Live from the Katnip Lounge, The Kat Pack!

Starring: The Baby *Tiny Johnson * Felix * Rupert * Scouty * CC * Sweet Pea * Maui * May Ling * Salem

and...*Angels Grayce, KonaKitty, and Sylvester* always loved, never forgotten




Monday, September 17, 2012

Maui's Medical Monday

 Kitties!

 Maui here.
I need your advice.

See my tummy? 
I know...it's cute and floofy...it's also upset.
 I've been upchucking bile.  No hairball, no food particles, just about a tablespoon of translucent yellow stomach acid.

I feel queasy, and it just happens!  Not with any regularity, either.  Sometimes I heave three days in a row, and then I go over a week without an episode.  We are eating the same food as always, and Mommy is positive that I'm not eating anything Bad for me.  I have just as much crazypants pep as usual, and I'm using the box like a champ.  (Stupid nosy concerned Mommy stalked me for that one.)

Mommy says I need to go to the Evil Vet, but I hate going there, even though last time I had some fun launching the thermometer out of my anus and across the room.  (Good Times!)

Do any of you have any experience with acid reflux?

Also, I have hay fever right now--could that be upsetting my tummy? Mommy has read that kitties can take either Claritin of Zyrtec for hay fever.  
Sheesh.
I have the feeling that Mommy might be doing Weird Science...with me as her subject!

Any advice, kitties?


Thanks, and Happy Monday!

XX  Maui  XX


Mommy here:  Maui will be going to the vet if his vomiting continues.  He's a barfy cat to begin with so I'd like to avoid the expense of several vet visits to narrow down the cause, if there is one, other than the fact that he's a puker.  I'd like to start with treating his allergies to see if that calms down his stomach as well.  
Thank Cod he's an easy piller.

77 comments:

  1. No experience here but I want to wish you good luck with this. Hopefully, someone out there in blogland can give you some good advice. Hugs

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  2. Oh no, poor Maui-boy! What's going on. Äiti immediately trembled and thought kidneys but then you are quite a young boy so actually that's unlikely. But summat is making your tummy too acid so we hope there's an answer SOON. We know sometimes we get this when there's a BIG hairball brewing.......
    Paws crossed. And if you have to go to the evil vet, maybe you can break your personal best in the thermometer-javelin ?

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  3. I hate to say this, but I am prone to this to - and my human has taken me to the vet probably jillions of time regarding this and nobody has come up with anything conclusive, or any medicine to help longterm. Maybe your vet will have some suggestions my human can use!

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  4. We would definitely say allergies could cause this. One of us has allergies and one of us has acid reflux and both these things cause bomit. Ask Teri of Curlz n Swirlz, Disco's Mommy. She just said tonight there was something called Nutrigest to aid digestion. Supposed to be better than Fortiflora. Hope this helps. Good luck!

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  5. Mom Teri is at furrydancecats.blogspot.com.

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  6. Ok, if you got allergies, you got snots, if you got snots and they are not coming out your nose, they are going down the back of your throat, if they are going down the back of your throat, they are going into your stomach, and if they are in your stomach... they make you queasy and prone to upchuck bile.. In humans anyway.. I assume kitties are much the same. Allergy snotsies upset tums, get rid of the bile, then you can eat!
    Of course, I'm not a vet... but that's my thought on the subject, as the wife of an allergy guy and as someone with non allergic rhinitis (nose acts like it's allergic, but it aint, stupid thing) I'm very familiar with those symptoms..

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  7. (((((((((((Maui)))))))))))))
    We don't know what to say. Maybe it has something to do with your long fur tickling your tummy!???!!
    We know Umeboshi plums (sold in whole foods stores) is very good for acid reflux, but that's for humans and not sure if it'll do anything for kitties.

    Good luck Maui!!!!!

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  8. You shot a thermometer out your a$$? Wow, I woulda paid real green papers to have seen that.

    I hope your smart Mommy can figure all this out so you don't have to go to the ::whispers:: Stabby place.

    On the other hand, it might be wurf it if you can think up something to top your previous stunt. If you do, could somebody take pictures???

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  9. Oh poor thing. I have not had any experience like this so I'm sorry I can't offer any advice. I do hope it stops though....

