Question:
A couple of months back I left a few papers on the floor and my older cat (14) decided she was going to add a new flavour to her diet - rubber bands. She was sick for a day or so until she finally vomitted everything up, but since then her stomach seems to be a bit sensitive.

We don't suspect any G.I. blockage as food still goes in one end and out the other. She still eats and drinks regularly and does not seem to have lost any physical condition as a result of this ordeal. We have however noticed that she now vomits almost daily.

We have tried several different foods and while she seems to like the variety, the vomiting continues. (She eats IAMS hard senior formula) We have noticed that if we mix a small amount (teaspoon or so) of canned food with the hard kibbles, the vomitting stops for a while. Any idea what's up with that?

Answer:
If you didn't get a definite count on those elastics, I would have her xrayed or scanned just to make sure one isn't caught somewhere. The fact that the food she does manage to keep down is going through just means that there's no blocage, but what if a stray elastic is interfering with her gag reflex? It could also be shifting around so that sometimes the food passes and sometimes it gets thrown back.
It could be a reaction to the food (you might want to replace the Science Diet with something healthier ) but this would be too much of a coincidence for me.
What is it with cats and elastics, mine love them too.

Answer:
Oh Yes,cats love elastics and I make a point of never leaving any around,the same goes for Q-tips.
First I would take the kitty to a vet,secondly definetly change the food,Iams and Science Diet are not good foods and some of it was on the recall-list,I believe.
IMO most cats vomit ever now and then,but every day is a sign something is wrong..

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I remember reading that an ingested elastic can act as a sort of knife in the intestines of a small animal. I'm unsure about the truth in this, but if true, it could explain the vomiting.

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I agree with chico2 and badger, diet change and x-ray for sure. Good luck.

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Weeks on end of daily vomitting is not normal - I add my vote that you take your cat to the vet... and absolutely change foods. There's lots of info here on that on the food board.

My cat loves elastics too, and has eaten several over the past few years despite my carefulness about them. I've seen them in the litterbox and one was HUGE - but she's never been obviously sick from them and certainly nothing lasting... hence the vet recommendation for you.
Good luck and keep us posted!

Answer:
Originally Posted by .unknown.
I remember reading that an ingested elastic can act as a sort of knife in the intestines of a small animal. I'm unsure about the truth in this, but if true, it could explain the vomiting.

THat is definately true of threads - its gets wrapped inside them sadly easily - but I don't know for sure about elastics. My Luna has been lucky that way, though if the original poster's cat has had a change since then, maybe there could be a laceration inside, perhaps not a blockage but something that is interfereing with digestion (messing with the enzymes? or an ulcer?)...
... don't want to be scary here (haha - pun not intended) but I would see a vet to rule those things out too.

Answer:
Perhaps a visit to the vet might be in order. She's probably due for a check up anyway...

She's been on IAMS dry food since she was a kitten. The vet is always impressed with her coat. (BTW, Chico2 it was the wet pouch food that was on the recall list) In your opinion, if IAMS is not a good food, what would you recommend?

Answer:
Originally Posted by Catsnuggler
Perhaps a visit to the vet might be in order. She's probably due for a check up anyway...


A 14 year old cat should have a vet check-up twice a year to stay on top of everything. I hope you take her asap.


Originally Posted by Catsnuggler
In your opinion, if IAMS is not a good food, what would you recommend?


I would switch her to a premium/holistic food such as Orijen (www.championpetfoods.com), Innova EVO or regular Innova (www.naturapet.com) or Felidae (www.canidae.com). Read the ingredients in Iams and then compare with those. Also, check out the Food Forum here for lots of good information and tips.

Good luck at the vet and keep us posted.

Answer:
Catsnuggler,Rainbow gave you suggestions of good foods,I feed my own cats Orijen and canned food.
Your cat at 14,IMO should have a checkup and bloodwork ones a year..
I hope you get the vomitting problem cleared up
Having been on IAMS all her life,you will have to change her food very slowly,beginning with mixing the 2,as to not cause further problems to her tummy,also wait with changing foods until she has fully recovered.
All this info is in the Foodforum.

Answer:
Did you take her to the vet yet? She could very well have a partial blockage, it can take quite a large obstruction to completely block the intestinal tract so the fact she is still passing stool wouldn't rule that out. Regardless if there is a rubber band still stuck somewhere the vomiting everyday is a very bad sign. I agree with the others that at 14 a checkup and bloodwork should be done at minimum once a year, I highly recommend every six months. And please do look into a diet change, Iams is a very poor quality food. Good luck, please let us know if shes okay.

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