Vomiting in cats: When to worry

Updated 22/11/2023

Vomiting is an unfortunate fact of life for humans and their pet pals, and anyone who’s spent a certain amount of time around cats will be familiar with the occasional sickly surprise. Causes of vomiting in cats vary from hefty hairballs to serious illness, but before we take a look at these, we need to clarify what is classed as vomiting. 

Vomiting vs regurgitation

Some cats regurgitate food that hasn't been digested properly, and this isn’t the same as vomiting. If, occasionally, your cat’s throwing up undigested food but is acting normal, it’s likely they simply eat too fast. It usually happens out of the blue and is not accompanied by retching or heaving. If your cat eats too fast causing them to regurgitate their food, puzzle toys and slow feeders can be used to encourage them to slow down. 

A vomiting cat will usually salivate, drool or lick their lips, followed by retching heaving of their abdomen or belly. The material vomited up can be a mix of food, foam, saliva or bile (a yellow coloured liquid). 

Now we’ve cleared that up, let’s take a look at 6 of the most common reasons for vomiting in cats, and when to worry.

6 reasons for cat vomiting

Our feline friends might be mysterious and even a little aloof, but even the most sophisticated of the bunch can fall victim to a bout of vomiting. So what causes cats to throw up? 

Hairballs 

If you’re wondering “Why do cats throw up so much?”, the answer may be found in their self-care routine. For feline friends with a passion for grooming, hairballs are a not-so-charming fact of life. To keep up their sleek appearances, cats use their rough tongues to clean and remove loose hairs. Some of this hair inevitably ends up taking a detour, building up in their digestive tract to form quite a hairy situation. Eventually, these hairballs are coughed up and out to a symphony of hacking noises and spasms. Note that it’s important to contact your vet if your cat is having any trouble coughing up hairballs as a build-up of hair in the digestive tract could lead to serious problems such as constipation or an intestinal blockage. 

Foreign bodies and obstructions

Occasionally, kitties eat something they shouldn’t have. Foreign bodies like coins, string and small toys can get stuck. Obstructions like these can be painful and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Emergency surgery is often needed to remove these objects, so talk to a vet straight away if you are concerned your cat may have eaten a non digestible item. 

Toxin ingestion 

Certain plants like lilies, bugs, and gone-off food might seem like apparent no-gos for us, but our kitties can suddenly become quite adventurous when it comes to testing their tastebuds! A nibble here and there can lead to a topsy-turvy tummy, which might make your kitty lose their appetite and have diarrhea or short term vomiting.

Parasites

Parasite infections and worms can cause vomiting in cats, along with other symptoms such as weight loss, skin irritation, and diarrhea. The good news is that parasites are easy to treat orally or topically, and most furry friends make a complete recovery. Make sure your worming product treats for all types of worms including tapeworms. If you are unsure, check in with a veterinarian.  

Food allergies and intolerances

Diarrhea and vomiting could be a sign of food sensitivity or intolerance. Once your furry friend develops a sensitivity to beef, fish, or dairy products, it tends to stick with them for life. If you suspect your cat has allergies, speak to your vet to confirm the diagnosis and follow their recommendations for food.

Serious health issues

While it’s completely normal for cats to vomit occasionally, repeated vomiting could be a sign of a serious health issue. Vomiting is a symptom of the following illnesses: 

• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Inflammatory bowl disease
• Intestinal obstruction from a foreign object 
• Hyperthyroidism
• Pancreatitis

Vomiting in cats: When to worry 

If you’re wondering “Is it normal for my cat to throw up?”, the answer is yes. If your cat throws up every now and again and has a normal appetite, standard bowel movements, and is still consuming water regularly, you probably have nothing to worry about. 

However, it’s important to contact your vet if your cat’s vomiting and lethargic, or showing other additional symptoms, including:

• A lack of appetite
• Drooling
• Diarrhea
• Reduced water intake 
• Behavioral changes

It’s also important to take a look at the appearance of your cat’s vomit. If it’s foul smelling, yellow, or contains foreign bodies, it may be a sign of something more serious. The presence of blood, bile, and mucus could also indicate something’s up, and black or brown vomit could be a sign of internal bleeding. Taking a photograph of the vomit can be very helpful for your vet to work out the cause. 

Other reasons to be concerned include if your cat is retching and heaving but is unable to vomit, or if you notice your cat throwing up more than once a day, or more than three times in a week.

Meet our veterinary expert, Corinne

This article has been checked by veterinarian Corinne Wigfall BVMBVS(Hons) BVMedSci(Hons). Corinne is originally from Wales and moved to New Zealand after graduating university. She started her career with a university based equine internship and moved onto mixed and small animal practice. Currently she splits her time between online tele triage and working in an after hours vet clinic.

When it comes to the health of our fur babies, it’s best to err on the side of caution. While vomiting is an unfortunate fact of life, it may also be a sign of an underlying health condition, and the sooner you start treating it, the better. That’s why getting a cat sitter to take care of your precious puss is the best way to ensure they’re in good hands while you’re away. Not only will they shower your kitty with love and affection, but they’ll also be there to keep an eye on their health and well-being to make sure your feline friend stays happy and healthy!