Can Cats Be Bulimic – Eating Disorders And Other Facts

Cat owners everywhere can attest to the fact that seeing your cat vomit is a worrisome sight, especially if it’s becoming more and more frequent. You’re likely worried that your cat may be forcing itself to vomit, but can cats be bulimic?

No, a cat can not suffer from bulimia. There are no documented cases of bulimia in cats. Most cats suffering from frequent vomiting were found to have medical conditions causing the vomiting, while the cats who did not have a severe health condition suffered from stress, which in turn caused their vomiting.

Now that you know that your cat can’t have bulimia, you likely have other questions as to the cause of the cat vomiting. Let’s get into the article to determine the cause of this worrisome behavior!

Why do cats vomit?

Cats vomit for several reasons ranging from a minor reason such as overeating to a severe and life-threatening health condition. The most common reasons your cat may be vomiting are: 

Stress

Stress is not something that just humans experience. Healthy cats can also suffer from stress when their environment changes. Like humans, cats also experience the side effects caused by stress, such as vomiting and diarrhea. When changes to the environment occur, vomiting is quite normal in cats. The best thing to do is to allow your cat to get used to the new changes in its surroundings, and stress vomiting should resolve over time. 

Food Allergies

Like humans, cats can develop food allergies and, as a result, suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting. It is entirely normal to vomit due to food allergies. However, you are going to want to determine the food item that is causing it so you can remove it from your cat’s diet.

IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease)

It is very common for a cat to experience vomiting when diagnosed with this disease, as feline IBD occurs when the gastrointestinal tract is susceptible to frequent irritation and inflammation, which can cause stomach upset and improper digestion resulting in vomiting. 

More reasons your cat may be vomiting include:

• Poisoning 
• Intestinal Parasites
• Diabetes
• Hyperthyroidism
• Kidney Disease
• Cancer

To properly determine the cause of your cat’s vomiting, you will need to bring it to the vet for an exam. After they’ve determined the cause of your cat’s vomiting, they will treat the condition appropriately.

Why is my cat throwing up unchewed food?

There are a variety of causes for your cat regurgitating unchewed food. The most common cause is that your cat ate too quickly. If the problem persists, you may want to take steps to help your cat slow their eating, such as a food puzzle. These tools allow your cat to have the time they need in between bites to properly digest their food.

Other things that may be the cause of your cat vomiting undigested foods include hairballs, food allergies, gastritis, or dietary changes. All of these can affect the way your cat digests food and cause your cat to regurgitate undigested food. 

How do I stop my cat from throwing up from overeating?

If your cat is throwing up due to overeating, you will need to change the way you present its food during meals. A food puzzle can come in handy in this situation as it forces your cat to slow down their food intake because it requires them to work for the food so they will realize when they’re full sooner. 

When should I be concerned about my cat vomiting?

These symptoms should not be overlooked when your cat is vomiting as they can point towards something more serious such as:

• Depression
• Appetite Changes
• Weight Loss
• Vomiting Blood
• Pain in Abdomen 
• Excessive Vomiting

If the vomiting is paired with any of those symptoms, you may want to bring your cat to the vet to ensure your cat doesn’t have a life-threatening illness. 

What should I do after my cat throws up?

The best thing you can do after your cat has thrown up is to remove food for 2 hours to let their stomach relax before trying to keep food down again; you may provide water during this time. 

After the 2 hours have passed, offer a small amount of their favorite food to see your cat’s ability to keep food down. If it doesn’t vomit from the reintroduction to food, keep offering your cat small amounts every couple of hours for the next 24 hours. If all continues to be well, you can resume your normal feeding routine. 

However, if you notice your cat’s symptoms persist or get worse, you may need to bring your cat to a vet clinic as soon as possible. Symptoms to look out for are:

• Unable to keep down water
• Vomit contains blood or foreign material 
• Gums appear pale and or cold to the touch
• Feverish

Will a cat overeat to the point of death?

While a cat can not overeat to the point where they die, they can over-eat and cause medical issues that, in the long run, can lead to the passing of your cat if not treated. 

The consequences of a cat overeating can be detrimental to its health. Your cat can become obese and obese cats are more susceptible to liver and heart disease and diabetes, which take a large toll on your cat’s life.

If you fear that your cat may be overeating, there are slow feeding bowls that will help keep your cat’s food intake under control. If the problems persist, you’ll need to bring your cat to the vet for proper treatment. 

Why is my cat trying to throw up but can’t?

More often than not, dry heaving is nothing to be concerned about. It often happens when a hairball or foreign object gets caught in the throat, and your cat tries to dislodge it. It could also mean your cat is feeling nauseous, which happens for various reasons, including eating too quickly, eating too much, or eating spoiled food. Nausea can also result from medical conditions such as gastrointestinal infections or diabetes. 

Conclusion

There are many potential reasons your cat is vomiting. However, being bulimic is not one of them. There are zero reported cases of a cat having bulimia. Chances are your cat is just overeating or eating too quickly, making digestion difficult and causing regurgitation. However, there are also more serious reasons that may cause vomiting and may be life-threatening if not treated. To ensure your cat is appropriately diagnosed and treated, bring it to the vet, where they can run all needed tests and prescribe the correct medication and dosage.