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  10. I don't have anything useful to add. Sometimes Ms. Stella has those barfs but I always thought it was the last part that I happen to see after she had tossed her treats elsewhere. Sometimes her straining to poop causes her to barfs too but you crossed that off your list already. I would suggest asking Teri too and switching to maybe babyfood for a bit to see if that eases Maui's tummy.

    xoxo
    That Woman

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  11. The barfing up of only the yellow liquid reminds me of Max. He did that quite a bit in his last year. The vet attributed it to nausea from his CRF. I certainly hope that is not case for floofy Maui. He's pretty young though for CRF. May it be something easy and treatable!

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  12. Both my cats are barfers but usually not bile. Bile can sometimes mean pancreatitis. Be careful with the OTC meds!

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  13. Ouch! I feel for you my friend. Gt well soon, ok? har har har *sad laughs*

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  14. It's not happened to any of us so we aren't of any help. We hope you are able to get some answers pretty soon.

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  15. Lots of good suggestions in comments so far. But maybe some bloodwork by the vet could rule out more serious things. One of our past kitties, Belle, had been barfing more than one would have thought normal, then one day was quiet and hiding. We took her to the vet who ran bloodwork and liver enzymes were extremely high and the Vet felt a mass. Before we could even make a plan for treatment or palliative care she passed away. Not to scare you, because Maui is acting well otherwise, but just a cautionary note.

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  16. Sweet Maui!!! Awwww you so have a fantastic floofy tummeh!! But me and Charlie are so sorry to read it's all upset and bile-y!! Oh dear!

    Charlie tends to vomit bile every so often - when that happens the vet gives him very bland easy to digest prescription food. He stays on this diet for a few days until his belly settles.

    Good luck at the vet's, lovely Maui! Take care
    x

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  17. Good luck, purrs from the boys and paws crossed you find the cause without multiple vet vi$it$.

    Derry's a barfer, but it's usually because he'll eat too quickly. Annie was a barfer too, but that was hairballs in the summer, poor girl. So I can't even offer suggestions here. Sending lots of universal Light, though.

    Oh, but what about the slippery elm bark? Did I ever give you the recipe for that? It can be sprinkled on the food too, but it's more effective syringed in.

    ******

    Slippery Elm Syrup Recipe

    (A good “food herb” tonic to help with vomiting, diarrhea, and other intestinal upsets in cats)

    Put 1/2 cup of COLD water and 1 teaspoon of slippery elm powder (you may have to open the capsules if you don't have it as loose powder) into a small saucepan. Whip it up with a small whisk or fork. Bring it to a simmer over a LOW flame, stirring constantly. Do this for about 1 to 2 minutes, continuing to stir. Cool it off and refrigerate.


    This will keep for about a week.

    The best thing to do is to give to kitty about 1 teaspoon of the syrup about 15-30 minutes or so before meals. Alternatively, you can sprinkle some of the slippery elm powder on the food, but in acute situations (vomiting, nasty diarrhea) giving the syrup BEFORE meals can be much more effective.

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  18. Alfie had a funny allergie,he was snorting, sneezing, It was like he had a cold..Luckily ( as the vet bills here, are just an absurb amount, £50 for making an appointment! )it cleared up in a few days..What about trying something herbal ??? Just a thought :) xx00xx
    Mollie and Alfie

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  19. I wish I had some good advice for you, Maui! I am not a bomiter, and Harley only bomits when he eats too fast and it all comes right back up.

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  20. Grayson had a week-long episode like that about 2 years ago, I think. Nothing but bile. Dr. Tad couldn't find anything wrong with him. He gave him an anti-nausea shot and that was the end of it. Bizarre.

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  21. Our mum has taken a lot of temperatures, but she has never ever seen one launched back out! That is AWESOME!

    If you're going to the vet anyway, it might be worth asking them to do a blood panel just to rule a few things out. There should be something like an Old Cat Profile that will cover more values than a standard panel. Fui had that one done several times when he was having his troubles even though he was only 4 at the time as it covers extra things like kidney and pancreatic values that some standard panels don't cover.

