Vomiting in cats: what to do

Fast food changes, diet indiscretion or mild infection; cats tolerate fasting poorly, so prevent dehydration.

A severe viral disease of unvaccinated kittens with high mortality — needs isolation + intensive support.

Cats love string, hair ties and thread — linear foreign bodies slice the intestine; a surgical emergency.

Swallowed fur accumulates in the stomach — the occasional one is normal; frequent ones mean clearance is failing.

Crystals or plugs block the narrow male urethra; fatal within 24-48 hours from rising potassium.

Lilies are lethal to cats; one acetaminophen tablet can kill; permethrin insecticide causes seizures.

Roundworms, tapeworms, coccidia and more — common in kittens; regular deworming resolves it.

Just 2-3 days of anorexia can trigger fatty liver in cats; overweight cats are at higher risk — an emergency.

A cat balance emergency: sudden head tilt, flicking eyes and stumbling. Idiopathic vestibular syndrome has an excellent prognosis (self-resolving in days to two weeks) — but otitis, toxins, tumors and clots must be ruled out.

Common in senior cats — a revved-up metabolism: eating more yet losing weight, night yowling, fast heart rate.

The most common chronic disease of senior cats; early signs are subtle — blood creatinine + urinalysis stage it.