Why is My Cat Vomiting White Foam?

Cats will bring up white foam for many reasons, and it is usually nothing to be too concerned about. This article explores the various causes and also highlights how you can tell when things may be more serious.

We discuss when is the right time to seek vet care, and the potential test that will be run. We explore which home therapies can be helpful, as well as the veterinary medicine you can expect to be prescribed.

What is the Foam I’m Seeing?

When a cat vomits, they will usually bring up a range of things. When no digested food is brought up, you may see liquid or foam. This is mainly a mix of saliva and stomach acid.

Bubbles create the foam, and we see more of them when there is excess gas in the stomach or when the cat has been producing and swallowing excess saliva.

What Are the Common Causes of Cats Vomiting White Foam?

True vomiting in cats will be accompanied by nausea, as well as abdominal contractions. A nauseous cat may reduce food, drool and lip their licks.

When foam is brought up, be aware that it can be coughed up or regurgitated too. This article focuses on vomiting of foam.

Empty Stomach or Hunger

Cats are designed to eat regularly, and many prefer to graze rather than gorge when given the chance. If they go too long without eating, this can lead to issues. As the stomach acid and bile irritate the stomach wall lining, the inflammation can lead to vomiting. Of course, without food in the stomach, fluid and foam will come up.

This sort of vomiting is sometimes compared to acid reflux in humans, though it occurs lower down in the gastrointestinal system. Usually, cats are affected in the early morning, when they have gone the longest without a meal. Despite bringing up the foam, you should find that your cat seems otherwise cheerful and eager to eat.

Gastritis or Stomach Irritation

When the stomach is inflamed, this is referred to as ‘gastritis.’ There can be many causes for gastritis, including reactions to medication (such as corticosteroids or NSAIDs), chronic kidney disease, or bacterial infections.

When the stomach is severely inflamed and/or there are ulcers present, you may spot some pink or red blood specks within the foam, or the foam may even be pink or red in colour. This is something that should be brought to the attention of your vet right away.

Hairballs

Hairballs will be a regular occurrence for some kitties, particularly longer-haired breeds such as the Maine Coon and Persian. As cats groom and lick themselves, the fur sheds and is inadvertently swallowed. While fur sometimes passes with the stool, it can also form into a ball and be brought back up.

Though some people expect hairballs to be sphere-shaped, they are more tubular, as they take on the shape of the food pipe. They are slimy and wet and usually as thick as your thumb. They tend to be quite dark, though their colour will depend on your cat’s coat colour.

Cats tend to bring up hairballs only once or twice a month, but they can occur more frequently in very long-haired cats. We see the most hairballs when cats are moulting their coats, which includes the warmer months and when the central heating is switched on. Hairballs are also going to be more prevalent in those who groom more due to parasites or allergies.

Indigestion or Eating Too Quickly

When a cat rapidly eats its food, it also takes in a lot of air. This air leads to bloating in the stomach and intestines. It may be burped, hiccuped, or passed as wind (flatulence). Too much air can also lead to vomiting in some individuals.

Some cats rapidly eat because they’re very hungry, while others do it because they’re worried another cat might eat their food. It is also a common behaviour in those who did not have enough food when younger i.e. those who were strays, lived with a lot of other cats or who were mistreated.

If your cat is suddenly eating quicker than they used to, consider that they may have developed a medical issue that increases their appetite, such as an overactive thyroid or diabetes.

Ingesting Foreign Objects

Of course, if your cat has eaten something they shouldn’t have, you would expect to see vomiting.

When the item is indigestible and lodged in the stomach outlet or small intestine, your cat won’t be able to hold down their meals and may continue to bring up foam and bile, once there is no food left in their stomach.

Persistent vomiting, especially if your cat cannot hold down water, is a real red flag. You may not have seen your cat eat anything suspicious, but this is something they tend to do in private. Some of the top offenders would include plastic bags, hair ties and elastic bands.

If you have seen your cat eat something or suspect it is possible, contact your vet quickly. It is sometimes possible to induce vomiting before the item has caused a blockage.

