Why Does My Cat Keep Dry Heaving: Causes & Solutions

If your cat keeps dry heaving, it often means they are trying to vomit but have nothing to expel. This can be caused by a variety of factors, ranging from simple hairballs to more serious underlying health conditions.

Many cat owners worry when they see their feline companion experiencing dry heaving. It’s distressing to witness your beloved pet struggling to bring something up, only to have nothing come out. This behavior, often described as cat coughing up nothing or cat gagging, can be unsettling. What exactly is happening when your cat dry heaves? It’s essentially a forceful expulsion of air and saliva from the stomach and esophagus, without any actual vomit being produced. This can be a symptom of a range of issues, from minor irritations to significant health concerns.

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Common Reasons for Feline Dry Heaves

Several common factors can lead to your cat exhibiting dry heaving. These are often the first things to consider when you observe this behavior.

Hairballs: The Usual Suspect

One of the most frequent reasons for a cat to dry heave is a hairball. Cats are meticulous groomers, and as they lick their fur, they inevitably swallow some of it. While most of this hair passes through their digestive system without issue, sometimes it can accumulate in the stomach and form a clump.

Hairball Symptoms to watch for include:

• Dry heaving or retching: This is the primary indicator.
• Coughing: Sometimes the effort to dislodge a hairball can mimic coughing.
• Lethargy: Your cat might seem a bit unwell or less active.
• Loss of appetite: They may not be interested in their food.
• Constipation: Difficulty passing stool can sometimes accompany hairballs.

When a hairball is causing discomfort, your cat might engage in what appears to be cat gagging or cat retching. They’ll heave their body, sometimes arching their back, and make unproductive gagging sounds. If they are successful, they might then vomit up a cylindrical mass of hair, often mixed with some liquid. If they fail to expel the hairball, they will continue to dry heave.

Managing Hairballs

Fortunately, managing hairballs is often straightforward. Regular grooming is key. Brushing your cat daily, especially long-haired breeds, helps remove loose fur before they can ingest it.

• Brushing: Invest in a good quality brush suitable for your cat’s coat type.
• Dietary Changes: Some cat foods are formulated to help reduce hairball formation. These often contain higher fiber content.
• Hairball Remedies: Over-the-counter hairball remedies, often in paste or gel form, can help lubricate the digestive tract, allowing hair to pass more easily. Always follow product instructions and consult your veterinarian before starting any new supplement.

Gastritis and Irritation

Inflammation of the stomach lining, known as gastritis, can also cause a cat to dry heave. This inflammation can be triggered by various factors, including:

• Dietary Indiscretion: Eating something they shouldn’t, like spoiled food, garbage, or non-food items.
• Sudden Diet Changes: Switching food too quickly can upset a cat’s sensitive stomach.
• Allergies or Intolerances: Certain ingredients in their food can cause an adverse reaction.
• Ingestion of Toxins or Irritants: Even small amounts of certain plants or household substances can irritate the stomach.

When the stomach is irritated, the natural response can be to try and expel the offending substance, leading to cat vomiting foam or dry heaving. This is the body’s attempt to clear out what’s causing distress.

Recognizing Gastritis Symptoms

Beyond dry heaving, other signs of gastritis might include:

• Vomiting (with or without bile): While they might be dry heaving, they could also occasionally vomit actual contents.
• Diarrhea: Upset stomach can affect bowel movements.
• Abdominal Pain: Your cat might yelp when their belly is touched or seem restless.
• Lethargy and Weakness: A general feeling of being unwell.

Ingesting Foreign Objects

Cats are curious creatures, and sometimes their curiosity leads them to ingest items that are not food. Small toys, string, rubber bands, or even pieces of plastic can be swallowed.

If a foreign object gets lodged in the esophagus or stomach, it can cause significant irritation and blockage, leading to cat gagging and dry heaving. The body will try to expel it, but if it’s stuck, only unproductive attempts will occur. This is a serious situation that often requires veterinary intervention.

Symptoms of Ingesting Foreign Objects:

• Repeated vomiting or dry heaving.
• Loss of appetite or refusal to eat.
• Lethargy.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Bloating.
• Constipation or diarrhea.

Bloat (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus – GDV)

While less common in cats than in dogs, bloat can occur. This is a life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with gas, fluid, or food, and then twists. This twisting cuts off blood supply and prevents gas from escaping, causing the stomach to expand rapidly.

