CATS · Real veterinary cases
My cat has been throwing up hairballs every other day for a month
A pet owner asked our search engine this exact question. We pulled 12 matching peer-reviewed veterinary case reports from our library of published veterinary papers. Here's what they say — in plain English, with citations.
Plain-English synthesis
## What these cases have in common The cases predominantly involve cats experiencing chronic vomiting, often linked to hairballs, gastrointestinal inflammation, or blockages. Common underlying issues include inflammatory bowel disease and intestinal obstructions caused by hairballs or foreign materials. ## Treatments that worked - **Dietary changes**: In 5 of 10 cases, switching to specialized veterinary diets helped manage chronic vomiting and gastrointestinal issues. - **Surgery**: In 4 of 10 cases, surgical intervention was necessary to remove obstructions caused by hairballs or foreign objects, leading to recovery. - **Medications**: In 3 of 10 cases, anti-inflammatory medications were used to treat underlying gastrointestinal inflammation, resulting in improved symptoms. ## Outcomes The treatments were effective in managing symptoms in a majority of cases, with dietary changes and surgical interventions showing the most consistent positive results. ## Next step Bring these specific cases to your vet to discuss whether any sound like your pet's situation.
Conditions worth asking your vet about
These are the specific named diagnoses a vet would typically investigate for this presentation — not categories like “metabolic disorder”, but the actual conditions you can mention by name.
Hairball-pattern foreign body
A foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract can mimic hairball vomiting if it causes partial obstruction. This is considered when vomiting is frequent and persistent, as in this case. Abdominal radiographs or ultrasound can help identify foreign bodies.
Inflammatory bowel disease
IBD involves chronic inflammation of the GI tract, leading to symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. It's a consideration when vomiting is frequent and not solely related to hairballs. Diagnosis often involves biopsy.
Gastric foreign body
A gastric foreign body can cause chronic vomiting if it intermittently obstructs the stomach. This is suspected when vomiting persists despite hairball treatments. Imaging studies are used to confirm.
Chronic pancreatitis
Chronic pancreatitis can cause intermittent vomiting and is often underdiagnosed in cats. It should be considered when vomiting is frequent and not clearly linked to hairballs. Diagnosis involves specific blood tests like fPLI.
Food responsive enteropathy
This condition involves an adverse reaction to certain food ingredients, leading to GI symptoms like vomiting. It's considered when dietary changes improve symptoms. An elimination diet trial is often used for diagnosis.
Gastritis
Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining and can cause frequent vomiting. It may be triggered by dietary indiscretion or irritants. Diagnosis is often clinical, supported by response to treatment.
Easily confused with: Cholangitis · Constipation/megacolon · Hyperthyroidism · Chronic kidney disease
Real peer-reviewed cases
Each link below opens the full PetCaseFinder write-up of a published case report. Bring any of these to your next vet visit — they're the kind of citation a vet will recognise.
#1 match
Chronic Vomiting in Cats: Etiology and Diagnostic Testing.Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association · 2016 · United States
Chronic vomiting in cats is a frequent issue that veterinarians encounter. When a cat is brought in for vomiting, it's important to tell the difference between vomiting and other problems like regurgitation or difficulty swallowing. There are many possible reasons for a cat to vomit regularly, so gathering a thorough history and conducting careful tests are essential to find the cause and decide on the best treatment. Some common causes of chronic vomiting include inflammatory bowel disease (a condition where the intestines become inflamed), food allergies, issues with how the stomach moves food, tumors, and diseases affecting organs outside the digestive system, like kidney or liver problems and hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid).
Read the full case →#2 match
Intestinal obstruction by trichobezoars in five cats.Journal of feline medicine and surgery · 1999 · United Kingdom
Between 1997 and 1999, five domestic crossbred cats, four of which had long hair, were found to have hairballs causing blockages in their intestines. These hairballs were located in the small intestine and led to either partial or complete obstruction. In most cases, the blockages were straightforward, but one cat had a more serious strangulating obstruction. Three of the cats were older than 10 years, and in some cases, further tests were not done because their owners thought the outlook was poor. The study suggests that hair ingestion can lead to serious health issues, especially in long-haired cats, and should be considered when diagnosing intestinal blockages.
Read the full case →#3 match
Feline Idiopathic Inflammatory Bowel DiseaseJournal of Feline Medicine and Surgery · 2012 · United States
Feline idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a condition in cats that causes ongoing problems in the digestive system, leading to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. This disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, especially the small intestine, and may also involve inflammation in other organs like the pancreas and liver, which can make the cat feel worse. The exact causes of IBD are not fully understood, but it seems to involve a mix of genetic factors and bacteria in the gut. Diagnosing IBD usually requires taking a small tissue sample from the intestines to see what type of inflammation is present and to rule out other conditions, such as a type of cancer called alimentary lymphoma. The article aims to help veterinarians stay updated on the latest information about diagnosing and treating this condition in cats.
Read the full case →#4 match
Enterolithiasis in a cat.Journal of feline medicine and surgery · 2006 · Japan
An 8-year-old female Persian cat was taken to the vet because she had been vomiting for a long time. After some tests, the vet found that she had foreign objects in her intestines, which were causing a blockage, along with some other issues like kidney problems and anemia. During surgery, the vet discovered that her intestines were swollen and narrowed, and they removed the foreign objects and fixed the affected areas. The objects turned out to be made of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate, possibly from cat litter or a past surgery. Fortunately, the cat recovered well after the surgery.
Read the full case →#5 match
Diagnosis of chronic small bowel disease in cats: 100 cases (2008-2012).Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association · 2013 · United States
A study looked at 100 cats that showed signs of chronic small bowel disease, which included ongoing vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. The cats underwent surgery to take small samples from their intestines for testing. Almost all of them, 99 out of 100, were diagnosed with chronic small bowel disease, with the most common issues being chronic inflammation of the intestines and intestinal lymphoma (a type of cancer). The findings emphasize that if your cat is experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to get them checked out by a vet, as they could have a serious and treatable condition.
Read the full case →
Your pet's case is probably already published.
PetCaseFinder reads thousands of peer-reviewed veterinary case reports and translates the relevant ones into plain English. Type your pet's exact symptoms and we'll surface the published cases that match — with citations you can bring to your vet.
Run a personalised search →Frequently asked questions
What does my cat has been throwing up hairballs every other day for a … usually mean in cats?
Published veterinary case reports most often link this presentation to: Hairball-pattern foreign body, Inflammatory bowel disease, Gastric foreign body. Your vet may also rule out other causes depending on age, breed, and history — this page is a research aid, not a diagnosis.
How many real cases did PetCaseFinder find?
We surfaced 12 peer-reviewed case reports from our library of published veterinary case reports. The top matches are listed above with full citations.
Is this veterinary advice?
No. PetCaseFinder surfaces published veterinary research so you can have a better-informed conversation with your own veterinarian. Always confirm any diagnosis or treatment with a licensed vet who can examine your pet.