Cat Vomiting
Seeing your cat vomit can be upsetting, especially because cats often hide illness until they feel quite unwell. Learn what occasional vomiting may mean, the common causes, what you can do at home, and when it is time to call a veterinarian right away.
When to call a vet for cat vomiting
Go to the ER now
- ● Your cat cannot keep water down, is vomiting repeatedly in a short period, or seems weak, collapsed, or severely dehydrated.
- ● There is a large amount of blood in the vomit, the vomit looks like coffee grounds, or your cat's gums look pale.
- ● You suspect your cat ate a toxin, human medication, string, yarn, ribbon, rubber bands, plants, or another foreign object.
- ● Your cat is vomiting and also has a painful or swollen belly, cries when touched, or seems unable to get comfortable.
- ● Your cat is vomiting along with trouble breathing, seizures, collapse, or signs of urinary blockage such as repeated litter box trips with little or no urine.
See a vet within 24 hours
- ● Your cat vomits more than once in 24 hours, or vomiting continues into the next day.
- ● Your cat vomits more than once a week, even if they seem otherwise normal.
- ● Vomiting happens with lethargy, hiding, weakness, poor appetite, weight loss, diarrhea, or fever.
- ● Your cat is drinking much more or much less than usual, or urinating more or less than usual along with vomiting.
- ● A kitten, senior cat, or cat with diabetes, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or another chronic illness is vomiting.
Watch at home, call if it worsens
- ● Your adult cat has a single vomiting episode but is otherwise bright, alert, eating, drinking, and acting normally afterward.
- ● Your cat occasionally brings up a hairball and quickly returns to normal, with no other signs of illness.
- ● There was a recent minor diet indiscretion or very fast eating, and the vomiting does not repeat.
- ● Your cat has no blood in the vomit, no belly pain, and no change in litter box habits, appetite, or energy.
- ● Even if signs seem mild, keep a close eye on your cat because cats often hide illness and worsening signs should prompt a call to your vet.
Common Causes of Cat Vomiting
Hairballs
Hairballs are a common and often mild cause of vomiting in cats, especially frequent groomers. However, vomiting hairballs too often or failing to pass one can become a problem.
Dietary upset
Eating too fast, sudden food changes, spoiled food, or scavenging can irritate the stomach. Some cats also vomit because of food sensitivity or intolerance.
Parasites or infections
Intestinal parasites and some infections can trigger vomiting, sometimes along with diarrhea, poor appetite, or weight loss. Kittens may be especially vulnerable.
Foreign objects or blockage
Cats may swallow string, ribbon, rubber bands, plants, or other objects. This can lead to a dangerous gastrointestinal obstruction that needs urgent veterinary care.
Digestive disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, constipation, stomach irritation, and other gastrointestinal disorders are common reasons for repeated or chronic vomiting.
Systemic illness
Vomiting can also be a sign of diseases outside the stomach, including kidney disease, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, liver disease, or cancer.
What to Do at Home
If your cat vomits, stay calm and watch closely for any other changes. Because cats are so good at hiding discomfort, even a symptom that seems minor deserves attention. Mild, one-time vomiting in an otherwise normal adult cat may be monitored briefly, but repeated vomiting, vomiting with other symptoms, or vomiting in a kitten, senior cat, or medically fragile cat should prompt a call to your veterinarian.
- Remove access to any suspect food, plants, string, ribbon, medications, or other possible toxins or foreign objects.
- Offer fresh water and watch carefully to make sure your cat can keep it down; call your vet if vomiting continues or your cat seems dehydrated.
- Track when the vomiting started, how often it happens, what the vomit looks like, and whether your cat is still eating, drinking, urinating, and passing stool normally.
- If your cat seems otherwise well after a single episode, feed only a vet-recommended or easily digested diet in small amounts if your veterinarian advises it; avoid sudden diet changes and rich treats.
- Take a photo or video of the episode or the vomit if you can do so safely, since this can help your veterinarian tell vomiting from regurgitation or coughing.
- Do not give human medications, do not induce vomiting, and do not wait at home if your cat may have swallowed a string, toxin, or foreign object.
Common questions about vomiting in cats
How often is it normal for a cat to vomit?
When should I worry about my cat throwing up?
Why is my cat vomiting but acting normal?
What is the difference between vomiting and regurgitation in cats?
What will my vet do if my cat keeps vomiting?
Should I worry if my cat vomits but is acting normal?
How often is it normal for a cat to vomit?
Cat Vomiting but Acting Normal
It can be confusing when your cat throws up and then goes right back to eating, walking around, or asking for attention. Sometimes that does happen with a hairball, a mild dietary upset, or eating too fast. A single episode in an otherwise bright, alert adult cat may be something you can watch closely at home for a short time. Still, cats are very good at masking illness, so vomiting that keeps happening or comes with even subtle changes should not be brushed off.
- Hairballs are a common reason a cat may vomit and then seem fine, especially if the vomit contains a tubular clump of hair.
- Some cats vomit after eating too quickly, eating too much at once, or after a sudden food change or minor stomach irritation.
- If your cat vomits once but is acting normal, monitor closely for repeat episodes, appetite changes, hiding, diarrhea, or lower energy over the next 24 hours.
- Call your veterinarian sooner if vomiting happens again, continues into the next day, occurs more than once a week, or your cat is a kitten, senior, or has an underlying medical condition.
- Normal behavior after vomiting does not rule out a serious problem, especially if there may have been exposure to string, ribbon, plants, toxins, or human medications.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary medical advice. Reading this content does not establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Every pet is different — always consult a licensed veterinarian before making decisions about your pet's health, diet, or care. If you'd like personalized guidance, you can talk to one of our vets. If your pet is experiencing a medical emergency, contact your local emergency animal hospital immediately.