Expert: KC - 10/18/2007

Question
My cat is 11 years old and for about 4 years now she has been being sick about 1-3 times a week after eating her food. i have asked the vet for advice but he was always very vague about it and never really gave any helpful advice. she is quite a nervous cat and does eat her food very quickly, so i think this might be the reason. Do you have any advice?

Answer
Hi Rachel - In my opinion, your cat's problem is directly related to diet, not the speed at which she is eating.  I have seen this in numerous cats and have also had the same problem in several of mine before switching foods.  I would be willing to bet that you are feeding a standard commercial food or else a supposedly premium one like Science Diet, Iams, etc.  These foods contain harmful fillers and potentially toxic products.  Many many animals are sensitive to these toxins and will vomit whole dry kibble immediately after eating and will also vomit canned, in particular the canned that is loaded with artificial colors.  I would generally write a very lengthy and in-depth reply but due to limited time at the moment, I am going to give you this link to my previous answers:
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Cat-Food-3490/indexExp_83830.htm
I recently answered a question regarding a fussy cat who was a picky eater.  In this I included a lot of information on feeding schedules, diet, etc.  Also, please check out my main AllExperts page, as I list some links to cat food brands and other info:
http://www.allexperts.com/ep/3490-83830/Cat-Food/KC.htm
I strongly recommend feeding a brand like Wellness or Nature's Variety, in addition to raw foods.  I have seen a tremendous difference in every animal that has been put on it.  I truly think that your cat's problem will be resolved within two weeks of switching.  I feed only twice a day, with a few treats between meals.  I also feed either canned or raw, followed by dry.  If this does not improve your cat's problem, go with a rabbit formula, as the protein in rabbit meat is different from other meats...and it's excellent for pets who have sensitive stomachs.  Nature's Variety is the only one that I am aware of that makes a totally rabbit variety in both canned and raw.  If two weeks after changing foods and your feeding schedule, you don't notice a difference, then I would highly suggest having your vet run lab work to determine if there is some underlying intestinal problem.  However, I'm quite optimistic that changing foods will clear this up.
Good luck with your kitty and if you have any further questions at all, don't hesitate to ask.