Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 2/23/2011

Question
About 2 weeks ago I suddenly changed my senior cat's diet, actually 2 times. From a kibble diet her whole life to a wet food diet. Then to a new dry kibble. Well it has been hell. She has been vomiting non-stop. Yesterdy I purchased the "old food" (the dry kibble) she had been on without incident. As money is a huge problem I can't RUN TO THE VET when I have an inkling this is diet related. Am I being stupid for thinking this way? I am going to put the old stuff out and let her come around as she see's fit. Of couse I feel sad for putting her through this. But it won't happen again. I was experimenting and thought she might enjoy a change even thought she was not complaining about the original stuff but it was a mistake. Thank you.

Answer
Too often we humans tend to "think" that our pets are like us and want variety. The very fact that they do so well on one food for life should clue us in that just isn't the case. Domestic pets are not wild animals and like us, have changed our dietary habits to fit into our environment.

Cats and dogs do share a commonality- their digestive tracts are designed to stay on one 'type' of food all the time. What that means is that any other change is a surprise to their systems and the results are predictable-vomiting, diarrhea, even gastritis or pancreatitis can occur.

If your cat has stopped vomiting, put out just a small amount of her food and let her go to it when she is feeling better. Hopefully she hasn't already developed a case of gastritis and doesn't need some medication or fluids. Don't forget that vomiting 'non-stop' will quickly dehydrate you- and is very dangerous for a senior cat.

So assuming that she isn't vomiting, put her food out and let it go at that. If she is vomiting still, you should call the vet and ask them if you can get some fluids to give her subq if nothing else. That would be a good idea.

If you feel it is necessary to ever switch her food again, you must do it slowly over a seven day period. Even then some cats and dogs will get ill from it and they have to resort to the old food.

Hopefully she will get well without any intervention. You never want to let a cat of any age vomit for days. 24 hours is bad enough.

Please let me know how she is doing tomorrow.