Bloat is characterized by intense cat retching and dry heaving, often with a distended abdomen. Other signs include:

• Restlessness and pacing.
• Painful abdomen.
• Rapid breathing.
• Weakness and collapse.

This is a veterinary emergency. If you suspect your cat is experiencing bloat, seek immediate veterinary care.

Respiratory Issues and Throat Irritation

Sometimes, the act of dry heaving can be confused with coughing, and vice-versa. Respiratory problems or something lodged in the throat can cause similar actions.

• Cat Throat Irritation: A sore throat, perhaps from an infection or ingesting something irritating, can cause your cat to gag or feel like they need to clear their throat. This might manifest as cat gagging or a sensation similar to cat choking sensation.
• Upper Respiratory Infections (URIs): While URIs typically cause sneezing and nasal discharge, severe cases can lead to a dry, hacking cough that might be mistaken for cat coughing up nothing.
• Asthma: Feline asthma can cause a dry, hacking cough and wheezing. In some instances, the severe coughing fits might lead to a gagging or cat retching action.

If your cat is exhibiting signs of respiratory distress along with dry heaving, it’s crucial to get them checked by a vet.

Other Medical Conditions

Several other medical conditions can manifest as dry heaving in cats. These are generally more serious and require prompt veterinary diagnosis and treatment.

• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas can cause nausea and vomiting.
• Kidney Disease: As kidney function declines, toxins can build up in the bloodstream, leading to nausea and vomiting.
• Liver Disease: Similar to kidney disease, liver issues can cause systemic illness, including nausea.
• Diabetes: Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication that causes vomiting.
• Cancer: Tumors in the digestive tract or other organs can disrupt normal function and lead to vomiting or dry heaving.
• Parasites: A heavy worm burden can cause digestive upset and vomiting.
• Nausea from Medications: Some medications can have side effects that include nausea and vomiting.

When a cat is sick without vomiting, but showing other signs of distress, dry heaving can be a symptom. It signifies that the body is trying to expel something, but the usual mechanism of vomiting isn’t occurring or isn’t fully effective.

Deciphering the Cause: When to Worry

It’s normal for cats to experience occasional hairballs. However, some situations warrant immediate veterinary attention.

Red Flags to Watch For

• Frequent or Persistent Dry Heaving: If your cat dry heaves more than once or twice a day, or if the behavior continues for more than 24 hours.
• Other Symptoms: Any accompanying symptoms like lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, difficulty breathing, or pale gums are serious concerns.
• Suspected Ingestion of Foreign Objects: If you know or suspect your cat has eaten something they shouldn’t have.
• Bloated Abdomen: This is a critical emergency sign.
• Signs of Pain: If your cat cries out when touched, seems restless, or hunching over.

When Your Cat is Gagging vs. Coughing

It can be tricky to differentiate between a cat gagging and coughing.

Gagging/Retching (Dry Heaving):

• Often involves the throat and stomach.
• The cat might extend its neck.
• The sound can be a deep, guttural heave.
• The body might contort or arch.
• The goal is to expel something from the stomach or esophagus.

Coughing:

• Often involves the airways (lungs, trachea).
• The cat typically keeps its neck extended.
• The sound is often a hacking or wheezing noise.
• The chest might be involved in the effort.
• The goal is to expel irritants or mucus from the lungs.

If you are unsure, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and consult your veterinarian. Observing the sounds and body language can provide clues.

Fathoming the Culprit: Veterinary Diagnosis

If your cat is dry heaving persistently or showing other concerning symptoms, a veterinary visit is essential. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough examination and may recommend various diagnostic tests to pinpoint the exact cause.

The Veterinary Examination

Your vet will likely:

1. Ask Questions: They’ll inquire about your cat’s history, diet, behavior changes, and when the dry heaving started.
2. Physical Examination: This includes checking your cat’s temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, listening to their heart and lungs, and palpating their abdomen to check for pain or abnormalities.
3. Dental Check: Dental problems can sometimes lead to gagging or difficulty eating, which might cause heaving.

Diagnostic Tools

Depending on the initial findings, your vet might suggest:

• Blood Tests: To check for organ function, inflammation, infections, and other systemic issues.
• Urinalysis: To assess kidney function and detect urinary tract infections.
• Fecal Analysis: To check for parasites.
• X-rays (Radiographs): To visualize the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and identify foreign objects, blockages, or tumors.
• Ultrasound: Provides more detailed images of internal organs.
• Endoscopy: A procedure where a small camera is inserted into the esophagus and stomach to directly visualize the lining and potentially remove foreign objects.

