Does Your Cat Barf? Why Commercial Pet Food Might Cause Your Feline to Vomit Frequently

You wake up in the morning ready to start your day. You shuffle down the hall to the restroom only to feel your bare foot stepping in something gross and slimy. After flipping on the light switch, you notice that your cat barfed during the night. Again.

If your cat seems to vomit on a regular basis, particularly after eating, then you may need to research your pet's commercial food a bit more carefully.

Based partially on my own personal experience with my cats, advice from vets, and research, this article describes how a low animal-protein diet, often found in commercially available cat foods, may be a contributing factor to repeat cat vomiting and other health problems.

Obligatory note: Be sure to consult with your cat's vet before making any drastic diet changes.

What Cats Need in Their Diet: Animal Proteins
Cats are obligate carnivores. What does that mean exactly? According to About.com, it means that your furry feline must consume meat to maintain optimal health. They can eat some vegetables and grains, but they need meat as the primary component of their diet. Cats don't do well as vegetarians.

Watch a cat while it is hunting. The basic need for meat is clear whether you observe your little house cat chase down a mouse or watch a National Geographic special on lions hunting. When was the last time you saw your cat chow down some wild vegetables? Chances are you've only seen your cat nibble on grass or catnip on occasion.

How Does Commercial Cat Food Cause Vomiting?
The pet food that you buy in the store often contains too many carbohydrates for cats and not enough animal proteins. Vegetable proteins are not enough to sustain cats in most circumstances.

Feeding your cat a low animal-based protein diet and a high carbohydrate diet may be the underlying cause for many feline health problems including repeat vomiting.

What Commercial Cat Foods Are Good?
Check the label on your cat's food - whether it is dry food or canned food. If it doesn't contain high quality animal proteins and contains too many grain products, then you might want to consider switching to a healthier food. Animal by-products may not be the best source of protein. Look for whole animal protein sources such as chicken or fish.

The following brands have good high quality, high animal protein food for your cat: Wellness, Nature's Variety, Innova EVO, and Castor & Pollux Organix Feline formula.

Testimonial: How My Cats Reacted to a High Animal-Protein Diet
I switched my cats to a blend of the Organix Feline adult dry formula mixed with the Wellness brand wet canned cat food several months ago. The results have been amazing. No more nightly cat vomiting! My three cats have become naturally leaner and have more energy. Their fur is softer. They are eating less at each meal as compared to when they ate the poor quality, low-animal protein commercial cat food. My vet did full blood panels on my cats, and their health is optimal for their various age groups.

What About a Raw Meat Diet?
You can prepare raw meat diets at home for your cat for optimal health. This type of cat food may be too time consuming or expensive for some people. You can also buy commercially prepared raw food from natural food stores. Look for Feline's Pride or Nature's Variety in a freezer case near the pet food aisle.

A raw meat diet does contain a few other ingredients such as taurine, vitamins, fish oil, and bones.

If you do choose a raw meat diet for your cat, be sure to introduce the new diet slowly.

Sources:
Personal experience
Cat Nutrition
About
Cat Info