    Smooches for you, Maui. We're almost looking forward to our next v-e-t appointment so we can try and launch a missile!

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  22. I'm with the Spitster. Would have paid good money for a ringside seat to see you fart a furrmomeeterr out your fundamental oriface!!!! Good times indeed!! >^,,^<

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  23. We have a magic anti-barf potion called Phosphaluvet and wish we could just put some in the mail to you. Actually, we have friends who are flying back to the States at the end of the month and we will ask them to take some to mail on to you, so you have some on hand. It's basically liquid aluminum phosphate and settles an upset tummy like nothing we've ever seen.

    In the meantime, Sei-Chan is very anxious for maui to get better soonest!

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  24. Hope you feel better real soon. Hugs anesha

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  25. hope you are ok. i'd pay good money to see the thermometer launch.

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  26. Hi! Well, it's good that Maui is eating, pooping and playing. Samba does the same thing but it only happens when he hasn't eaten I'm a while. If he goes too long between meals, he throws up yellow bile. He is not the type of cat that can just have a morning and evening meal. I hope you find the cause quickly without having to spend a lot at the vet. Good luck!

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  27. We are sorry Maui has been puking. Tucker is known to puke those kind of pukes due to his asthma. It certainly could be allergies and trying an allergy med for a few days is harmless enough. Our vet suggested Chlor-Trimetron, 1 mg every 12-18 hours (this is based on Benny's weight, 12 lbs). It works well for Benny and unlike Benadryl, which is VERY bitter when cut, is easier to give as a pill.

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  28. My vet had me give my girlie kitty lowest dose of zantac - for her upset tummy. She weighed all of 9 lbs....

    Start with that dose.

    Vet said licking lips a sign of tummy ache.

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  29. Lucy does this bile barf too - last done on Saturday - I knew she was going to have an episode as she had stopped eating during Friday. She kept looking at me as I kept following her round but she managed to wait until I'd gone to the shops so it needed shampooing off the carpet (so now we have a paler patch on the carpet)! After a long time she managed a few mouthfuls of food and then was back to her usual hungry self. I hadn't thought about it possibly being something to do with her kidneys so I will ask the vet when I next visit to see what she thinks. We hope Maui will soon be back to normal.
    Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

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  30. I just finished cleaning up bile outside my computer room this morning! Banjo is a puker. Always has been but when it gets bad I take him to the vet. I just spent $300 at the vet a few weeks ago, on blood tests and what not. Nothing showed up, again. And no suggestions from the vet. My living room carpet is a mess. Because you know they can't puke anywhere in the rest of the house that is lino or hardwood! Haha! Perhaps someone out there will have a good idea for us!
    xo Catherine

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  31. Poor baby! One simple solution would be to try dry kibble that is for "sensitive stomachs and skin." M tried it with me and it stopped all the throwing up. It was like magic. Might be worth a try,

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  32. My Oscar kitty has/had puking issues. We tried several things but it wasn't until he was put on high fiber food and low doses of cerenia (kitty gravol) that things improved a bit.
    Hope your little guy feels better soon.

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  33. Perhaps a little cat grass will help?
    Be better soon!

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  34. Maestro did that for a while - the vet said he could be given pepcid (the lowest dose available - can't remember off the top of my head). worked like a charm.....

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  35. I have always been a pukey cat and Momma spended a fortune trying to find out why. Short answer was nerves...since myne sisfurs went to the Bridge I don't puke so much but still have a upset tummy more often than I should. The vettie said to use baby gas drops in my water and because I have CRF in my old age (Iz 19 now) a 1/4 tablet of Pepcid AC when I do get pukey. That's the original one that is only famotadine...not the other stuff.

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  36. Oh an I forgots...I can't eat da chickies no more. I got allergic to chicken when I got older an always puked that so I don't get it no more.
    Really though...it's probably the snots.