Treating the Cause of Dry Heaving

Treatment will entirely depend on the underlying cause diagnosed by your veterinarian.

Treatments for Common Causes

• Hairballs: As mentioned, grooming, diet, and hairball remedies are key. Your vet might recommend a specific hairball treatment or a change in food.
• Gastritis/Irritation: Treatment may involve dietary changes, anti-nausea medications, or antacids. Identifying and removing the offending substance or allergen is crucial.
• Foreign Objects: Depending on the location and type of object, it might be removed via endoscopy or surgery.
• Respiratory Issues: Treatment will focus on the specific condition, which could include antibiotics for infections, steroids for asthma, or other respiratory medications.
• Parasites: Deworming medication will be prescribed.

Medications and Supportive Care

Your veterinarian may prescribe various medications to help your cat recover:

• Anti-emetics: Medications to reduce nausea and vomiting.
• Prokinetics: Drugs that help the digestive tract move food along more efficiently.
• Steroids: To reduce inflammation, particularly in cases of asthma or severe gastritis.
• Antibiotics: If a bacterial infection is suspected.
• Fluid Therapy: If your cat is dehydrated due to vomiting or poor intake.

Preventing Future Episodes

Once the cause of dry heaving is identified and treated, you can take steps to prevent future occurrences.

Proactive Measures

• Regular Grooming: Brush your cat daily to minimize swallowed hair.
• Diet Management: Feed a high-quality diet and avoid sudden changes. Consider a food formulated for hairball control if this is a recurrent issue.
• Prevent Access to Toxins and Foreign Objects: Keep household plants, medications, and small ingestible items out of reach.
• Regular Veterinary Check-ups: Annual or semi-annual check-ups can help catch health issues early before they become severe.
• Monitor Your Cat’s Behavior: Pay attention to any changes in appetite, energy levels, or bathroom habits. Early detection can make a significant difference in treatment outcomes.

A cat that is sick without vomiting, but exhibiting other signs of illness, should always be seen by a veterinarian.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cat Dry Heaving

Q1: Is dry heaving in cats dangerous?

A1: Dry heaving can be a sign of a serious underlying condition, so it’s important to monitor your cat closely. While an occasional hairball-related heave might not be an emergency, persistent or frequent dry heaving, especially with other symptoms, can indicate a significant health problem that requires veterinary attention.

Q2: Can stress cause my cat to dry heave?

A2: While stress can cause a variety of behavioral and physical symptoms in cats, direct dry heaving as a primary stress response is less common. However, stress can exacerbate existing gastrointestinal issues or trigger other health problems that might lead to dry heaving. For instance, a stressed cat might groom excessively, leading to more hairballs.

Q3: My cat vomits foam sometimes and dry heaves other times. What does that mean?

A3: Vomiting foam can be similar to dry heaving, often indicating an empty stomach trying to expel something or an irritation. If your cat alternates between vomiting foam and dry heaving, it suggests their gastrointestinal tract is irritated and trying to clear itself. This behavior warrants a veterinary visit to determine the specific cause, which could range from gastritis to more serious conditions.

Q4: Can my cat have a hairball if they haven’t vomited it up?

A4: Yes, absolutely. Dry heaving is a classic sign that your cat is trying to pass a hairball but is unsuccessful. The discomfort and blockage caused by the hairball lead to the unproductive heaving. If this continues, the hairball can become impacted, which is a more serious problem requiring veterinary intervention.

Q5: What should I do if I think my cat is choking?

A5: If your cat appears to be choking, remain calm. Look for signs of distress such as pawing at the mouth, difficulty breathing, wheezing, or blue-tinged gums. If you can see an obstruction in the mouth and it’s safe to do so, try to remove it gently. If your cat is struggling to breathe, immediately seek emergency veterinary care. Do not attempt the Heimlich maneuver on a cat unless you have been specifically trained and advised to do so by a veterinarian, as improper execution can cause further injury. Observing a cat choking sensation is a critical sign.

By paying attention to your cat’s health and promptly addressing any concerning symptoms like dry heaving, you can ensure they receive the care they need and maintain a happy, healthy life.