Cat Stomach Pain
- Hairballs build up at the exit of the stomach, called the pyloris. When your cat eats, the hairball blocks the food from passing through the pyloris into the intestines and causes your cat to vomit. Help prevent hairballs with malt-flavored petroleum jelly. You can buy this at any local pet store, as well as most grocery stores. If you use the jelly after the hairball has formed, the jelly will help the hairball slide into the intestinal tract.
- Constipation can be a cause of cat stomach pain. Make sure your cat is drinking enough water and is eating plenty of fiber.
- If your cat has diarrhea, it could be caused by a number of things, such as being fed too many table scraps, a change in diet, infection or stress. Take into account what your cat has been eating when you call the vet about diarrhea.
- There are more serious causes of stomach pain. Colitis is inflammation of the membrane lining the colon and is most commonly caused by whip worms. Allergies, swallowing non-food objects, and tumors or polyps can also cause this. Gastroenteritis is inflammation or infection of the gastrointestinal tract. It is caused by eating foreign foods, poisonous plants or other non-food objects, food allergies, internal parasites and stress. Cats can also develop pancreatitis, inflammation or infection of the pancreas. The causes for this are difficult to determine. Any of these more serious causes should lead you to the vet.
- Most problems cats have with their stomachs are related to diet. Make sure your cat is eating healthily. If you like to feed her table scraps, keep an eye on her stool to make sure they aren't making her sick. It's best to stay away from rich foods. Cat stomachs are delicate, and the best way to make sure she's feeling well is to watch her and listen to her as best you can. If she's eating indoor plants or grass outside, she probably has a stomach ache. If she has diarrhea, assess what she's been eating and call the vet if you think it's abnormal. A vet will do a fecal exam and will be able to determine if your cat has parasites. Be aware that cats are emotionally sensitive creatures, and anything stressful can cause stomach pain symptoms as well. If you bring another pet into the home, or if the litter isn't clean enough, or if there is any kind of big change, your cat will most likely react to it. Be aware of your cat's temperament when assessing her changes in behavior.
- It's never a bad time to call the vet if you are worried about your cat. Your vet will be able to answer a lot of your questions and can steer you in the right direction for diet and treatment of stomach pain.
