Feline Digestive Problems

Most pet cats suffer from some sort of digestive problem at one point in their lives. A digestive problem is categorized as a problem with swallowing, with keeping food down, with intestinal gas, with eliminating toxins from the body and with elimination problems such as diarrhea.

Hairballs

Cats constantly groom themselves and in doing so swallow their own hair. One of the most common reasons for a cat to vomit is because of hairballs. If the cat cannot vomit the hairballs or pass them in stool, then the hair can cause blockage of the intestine. This is a potentially fatal condition, according to the ASPCA Complete Guide to Cats. Long-haired cats are far more prone to hairballs than short-haired cats. Grooming a cat regularly to remove dead fur can help prevent hairballs.

Blockages

Cats can swallow small objects such as parts of toys, pieces of plastic or yarn that can not get digested by the body. These can cause potentially fatal intestinal blockages. Tumors can also cause digestive blockages. Any symptoms of blockages should be treated as an emergency. According to Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, these symptoms include weight loss, projectile vomiting, diarrhea and a swollen abdomen.

Elimination

Any major difference in the way a cat urinates or defecates is a sign that it needs to go to a vet. Cats often get urinary tract infections, which can be quite painful--as the cat will let you know. Cats can also have infections and ulcers of the anus and rectum, which make defecating difficult. Stools that are too watery can be due to illness, parasites, poisoning or a sudden change in diet. Constipation is common in older cats.

Flatulence

Usually, excessive loud or smelly gas is caused by diet or from eating foods such as cabbage, beans, soy or dairy products. A change of diet to eliminate the offending foods helps. Sometimes cats gulp food and in turn swallow gulps of air along with their food. This usually happens to cats that are used to fighting for their food. Leaving food out all the time and switching to dry food may help.

Warnings

Cats should be taken to a veterinarian immediately if they have both vomiting and diarrhea; if their abdomen is distended and they have not had a bowel movement in over 24 hours; or if the cat becomes unconscious, drooling, is unable to keep himself clean or cries out when trying to urinate or defecate.