Cats puke for a number of reasons. Cleaning puke up -- or worse, stepping in it -- is never fun. If your cat is fevered, lethargic, not eating or drinking, or also has the runs, take it to the vet immediately. If your puking cat seems otherwise healthy, read on for ideas on how to dianose the cause and use the correct treatment.

Hairballs are pretty obvious to diagnose, especially if your cat is a longhair. The cat will hack and gag as if it is dying and then regurgitate a cigar-shaped clump of hair. If your cat suffers from hairballs, comb it more frequently to remove loose hairs before they are ingested. Also consider a hairball formula cat food with higher fibre content and administer a vitamin laxative to help hair get passed out the other end. Sometimes a shorthaired -- or even a naked -- cat will cough up occassional hairball if it likes to groom a longhaired friend.  

Some cats eat too quickly -- especially if they have competition at the food dish -- and will vomit very soon after a meal, bringing up lots of un-digested food. If this is a possibility, try feeding nervous cats in another room. Single cats that are fast eaters can be slowed down by adding large, smooth, clean rocks to their food dish which forces them to take time to root around for the food.

If your cat has started puking after changing to a new food or adding a new treat to his/her diet, you may have made the change to quickly. The new food may be fine for Kitty if it is introduced more slowly. You'll need to go back to the old food and slowly transition the cat to new food over the course of several days. If after a slow transition to a new food, the cat is still puking, then the new food is not a good one for your cat.

Is the puke greenish? If so, check your houseplants for signs that they have been chewed. Poisionous plants should be removed from a cat's home. Other, safe plants, should be put up high to a spot that Kitty cannot climb or jump to. The Cat Fancier's Association has a great list of cat poisons that all pet owners should be familiar with:

http://www.cfainc.org/articles/tentips.html

Unfortunately, if you let your cat run free outside, you'll have no idea if your cat is puking from eating plants and whether or not the plants and other substances that Kitty encounters are safe. Keep your cats indoors. Keep them safe.

Whether or not you see worms in the vomit, worms may, in fact, be the cause. All cats -- indoor pets and those that go outside -- should be de-wormed at least annually.  Dewormers are safe to use even on young kittens. Ask your vet to de-worm your cat when you go in for regular exams and vaccinations. If your cat passes worms after de-worming, then at least one more dose of de-wormer is necessary, two weeks later. You may return to the vet for further doses or check your pet store or agricultural supply shop for a de-wormer you may use at home.  

Is your female cat pregnant? Like human women, some cats do vomit in early pregnancy. Spay and neuter your pet cats!

If none of these things seem to be the cause of your cat's puke, or if vomiting continues for more than a day, do take Kitty to the vet.

To clean puke off of  carpet, I like Fantastic. Spray. Let it sit a while. Wipe with a wet cloth. If your carpet has stained, try Oxy Clean.

...Pam