Toxin exposure

Licking or swallowing certain caustic chemicals or irritant plants can lead to oral ulcers, inflammation in the upper gastrointestinal tract, and vomiting. Signs often develop quickly, within an hour.

In practice, we see this a lot if a cat manages to lick a spot-on parasite prevention off their back, or off another cat in the home. As well as vomiting foam, you may notice other signs such as excessive drooling.

Respiratory Issues

Signs of respiratory disease in cats can be subtle and are regularly missed. The more common signs would include rapid or laboured breathing, a reluctance to move about as much and coughing. Many owners confuse the sound of a cat coughing with retching or gagging.

If your cat is gagging and bringing up foam, this could indicate a respiratory problem. Considerations include, e.g. asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, or lungworm disease. It is sensible to count your cat’s breathing rate while they rest or sleep. If it is over 35 breaths within a minute, you should contact an emergency vet.

Cats who are in respiratory distress do not cope well with being stressed or handled, so try to remain calm and transport them to the clinic quickly. It can help to place a sheet over their pet carrier, if they get worried by being transported.

Parasites

Those at highest risk of parasites include kittens, hunters and those on a raw food diet. However, any cat can contract parasites, even those who live indoors and eat commercial cat food. Interestingly, fleas can transmit tapeworms to cats,if the cat ingests a carrier flea while grooming.

Some signs of parasitic infestations include vomiting, diarrhoea, a dull coat, excessive hunger, and a bloated tummy. Cats can also have internal parasites without showing obvious signs.

Many vets recommend routine cat treatment to keep any parasites at bay. If you’re not keen on regularly treating your cat, you also have the option of requesting a stool analysis to screen for parasites.

When Should I Be Worried About My Cat Vomiting White Foam?

It can be tricky to decipher what constitutes too much vomiting and when veterinary involvement is required. Let’s take a look at some of the factors to consider:

Frequency of Vomiting

A cat who vomits a couple of times a month and shows no other symptoms may not have any medical issues. This is especially true if you suspect they gobble their food quickly, eat things they shouldn’t (such as human food, grass, or the dog’s kibble), or if they’re a long-haired cat bringing up hairballs.

More regular vomiting, or an episode of vomiting that is going on for longer than a day, should be looked into. Similarly, if your cat is suddenly vomiting many times in a row, this warrants attention.

Additional Symptoms

If your cat is presenting with symptoms alongside their vomiting, it is much more likely there is a medical problem that needs to be addressed. This would include signs such as weight loss, a change in hunger levels, an increased thirst, lethargy, or a bloated abdomen.

When your cat vomits, it is important to monitor them closely. This should include things like tracking what they eat and noticing what they’re passing in their litter tray. This can be tricky in a multi-cat household or if your cat goes outdoors. To help you assess how they’re doing, you might consider keeping them inside with a litter tray, away from other pets.

When to See a Vet

There are certain ‘red flags’ that would mean your cat should see the vet immediately. This would include:

• Excessive or persistent vomiting
• Blood in the vomit
• Vomiting is associated with more severe signs, such as trouble breathing or weakness.
• A potential toxin exposure
• Ingestion of a foreign body
• Vomiting in a young kitten, senior, or a cat with an ongoing medical condition (such as diabetes)

How Can I Help My Cat at Home?

Thankfully, many of the milder cases of foam vomiting can be managed from home. There are plenty of things you can do to limit signs and keep your cat comfortable.

Feeding Adjustments

Try not to feed your cat one big meal once a day. As they are small animals, they do better with more spaced-out, smaller meals. You may consider two or three smaller meals throughout the day if they cannot be trusted to graze feed (because they over-indulge!).

For those who gulp their food down rapidly, you may have to alter their feeding arrangements. If they are eating in a busy room or near other cats, they might prefer to be fed in a quieter spot. You can also try a slow feeder bowl, which can reduce gas ingestion and slow down eating in general.

Consider giving your cat a bland diet for a few days to rest their gut. This can include highly digestible foods such as boiled chicken or white fish and rice. Steer clear of any greasy or fatty foods, and hold off on cat treats until your cat is feeling better.

