Can Cats Suffer From Bulimia? Our Vet Explains
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A vomiting cat isn’t exactly a rare phenomenon. Sometimes cats will vomit due to illness, an obstruction, or even just from eating too quickly, and some cats seem to vomit more often than others. If your cat seems to be emptying their stomach on a regular basis, you might start to wonder if cats can suffer from bulimia.
There are lots of different reasons why cats vomit, retch, or regurgitate, but bulimia is not one of them. Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder, a serious and sometimes fatal illness that is associated with severe disturbances in behaviors, thoughts, and emotions about food. People suffering from bulimia will eat excessively, also known as binge-eating, then force themselves to vomit, or use diuretics and laxatives to purge themselves of the excess calories. Bulimia is not known to affect species other than humans.
But, if you are wondering if your cat could be suffering from this illness, then it’s likely that they are vomiting frequently enough to be causing you concern. Let’s take a look at the most common reasons why your cat might be losing their lunch and what you should do about it.
Vomiting, Regurgitation, and Coughing Up Hairballs
If we’re going to address what is triggering this behavior in your cat, it’s important to distinguish between vomiting, regurgitation, and bringing up hairballs, as this will go a long way to tell what is causing the problem.
Regurgitation
- This is a more passive reflex where food (or other material) is ejected from the esophagus before it reaches the stomach.
- Does not involve abdominal effort.
- Occurs shortly after eating.
- Food usually comes out looking undigested and/or in a tube formation.
- Not usually associated with signs of nausea (drooling, licking lips, inappetence).
- Commonly occurs when food is eaten too quickly, if there is inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis), or if there is a stricture or blockage preventing the food from entering the stomach
Vomiting
- Active ejection (emesis) of food/digesta/fluid from the stomach.
- Abdominal effort is usually observed.
- Normally happens at least 2–3 hours after eating.
- Can contain partially digested food, bile, and fluid.
- Usually associated with signs of nausea and abdominal discomfort/pain.
- May also see other signs of gastrointestinal upset (e.g., diarrhea).
- Can be caused by systemic disease (e.g., pancreatitis, kidney disease, diabetes), inflammatory disease(e.g., IBD, gastritis), or a physical obstruction in the stomach or intestines (e.g. foreign body, hairball).
Coughing Up a Hairball
- Not actually coughing.
- Hair accumulation in the esophagus causes irritation, triggering a retching action that sounds like coughing.
- May be non-productive, produce gastric fluid, or result in bringing up hair/hairballs.
What Should I Do if My Cat Vomits or Regurgitates?
It is perfectly normal for cats to vomit or regurgitate from time to time, and if it is an isolated event and your cat is otherwise eating, drinking, and behaving normally and they aren’t losing weight, there is likely no need to be concerned.
When Should I Take Them to See the Vet?
If your cat has brought up fluid or food and you are worried about them, contact a vet to make an appointment for a checkup, as it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Here are some other signs that indicate that you should take your cat for an examination:
If possible, try to take a video of what your cat is doing or even a photo of what they bring up. All these things can help a vet diagnose the problem.
What Investigations Will a Vet Perform?
The specific tests and treatments will depend on whether your cat has been regurgitating, vomiting, or bringing up hairballs and what other clinical signs they are showing, but they may include:
If you are concerned or have questions about your cat's health, you can also speak to a vet from the comfort of your own home to help make a plan. They can determine when an in-clinic vet visit should be made.
How Can I Help My Vomiting Cat?
If your cat is an occasional vomiter and the vet is happy that there are no significant problems, here are a few things that you can do to help your feline friend keep their food where it belongs—on the inside!
Final Thoughts
Bulimia is a severe and complex eating disorder that can affect humans, but it does not affect cats. However, cats can experience a number of conditions that can make it seem like they are bulimic.
It is important to try to determine if your cat is vomiting, regurgitating, or trying to shift a hairball and to seek veterinary treatment if the problem is not just a one-off event.
It’s not unusual for cats to have the occasional upchuck, as any cat parent will surely attest to, and there are several ways that we can help our cats feel more comfortable, as well as reduce the amount of vomit stains on our carpets!
Be sure that your cat is eating the best food for them and that they aren’t eating it too quickly. Stay on top of hairballs with regular grooming, and always talk to a vet if things don’t seem right.
Featured Image Credit: Kittima05, Shutterstock
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Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS (Veterinarian)
Dr. Karyn comes from Queensland, Australia, and has lived in the UK for the past 10 years. In 2010, she graduated from The University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science and also has a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology. She is passionate about using evidence, experience, and owner collaboration to provide the best solutions for pets, and believes in making reliable information about animal health accessible to all. Dr. Karyn shares her home with five cats, four dogs, and one husband. When she is not in the scrubs, she spends her time writing, gardening, and cleaning up pet hair!
