Why Is My Cat Vomiting? Everything Pet Parents Need To Know

Cats can vomit for many reasons, from eating too quickly or having a hairball to health problems such as parasites, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), kidney disease, or hyperthyroidism.  

While an occasional episode may not always be cause for concern, repeated vomiting or vomiting with other symptoms warrants a call to your veterinarian. 

The frequency of your cat’s vomiting, what the vomit looks like, and any other symptoms can provide important clues about the cause. 

It’s also important to distinguish vomiting from regurgitation, because they can have different causes and treatments. 

Why Is My Cat Vomiting?

Cats can throw up for many reasons, ranging from dietary changes and gastrointestinal problems to diseases affecting other parts of the body.  

Causes of cat vomiting generally fall into two categories: gastrointestinal causes, which directly affect the digestive tract, and non-gastrointestinal causes, which originate elsewhere in the body. 

Because vomiting can have many possible causes, your veterinarian will consider how often your cat vomits, what the vomit looks like, how long it has been happening, and whether your cat has other symptoms. 

Your veterinarian may ask: 

• How long has your cat been vomiting? 
• How often does your cat vomit, and what does the vomit look like? 
• Is your cat still eating normally? 
• Does your cat have other symptoms, such as diarrhea, increased thirst, or weight loss? 
• Have you recently changed your cat’s food or diet? 
• What does your cat eat (including food and treats)? 
• Has your cat recently started any prescription or over-the-counter medications? 
• Does your cat live indoors, outdoors, or both? 
• Do you have other cats in the home, and are any of them also vomiting? 

Your answers can help your veterinarian narrow down why your cat is throwing up and determine which diagnostic tests, if any, may be needed. 

The possible causes of cat vomiting can be divided into gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal causes. 

Cat Regurgitation vs. Cat Vomiting

Vomiting in cats is an active process that forcefully brings up contents from the stomach or small intestine, while regurgitation is passive and typically brings up undigested food. 

Before vomiting, a cat may retch or have abdominal contractions. 

Regurgitation typically happens without these motions and may occur when a cat eats too quickly or has a hairball. 

Vomited material is usually partially digested, while regurgitated food often appears undigested. Coughing can also sometimes be mistaken for vomiting or regurgitation. 

If you’re unsure whether your cat is vomiting, regurgitating, or coughing, take a video to show your veterinarian. This can help them identify what’s happening and determine whether further testing is needed. 

Acute vs. Chronic Cat Vomiting

Acute vomiting in cats begins suddenly, while chronic vomiting occurs repeatedly or persists over time.  

The underlying causes—and therefore treatment—can differ. 

Acute vomiting can be caused by eating something inappropriate (like a string or toxin), intestinal parasites, pancreatitis, or bacterial or viral infections. 

It often resolves once the underlying cause is treated. 

Chronic vomiting may occur with long-term health conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, kidney disease, or hyperthyroidism.   

Cats with these conditions may experience recurring episodes of vomiting over weeks or months. 

Causes of Cat Vomiting

Common causes of vomiting in cats include: 

• Dietary indiscretion (cat eating something abnormal, like a new treat, human food or even another pet’s food) 
• Foreign object ingestion 
• Toxin ingestion 
• IBD 
• Pancreatitis 
• Cancer 
• Hyperthyroidism 
• Kidney disease 
• Diabetes 
• Constipation 
• Intestinal parasites 
• Liver disease 
• UTI 
• Medications 
• Inner ear Infections 
• Bacterial or viral Infections 

What Does Your Cat’s Vomit Look Like?

The color and contents of cat vomit can offer clues about what’s causing it, but appearance alone can’t diagnose the problem.  

Note what the vomit looks like, how often your cat is vomiting, and whether they have other symptoms to share with your veterinarian.  

Feel free to take a picture of your cat’s vomit to show the vet during your appointment. 