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  37. Sweet boy, I so hope you get betters soon. The Cat Guy helped us. I've been a puker ever since I came here to live, sum yellow stuff and just fuds. I hope you get some answers.
    xoxo Kassey

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  38. Oh dear. I will purr and purr for you Maui and watch carefully here in case I start horking it all up again. But I am concerned about you so sooner the better to get an idea. Xxoo

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  39. Puuuuuurrrrrrs to Maui!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  40. Ummmmm...really?? Shot right out your anus?? Pawsome! Now, here's Mom: our cat before Savannah began to vomit bile, frequently, then not for a while then repeat. Never hurt his appetite. He ended with pancreatic cancer and we lost him. He did not appear in pain, but he was. It can also be pancreitus. Don't use OTC meds. Trish, this could also be allergies, but bile vomit is not good sign no matter the age of the cat. Hope Maui is well soon.

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  41. First of all I miaow like Spitty The Kitty = You shot a thermometer out your a$$? Wow, I woulda paid real green papers to have seen that !!!
    Then I´m sorry to have to miaow that me or mom can´t give you any advice at all :(
    Me I puke very seldom and if I do it´s a hairball :)

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  42. Sending Maui healing purrs! Too many cooks can ruin the stew, so we won't comment but it's good he's not lethargic or having other symptoms.

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  43. I hope the vet can help Maui...wow I have a crazy mental picture of that thermometer now!!! I wonder if some cats are just barfier than others, my old calico Molly was a vomiter from the day I got her, meanwhile I have NEVER seen Jimmy or Kip vomit.

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  44. I was doing that one time. Mewom left for a few hours and when she came back I had vomited bile in about 8 different places. All the vet did was give me something for an upset tummy. Good luck Maui!

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  45. Im a barfer, but its just too much food. Hope the vet finds the problem easy, Maui! ~ Iza

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  46. hugs to you maui, we hope you feel better soon. all mamas are worrywarts aren't they. but it's best to go now sooner than later.

    purrs and hugs,
    Emma and Buster

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  47. Poor Maui
    We have friends who have allergies too and they say the drainage can sometimes make them nausaeous.. So it could do the same to a kitty we suspect...BUTT WE do not know which med works.
    Hugs and purrs sweet Maui. We know your mom is on top of things so keep us posted..and bevsurevto get pis of the thermometer as you launch it
    Madi

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  48. Miss Maui,
    I wish I can help ! Let's do purrs for you !
    Hugs
    Xox

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  49. While we are avid readers of your blog, we are lousy at commenting. Today, however, we must make an exception. Maui, we are AWED by your achievement with respect to the horrible thermometer! Sorry to hear that your stomach is upset. Hope you are well soon.

    Findus, Isak and Rasmus

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  50. I guess Mommy knows about the calming treats. That is what we give the kittie here with allergies. We have kitties here that throw up bile but not often. Maui, are you nervous?? But I am sure that the Mom has thought of all these things. HOpe the vet visit figures things out. Take care.

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  51. kitties do very well on Pepcid too, but you don't want to just mask symptoms until you know what is going on because if he is vomiting for a reason it is better to fix the reason then simply prevent the symptom..

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  52. Look into organic slippery elm for any digestive issues. It's natural and has no side effects and has been a herbal remedy for centuries (I use it for Abby)

    purrs
    >^,,^<
    ✿•*¨`*•. ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥✿•*¨`*•.

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  53. Lots of great advice from kitties in the know. I'm not much help here. I feel for you sweet Maui. Urping is no fun, neither is the Vet lady. Paws crossed your mom can figure it out quickly and easily.
    (((purrs)))
    Katie

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  54. I can't add to what is already here but I sure do hope you feel better and figure it out soon!!!

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  55. I've had a couple of episodes of having an upset tummy and our v-e-t told the mom that she could give me 1/4 to 1/2 of a regular strength pepcid once a day. It helps. Also, I saw Abby mention slippery elm bark. Our mom used that with one of the cats that came before us who had CRF and got an upset tummy. She also gave him pepcid too.

    Wally

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  56. OH Maui, I'm sorry but we don't have an experience with stomach acid... Upset stomach is no fun. I hope you feel better soon.

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  57. Pee ess. Regular strength pepcid is the 10mg one. Extra strength is 20mg. The mom uses the generic brand and it works just as good as name brand pepcid.

