical condition with this symptom could mean a liver, stomach, or gallbladder malfunction. Treating any of these conditions would not cost much if you sign into the Petcube Emergency Fund. This fund allows you to enjoy up to $3000 offset in vet bills and a 27% discount if you use the exclusive link.
Antiemetics have been proven by research to be effective in mitigating vomiting in cats. This form of medication is recommended to prevent food aversion and hepatic lipidosis in cats. Just like a cat I had who was vomiting for a long time, she got so dehydrated and averted food. But with good fluid therapy and right medication, she recovered in no time.
Conclusion
Cats throwing up yellow liquid is a manageable condition and most times transient. Removing the inciting factors, like stale food or prolonged starvation, will abruptly resolve the issue. For persistent cases, it is best to visit a veterinarian for a routine checkup and possibly some tests. When reported on time, throwing up yellow liquid in cats would not have to be fatal.