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What to do if my cat is vomiting and not eating after food change?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | spayed | 13 years and 8 months old | 13 lbs

Hello my cat is not well. I was feeding her Acana Wild Prairie...and i switched foods to another...that she would not eat. At first I thought she was just being fussy (she is a cat). But then she stopped eating anything. I went out and bought her Acana Wild Prairie again, and as soon as I got home she ate a bunch. About 10 mins later she puked it all up. Since then she has only been eating very smalll amounts of anything. She also has been sick about 6 times in the last week. He

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on November 27th, 2016

A sudden change of food will cause GI upset in cats, which is what it sounds like is happening with Jericho. When you do a sudden change in food, it's recommended to do it slowly. Because she is still occasionally vomiting, I would try a home remedy to see if that settles her stomach. I recommend withholding food for 12-24 hours, then feeding a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in her normal diet. If the vomiting continues in the absence of food, she vomits the bland diet, develops diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, she will need to see a vet right away.

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3Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Other Answers

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    Answered By Tomasz Wnuk

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 9th, 2020

    Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Arabella most likely has got gastroenteritis because of the abrupt change in her diet. Please, start feeding her cooked lean meat (chicken, turkey, white fish) with small amount of the new, wet food. Over the next 3-4 days you should increase the amount of the new food and decrease the cooked meat. It usually helps with transition to a new diet. You can also buy a probiotic (Purina makes good probiotics for cats) and use it until her stools are back to normal.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on April 24th, 2020

    Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Sage. Poor girl! It could be the extra new food that is causing her stomach upset, as sudden changes in diet can lead to this. I can give you a home remedy for her to see if that helps. I recommend withholding food for 12 hours, then feed a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in her normal diet. If the vomiting continues in the absence of food, she refuses to eat the bland diet, she vomits the bland diet, develops diarrhea, stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, she will need to see a vet right away. I hope this helps!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on December 20th, 2019

    Vomiting is never normal, and it may be the switching to the new food. Back off on the new food for now, give Gracie the old food only for a few days, then start adding in small amounts of the new food. If she starts vomiting again with the new food, have her seen by a vet.

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