Both cats vomiting (multiple times)

[DOUG.]

We have two senior male cats, aged 13 and 14. One starting vomiting multiple times a day in April. He's on cerenia now, which helps control the vomiting. We've taken him to the vet, who thinks it's either Inflammatory Bowel Disease or lymphoma.

But suddenly, a few days ago, our second cat is displaying the same symptoms—vomiting multiple times a day. So now we're wondering if these bouts of vomiting are caused by a virus or something else contagious.

Here's a video of the second cat puking today. For him, it almost always starts with lip and tongue smacking, which then leads to puking.

 

[jclark]

You haven't mentioned the type and flavor of food you're feeding. We had cats with this and initially we starting feeding prescription hydrolyzed protein (Dry/Wet) with probiotics. We had some success initially then after one passed over an unknown issue we eventually added prednisolone given at night to limp the other one along for another year.

Today you can buy non-prescription hydrolyzed protein cat food. (EXAMPLE)

IBS typically entails a situation where the body is exhibiting an immune response to a specific protein. You could always just try finding a senior diet in a different protein which may be difficult if the protein can't be chicken. Preferably wet food or just mix wet with dry.

 

[FeebysOwner]

Hi and welcome to TCS. Are these cats related? The odds of them both having the same/similar issue are increased in that case. But, there could be something amiss with the food you are feeding them, and it just took your second cat longer to be impacted by it. If they go outside, or there are things in the home that they could get into that they shouldn't, that can't be ruled out as a possibility. Do they eat multiple times a day, and that correlates with when they vomit?

Generally speaking, I suppose there could be a viral condition and/or a contagion that is causing the problem, but as mentioned above, changing their food to a hydrolyzed protein might be the first thing to try. It doesn't sound like you've completely eliminated the vomiting with the first cat by using Cerenia, so whatever is the culprit is only being partially resolved with its use.

How are they doing otherwise? Any other issues?

PS - how nice of your cat to stay in one place to vomit, so you can catch it. My cat would have to move away from round 1 before round 2, so I never could keep it all off the floor/carpeting! Doesn't help anything, I know, but just something I noticed and couldn't help remarking on.

 

[DOUG.]

Thanks for the responses!

We've been experimenting with the food. One cat has been on a FULL Royal Canin Multi Function Urinary SO Hydrolyzed Protein
dry food diet for the past month. The other cat (the one who just started puking) eats that as well as Royal Canin Digestive Care dry (and occasional wet) food. Before that they ate Royal Canin Urinary SO dry and wet, as well as Hill's urinary prescription dry and wet.

They are not related. One cat goes in our backyard, but only on a leash and is well-supervised. We do have a "wet" basement where we keep the litter boxes. Just today we've cordoned it off to see if there's something down there they're getting into (which isn't likely).

There are no other obvious issues. They eat and drink normally, keep on weight, and 95% if the time have solid stools.