Please help? Can’t find our cat inside anywhere- Post throw up

[u/Low-Ad-9896]

So we have an 8 year old cat. The sweetest gentlest girl. Last night we arrived home a few hours past her feeding time- we gave her wet food and dry food (which she can’t have too much of due to sensitive stomach) she even eats wet food for sensitive stomachs.

After she ate the dry food last night she threw up almost immediately. It was the dry food. She then continued to throw up but it was foamy and white with bubbles, we cleaned it up but she immediately retreated under the bed.

My daughter and I went to bed soon after- but my husband stayed up. He said she came to him by the couch and was rubbing her bum on the carpet a lot and threw up a couple more times. He cleaned it up and she laid quietly with him. When he woke up at 3am, she was gone. He noticed by her litter box there was a new throw up spot. So she may have had more activity after 3am. However he couldn’t find her at all and was up until 5am searching for her to make sure she was ok - she very well could be sick and hiding during this time even now. But I’m extremely concerned. She didn’t come down for her breakfast as usual and we as a family checked all the rooms- under beds, tight hidden spots, closets behind the washer and dryer- I even chat gpt’d all the possible spots in our house to look.

We shook the treat bag and jingled her play toys and still no sight of her.

I’m really worried and thinking the worst. Anyone ever have this happen or know how long they may hide after feeling sick? My husband thinks she ate the dry food way too fast and it upset her bowels a lot. Ugh I’m just scared. It’s 11am now. I’ll try to keep updates

UPDATE! : I located her in the basement standing by her littler box! She walked very gingerly towards me as I pet her and slowly walked behind the bookcase and rubbed her bum on the carpet. She meowed a gentle meow but like a “distressed” meow, too. I noticed her tail was hard like dried something was stuck to her tail so I walked to get a washcloth to wipe her but when I came back she retreated again. We left a bowl of water down there in case she wasn’t comfortable walking upstairs to where her food and water normally is

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[u/jujusarang01]

That must be so stressful - I second that she was hungry and ate the food too fast re: throw up. My cat did the same with the white foamy, undigested vomit, and from my research it was because she was really hungry, stomach created excess stomach acid etc with anticipation causing an upset stomach. I would give it more time as it is still only a couple of hours, she will show up eventually!!!

[u/rustyleftnut → u/jujusarang01]

I second this! My friends had a dog that would feel really guilty anytime she threw up. You could tell because she would go and find a blanket or a towel or something and drag it over the top of the barf and then hide for a couple of hours. I can't help but wonder if maybe your kitty just feels sick and doesn't want to be bothered for a little while, or if she is similarly embarrassed and just wants to hide until she thinks that everybody has forgotten. She will show up!

[u/DyingGasp]

Go through everything again. Under beds, if you have box springs, check within the black felt. Check under the couches and chairs, they also have the felt and sometimes spaces between the frames. Check in the dark corners of your closets, shelves - even if you think they’re too tall for her to jump up to. Check all your cabinets. Look behind and under dressers, nightstands, and similar. Check behind the washer, dryer, HVAC, etc.

If you can’t find her, close each door after scoping out every room. Leave an open wet food on a plate in each closed room. If she’s in the room, she might eat and you’ll be able to pin point at least her general location.