Expert: Becky - 3/6/2007

Question
My friend bought two kitten's 4yrs. ago a male and a female, I read your answer on cats throwing up and that's why I am writing you. His female cat has been throwing up for a while now, he has had her to the vet and they have ran all sorts of tests on her and they are all neg. they put her on Amox. for 2 weeks and she was fine, but she has been off it for 2 weeks now and she is throwing up again. He said it's 6 or 7 times in a 24hr. period. He has spent alot of money trying to find out what the problem is, so now he is resorting in putting her to sleep, I told him if all the test are neg. there has to be a logical explaniation for her problem, I don't know what her behavior is but he said that she is losing weight with this and she stays dehydrated. any advice would be apreciated.  Thanks so much!  Brenda

Answer
Hi Brenda!
I have no way of knowing for sure, but it sounds to me like his cat has swallowed a string or thread and it has wrapped around his intestines.  The reason he is throwing up is that the food cannot pass. This is very dangerous and he needs to have surgery it that's what it is. My sister had a kitten with this same problem!  I am surprised his Vet has not suggested that this may be the problem.  There is no way to know for sure without opening up the cat and checking the intestines.  Sadly, if they are sliced up too much by the thread, they may not be able to save him.  I hope I am wrong about this, but since the Vet has tried everything else, it does make me wonder. Please keep me advised.  I hope all goes well.

God bless,
Becky