Expert: Ali - 7/8/2011

Question
I took in a stray cat about 3 years ago.  She seemed healthy a little skinny, but over all health was fine.  We took her for her first check up and they said she was in great shape, but just needed proper nutrition.  We fed her the same way for several years, but within 2 1/2 years she started vomiting a lot. Within the last 6 months we have taken her to several vets without being properly diagnosed.  She continues to vomit bile and foam after meowing/crying.  She is now vomiting at least twice a day.  She still eats, plays, and seems normal.  We do not allow any toxins in our house so i am not sure how she could be exposed to chemicals of any kind so we have ruled that out.  We have tried many things such as the vets recommendations (alka seltzer, pedialyte, and changing her intake of food)  We are now feeling as if we can not trust vets since we have spent hundreds of dollars at several offices without a reason as to why our cat is still omitting.  Please Help!!!

Thank You, Amber & Yitty

Answer
Amber & Yitty,

My concern with this situation is the fact that so many conditions can cause vomiting in cats ranging from diabetes to kidney disease to food intolerances to some genetic issues. I think it is fair to tell you that I am not a veterinarian and therefore I am legally (and ethically) unable to diagnose illnesses or prescribe medical treatments. That being said I think that if you have lost faith in your current veterinarian it's a good idea to seek the advice of another vet unaffiliated with your current veterinary clinic.

I have a number of questions that are definitely relevant to finding a diagnosis for Yitty and getting her healthy again if at all possible:

- Has Yitty had full blood tests done to ensure that her organs and various body systems are functioning within the normal range?

- Has Yitty's urine been analyzed to check for issues within her bladder, kidneys and urinary tract?

- Has Yitty been tested for diabetes? Thyroid issues? Kidney issues? Stomach issues? Allergies?

- What are you feeding Yitty?

- Would you be willing to check out catinfo.org (a website created by a veterinarian to educate pet parents about the unique nutritional needs of their feline companions)?

- Has Yitty's digestive tract been studied to ensure that there are no minor blockages or congenital deformities causing her to vomit?

- Does Yitty go outside unsupervised?

- Has Yitty had basic FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) & FeLV (Feline Leukemia, both of these viruses are similar to HIV/AIDS in people in that they cause the immune system to fail and since Yitty was a former stray there's a good chance she's been exposed to one or both of these infections) testing done to ensure that this isn't an issue related to these common viral infections?

- What does Yitty use for litter box filler?

- Do you use all natural cleaning products or conventional chemical products?

- Do you own/rent your home? Sometimes management in rental companies will use chemicals outside your door that are incredibly toxic - in fact we've had experiences with rental property maintenance workers using chemicals that caused us and our cats to react negatively...

Hopefully the answers to these questions will provide me with some insight as to where to direct you next so that your next contact with veterinarians is more positive and you and Yitty get more answers out of the experience. I look forward to hearing from you soon. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to include them in your follow up.

Kind regards,

Ali