If your feline keeps gagging but nothing comes out, it’s worrying.
It’s essential to diagnose the problem. In some cases, your cat will swallow something extremely blood clot-related, such as a piece of rubber.
In that case, you’ll just have to administer oral medication. So, why does my cat keep gagging but nothing comes out?
There are various reasons why cats can gag but nothing comes out. In some cases, the cat will swallow something extremely blood clot-related such as a piece of rubber or string.
In these cases, you should administer oral medication to dissolve the clots. Another possible reason is feline esophageal spasms.
Feline esophageal spasms are involuntary contractions of the muscles of the throat and esophagus that make it difficult for your cat to swallow food.
Feline esophageal spasms usually resolve on their own over time, but medication can help if your cat is having repeated episodes or if your cat is losing weight from not eating properly.
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Why Does My Cat Keep Gagging but Nothing Comes Out?
Nausea
Nausea is one of the causes of gagging but nothing comes out.
Cats have the same difficulty as people do with nausea and vomiting.
Excessive eating, gastric acid, or ulcers can cause a transient attack of nausea and vomiting in cats.
If these are the reasons, you need to administer digestive medication or anti-ulcer drugs.
Tracheitis
Tracheitis is the most probable reason of why my cat keeps gagging but nothing comes out.
Viral-induced tracheitis usually resolves on its own after a few weeks and may be treated with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as prednisone or with oral antibiotics.
Gastroenteritis
If the cat shows indications of stomach discomfort when swallowing, it is probably because the stomach is distended or bloated due to gas or food fermenting in the intestinal tract.
The tough aspect, however, is when a cat shows indications of vomiting, but things don’t go up.
You will need professional assistance to decide what to do.
Vomiting (frequently with yellow or white foam), lack in appetite and lethargy are the signs of gastroscopy-associated stomatitis.
If you detect any of the aforementioned signs, take your cat to the vet immediately and start appropriate treatment.
Liver Illness
The liver, like the kidneys, can become diseased in cats of any breed or age if certain factors are present.
It also contributes to good digestion by metabolizing food into vitamins and other substances needed by the body.
Because the liver is involved in so many processes in the body, it therefore takes a lot of work for the liver to perform its functions.
If left untreated, liver illness may progress to infect other parts of the cat’s body, possibly resulting in death.
Foreign bodies in GI
Most of the time, you will see your cat trying to spit out something foreign in the oral cavity or throat.
These items may clog the gastrointestinal system, and may be your initial signal of stomach problem.
Foreign body symptoms include gastrointestinal pain, loss of appetite and vomiting.
You should immediately take your pet to your vet and have your dog or cat undergo a complete physical examination.
Hairballs
If the cat is choking and nothing comes out, it can be a sign of hairball or GI obstruction.
There are a few hairball prevention methods that you can try at home to prevent hairballs in your cat.
It is simple to get upset and angry, but that will only make the problem worse.
Simply sprinkle a teaspoon of mineral oil on your cat’s dry food every morning.
This will coat the hairball and make it easier for your cat to swallow it.
What to Do If Your Cat Keeps Gagging But Nothing Comes Out
Look for Signs of a Lack of Appetite and Laziness.
You’ll have to pay attention to whether your cat keeps gagging but nothing comes out or whether he keep gagging but nothing comes out often.
If not, this might indicate a more serious problem, and you should bring your cat to the vet immediately.
Cats who refuse to eat, for example, can be suffering from a variety of stomach problems.
You must ensure that the cat is free from fleas and insects before administering any treatment.
After 1-2 days of this condition, cats usually recover from this problem but consult your vet if the condition persists for more than 3 days.
This is often the case if the obstruction is in your kitty’s intestines or stomach rather than esophagus.
Examine the Cat’s Distress Level
Begin by determining if your cat is just sick or gagging but nothing comes out often.
You don’t want a scenario in which you tell your vet (GP) everything and it turns out that your cat is just sick but refuses to eat but your cat keeps gagging.
This indicates that the cat is struggling with something and needs immediate treatment.
This is not a hairball, and there is no way to stop a cat from producing one, but you can avoid giving your cat anything that could cause him to swallow his fur balls quickly,.
It will not hurt your cat if some amount of hair leaves her body, so to help you feel more relaxed, you may consider grooming your kitty more frequently.
This may harm the kitten and cause death if not treated immediately.
You should pay attention to your veterinary since cat vomiting is not a normal situation and can be a symptom of a disease or other underlying problems.
Consult a Vet
They will do a brief x-ray of your cat’s chest to evaluate the signs of an obstruction or pneumonia that may be the cause of vomiting in cats.
This will help to throw light on the area in which the cat is vomiting up solid things and determine if the cat needs a surgery.
If anything becomes stuck, or the cat loses a large amount of weight because he will not eat and keeps on throwing up, then the situation becomes serious.
Due to their curiosity, cats are capable of eating and playing with all kinds of poisonous items.
However, if you experience gagging and coughing in your cat constantly, then you should start worrying as it could be a sign of a serious illness.
You should take your kitten to a vet immediately so that he can undergo proper diagnostic tests and treatment.
These three illnesses are all highly dangerous and can lead to death in cats if not treated on time.
Also Read: Why Does My Cat Keep Gagging But Not Throwing Up?
Conclusion
From my experience, I think the best treatment for a cat that keeps gagging but nothing comes out is oral medication to dissolve blood clots or feline esophageal spasms.
Most occurrences of dry heaving are a sign of serious underlying illnesses that need to be taken care immediately.
Your cat should be back to its old self within 24 hours of taking oral medication prescribed by a veterinarian.
That being said, a cat choking and coughing up hair balls may be a result of various medical conditions that need to be diagnosed by a vet.
Try some of my preventative techniques as well; they will not only keep your cat happy but will make him healthier as well.