Here’s what different types of cat vomit may mean: 

• Yellow or green vomit: Cats may vomit stomach acid or bile  when their stomach is empty, including when they haven’t eaten due to illness. 
• Blood: Blood in cat vomit may be caused by ulcers or irritation of the stomach or esophagus from repeated vomiting. Contact your veterinarian if you see blood in your cat’s vomit. 
• White foam: White, foamy vomit may occur when the stomach or small intestine is inflamed. 
• Clear liquid: Clear vomit may be stomach fluid or water your cat recently drank. If your cat is vomiting up all food and not even keeping water down, they need to be seen right away. 
• Worms: Roundworms are among the worms that may appear in cat vomit. Contact your veterinarian for appropriate treatment if you see a worm. 
• Food: Cats that eat too much or too quickly may bring up food. If food comes up passively without retching, your cat may be regurgitating rather than vomiting. 
• Hairballs: Cats may occasionally vomit hairballs, particularly long-haired cats or those that overgroom. 
• Black or brown vomit: Dark colored vomit can indicate digested blood and may occur with ulcers, foreign bodies, or intestinal inflammation. Contact your veterinarian right away if your cat vomits black material. 
• Mucus: Mucus may be more consistent with regurgitation than vomiting. Note whether your cat retches or actively heaves before bringing up material and share this information with your veterinarian. 

Call your veterinarian if your cat vomits repeatedly or if the vomit contains blood, black material, worms, or other unusual contents. 

Cat Vomiting Symptoms to Look Out For

Vomiting in cats can occur with other symptoms that may help your veterinarian determine the underlying cause. 

Tell your vet if your cat is vomiting and has: 

• Loss of appetite 
• Weight loss 
• Constipation or diarrhea 
• Sneezing 
• Increased thirst 
• Changes in litter box habits, including pooping outside the litter box or urinating more frequently 

Contact your veterinarian if vomiting is frequent, persistent, or occurs with other concerning symptoms. 

When To Call Your Vet About Cat Vomiting

Call your veterinarian if your cat vomits more than two to three times in a row, has vomiting with diarrhea or loss of appetite, vomits a worm, or can’t keep food or water down.  

Seek immediate veterinary care if your cat has a condition such as diabetes, kidney disease, or hyperthyroidism and begins vomiting repeatedly, as they can become dehydrated quickly. 

Home Remedies for Cat Vomiting 

Do not give your cat over-the-counter medications for vomiting unless directed by your veterinarian.  

If your cat is vomiting repeatedly, ask your veterinarian when it’s safe to offer food and water. 

How Veterinarians Diagnose the Underlying Cause of Vomiting in Cats

Veterinarians diagnose the underlying cause of vomiting in cats with a physical exam. 

They may also recommend diagnostic tests, such as: 

• Blood work 
• Urinalysis 
• Fecal testing 
• X-ray 
• Ultrasound 

Your veterinarian will ask: 

• When the vomiting started 
• How often it occurs 
• Whether your cat has other symptoms 

If they may have eaten anything unusual. During the physical exam, they’ll check for signs such as abdominal pain or dehydration. 

Additional testing may be recommended based on your cat’s symptoms and the suspected underlying cause of vomiting. 

Cat Vomiting Treatment

Treatment for cat vomiting varies depending on the underlying cause. 

Cats with mild cases of vomiting can often be treated on an outpatient basis with fluids, supportive care, and a bland diet. 

Bland diets are easy-to-eat foods for cats with digestive upset. They are typically commercial diets formulated to aid in digestive health.  

Cats who have sensitive stomachs may benefit from diets like Blue Buffalo True Solutions Digestive Care Formula Dry Cat Food, or Blue Buffalo Natural Veterinary Diet GI Gastrointestinal Support. 

Cats who are diagnosed with underlying health issues, such as kidney disease or hyperthyroidism, can be started on appropriate medications to resolve the vomiting.They may be prescribed special diets to reduce the workload of the kidneys, like Royal Canin Renal Support, or to help manage the thyroid, like Hills Y/D Thyroid Care.  

Cats experiencing dehydration or severe illness generally need to be hospitalized and given intravenous fluids. 

Some medications and supplements given to cats who are vomiting include the following: 

• Antiemetic (anti-nausea/vomiting) medications, such as maropitant or metoclopramide 

• Antacids, such as famotidine or omeprazole

• Corticosteroids, such as prednisolone (for inflammatory bowel disease)

• Antibiotics, such as ampicillin 

• Deworming medications, such as pyrantel or praziquantel (for intestinal parasites) 

• Probiotics