Hydration

If a cat is bringing up foam or stomach contents, they will be losing more fluids than usual. If they are also eating less, this could soon lead to reduced hydration levels. Those who are very young or old will be more prone to dehydration. Signs of this can include lethargy, tacky gums and inelastic skin.

It is sensible to encourage fluid intake as much as you can. This can include adding water to meals, placing more water bowls around the home and using a water fountain. Also, keep in mind that wet cat food contains much more water than dry cat food, so is better at preventing dehydration.

Managing Hairballs

You probably won’t be able to stop hairballs completely, but you should be able to keep them to a minimum. The aim is to remove your cat’s old fur before they ingest it. You can do this by grooming them once or twice a day. Brushes like the ‘FURminator’ are especially good at removing loose fur.

You can also consider giving hairball remedies (such as Katalax or Malt Paste), and perhaps feeding a hairball reducing diet or fibre supplement.

Note: Uncommonly, a cat can develop an obstruction due to a hairball. When this happens, the cat quickly becomes unwell, with signs such as persistent vomiting, food refusal, and lethargy.

Home Remedies

For mild cases of vomiting, you may consider supplementing with prebiotics and probiotics to ensure plenty of ‘good bacteria’ within the gut.

You can also offer some cat soup, bone broth, or rehydration sachets. This goes a step further to prevent dehydration and should help keep your cat’s energy levels up. It is best not to give milk of any sort to an adult cat, as this will cause stomach upset.

If your cat is overdue for a wormer, you should give it. However, do not do this until it has been at least 24 hours without vomit so you can try to ensure it does not come back up.

While we might suggest fasting a vomiting cat, if they’re bringing up foam, they likely have an empty stomach already. For this reason, withholding food should not be needed.

What Treatments Might the Vet Suggest?

If your cat does need medical care, you will want to know what this involves. For most patients, the vet will treat the symptoms successfully using medication. Less often, the vet may need to run some diagnostic tests to determine why your cat is vomiting, and to formulate the best treatment plan for them.

Medication for Gastric Issues or Acid Reflux

Your vet can prescribe medicines such as H2 Blockers (like Ranitidine or Cimetidine) or Proton Pump Inhibitors (like Omeprazole) to reduce stomach acid and relieve gastritis. They may also issue anti-nausea medicine (such as Maropitant) if they suspect your cat is vomiting due to nausea.

Initially, these medicines may be given as injections if your cat is off their food or vomiting regularly. Moving forward, you may be asked to give an oral version of the medicine at home.

Dietary Adjustments

For some cats, a prescribed diet will be beneficial. This may include a diet for preventing fur balls, a cat food for sensitive stomachs, or a hydrolysed diet which manages those with food allergies.

If you choose to give your cat raw food, it is advised to offer a pre-packaged diet that is routinely tested for pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter.

Surgical intervention

If your cat has an obstruction in its gastrointestinal tract, surgery may be required to remove it. The sooner these surgeries are done, the better, to prevent intestinal rupture or peritonitis. Patients would be kept in the clinic for at least a day or two, where they would receive intravenous fluids and injectable medicine as they recovered.

What Diagnostic Testing Will the Vet Suggest?

Oftentimes, no testing is needed, and episodes of foam vomiting will not last long. If your vet is concerned that there is an underlying medical issue, they will discuss some diagnostic testing with you.

Excessive or ongoing foam vomiting may include a biochemistry and hematology profile, as well as imaging such as an endoscopy, abdominal X-ray, and/or abdominal ultrasound. Some cats may also have their stool and urine analysed, to get a fuller picture of what is going on.

It is worth mentioning that it is often hard to pinpoint the exact cause of foamy vomiting. For some patients, it may mean that several tests are run before an answer is found.

Get More Advice On Foam Vomiting in Cats

You can always contact us if you want to discuss things further or if you would like to book an appointment for your cat. We can guide you on the next steps and will always provide the best care for your pet.