    Wally

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  58. So I'm going to propose something completely different. (Keep in mind I haven't slept in 4 days.)
    Squashies does bile bomits on the first trip of the season in ourVan. After she gets her 'sea legs' she is fine... except when she had the ear infection, then she would do it once or twice a day. Might Maui be having some sort of equilibrium issues?

    I wanted to thank you for FBing for Squashies last night. I can't begin to tell you what your support and effort meant to us, both in terms of comfort and results. Thank you so much!!!!!!

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  59. No help from this corner. Poor Maui, we hope you feel better very soon!

    Sasha, Sami, & Saku (Mom Eileen)

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  60. Blogger ate our last comment (we think) so sorry if this is a repeat.

    During Cyrano's long battle with CRF, our vet perscribed pepcid. He had 1/4 of a generic (famotidine) 10mg tablet twice a day, and it helped with his acid stomach a lot. It is perscribed by body weight, and it can interact with other medications, so check with your vet for dosage and to be sure it's not going to make any other medications less effective.

    If it does help, remember that it's just helping with the symptom of acid stomach. You still might want to let your vet see what the cause is.

    Good luck, Maui! (And thanks for giving us a chance to discover we still have lists of cat med dosages from 2005... MOL)

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  61. Oh Maui, we purr those issues go away or you find something that works. We do not have any good ideas,but there are good suggestions :)
    We are like Spitty. Totally impressed with the thermometer launching :o
    You rock ;)
    Purrs Tillie and Georgia,
    Tiger,Treasure,JJ and Julie

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  62. Well...if Mommeh thinks it warrants a vet visit, I'd think you should go. Can't hurt to at least check the vitals and go from there.

    We've got some barfy cats too. Seems like this one or that one is always barfing. I do not like that part of cats.

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  63. OH MY GOSH! Not only is your mommy a great writer she's a great photographer!!!!

    You should be in one of my children's books!!!

    Please come and write with us more. We'd love to have you!!! And we loved your word....BEST KIND OF PIE IN THE WORLD!

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  64. Oops! You said gnarly, dude, and crazypants....another cute kitty said the rhubarb!!!!

    I'm having WAY to much fun with all you creative cats!!!!

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  65. Fuzzy Tales said it about the slippery elm -- Fangie used to do this from time to time & he sure had respiratory issues -- so sounds like you know what to do, right? Get the bad stuff ruled out, hopefully, and then FT's slippery elm recipe looks like the one I used, to very good effect. PAWS CROSSED!! Sweetie Maui. Look at those green peepers. Gorgeous.

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  66. Maui, we don't have anything to add to what has all ready been said, though we will sure be purrin hard for you and for an easy solution!

    Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, Hollie

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  67. Sorry, we have nothing. Our Minnie Pumpkin was a barfer, too. We do wish you luck. Its a case for better minds than our mom's.

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  68. Most likely not anything serious but have the vet check for pancreatitis, it is fairly common in cats. My Dolly had it for years and when she had a bad spell she would vomit like Maui. There would be times when she would barf everything I fed her except baby food. She lived to be a diva of 19 so if it is the dreaded p it can be eased.

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  69. Oh Maui unfortunately I won't be of much help, I have no idea.
    Hope everything goes well with the vet :-/
    Purrs

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  70. We don't know either. If it helps, we are purring for you all. And we hope you don't get a vet bill the size of a planet.

    Meow from Au, Target and Guido.

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  71. Pieces (Maui's evil twin) was a barfer too. We just dealt with it. He got a dose of Barf-B-Gone (Petro malt) every day and that helped. But, for ever and ever, he was just a barfer!!

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  72. Poor honey!! I have acid reflux and it sucks. Hope you feel better soon!

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  73. Poor Maui, my paws are crossed for your speedy recovery and that some of the suggestions in other comments may help on a permanent basis.
    Purrs ... Rainbow

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  74. Get the to the xray machine! my mainecoon would do that sometimes tto and near the end of his days had major tum-tum issues. By the time we took xrays their was to much fluid etc to see anything (and the nearest ultra sound was 50 miles away.)

    Btw, mainecoons have high incidences of diabetes but , like humans, it can be controlled with diet. My merlin was like a kitten again once we put him on a diet of fancy feast. :)

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Oh Boy...this is gonna be GREAT!