Cat vomiting & diarrhea

Flatulence (also known as ‘passing gas’ or ‘farting,’ among others) is a natural bodily process where gasses built up in the gastrointestinal system are released through the rectum.

Abdominal distension describes the symptom of enlargement or swelling of the abdomen in cats, which is triggered by a wide variety of normal and abnormal processes. Abdominal distension is a feature of many conditions ranging from injury, infection, tumors, and disease of specific organs such as the liver and heart.

Regurgitation is the act of involuntarily expelling swallowed food from the esophagus out of the mouth. It can be identified by the tubular shape of the ejected matter as well as the passivity of the process. 

Mucus in the stool of cats is a natural lubricant within or surrounding feces that assists with the passage of waste through the digestive system. A small amount of mucus in stool is common in cats, while large amounts are not.

Megaesophagus is a condition where the esophagus becomes widened along its length, either due to reduced motion of the muscle or an obstruction that prevents food from entering the stomach. Common causes include dysautonomia, autoimmune conditions, tumors, and poisoning.

Cat tongues have backward-facing barbs to assist with pushing food towards their throats. As they groom, they constantly ingest small amounts of loose hair. When ingested hair develops into a mass within the GI tract it is referred to as a hairball or trichobezoar.

Sialocele in cats refers to swelling caused by an accumulation of saliva leaking from a salivary gland or duct into surrounding tissue forming a visible mass on the face or mouth area. Sialocele can be a painful, inflammatory condition, and can also lead to complications such as difficulty breathing or eating.

Lily toxicosis is caused in cats by ingestion of a toxic dose of any form of the plants belonging to the *Lilium* genus (e.g. Asiatic, Easter, Japanese, Oriental, Stargazer, Tiger, and Wood lilies). The precise mechanism of lily poisoning in cats is unknown.

Cobalamin deficiency in cats is a condition where inadequate levels of vitamin B12 are available in the body. Cobalamin (vitamin B12) is a water-soluble vitamin that plays a fundamental role in red blood cell production, neurological function, and DNA synthesis.

Bowel incontinence in cats is involuntary passage of feces, and appears to happen without awareness. This symptom is not to be confused with straining to defecate or inappropriate defecating/house soiling.

A hernia is any abnormal space in the wall of a muscle where other tissue can protrude through. The characteristic symptom is a compressible bulge under the skin.

Inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis) and inflammation of the bile ducts (cholangitis) are inflammatory conditions of their respective organs.

Addison’s disease (hypoadrenocorticism) is a condition which occurs as a result of a shortage of stress hormones produced by the adrenal cortex.

Gastric, or acid, reflux is when stomach contents leak backwards into the esophagus. This leaking of stomach acid causes inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis).

NSAID poisoning in cats describes the serious condition where cats ingest a toxic dose of Non-Steroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs).

Cholestasis is a reduction in bile flow or production from the liver. Bile functions to neutralize stomach acid as it enters the intestines, assists in digestion of fats, and excretion of other metabolites

Ethylene glycol, commonly found in antifreeze, is found in a wide variety of household products and is toxic to cats and dogs.

Constipation is straining to defecate when the colon is full. Constipation is not to be confused with diarrhea which may cause straining to defecate when the colon is empty and irritated.

Feline Panleukopenia (FPV), also known as distemper, is a highly contagious viral infection in cats.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of idiopathic (spontaneous) conditions that lead to chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.

Rodent baits are commonly used for pest control and are similarly lethal to cats.

Allergies are common in cats, similar to other species. Harmless proteins in the environment (allergens) stimulate the immune system, which overreacts and produces a strong inflammatory response.

Food allergies are a reaction of the immune system to specific proteins within the diet.

Motion sickness is the feeling of nausea during land, sea, or air travel caused by excessive or unpredictable movement.

A gastrointestinal (GI) foreign body obstruction is the result of ingesting a foreign object that is not able to pass through the body naturally.

Vomiting is the act of forceful contraction of the abdominal muscles leading to the ejection of ingested material through the mouth.

Whereas humans get sneezy and sniffly at certain times of the year, some cats get red, itchy skin and secondary skin infections for the same reason: seasonal allergies.

Megacolon is the dilation and dysfunction of the colon resulting in difficulty evacuating stool.

Dietary indiscretion occurs when a cat eats non-food items or food outside of its typical diet.

Mothballs in any form (cubes, balls, flakes, cakes, scales, powder) contain pesticides, such as camphor, naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene, which are toxic to cats.