Cookies on this site

We'd like to use cookies to count visits and to see which of our ads bring people here. Nothing loads until you choose. Your answers about your pet never go to these tools. How we use cookies

Cookie settings

Choose what this site may use. You can change it any time with Cookie settings at the bottom of every page.
Get your pet's plan
Get your pet's plan

Cat vomiting: when to wait, when to worry, when to call the vet

Call your vet or an emergency clinic now if:

  • Bloody vomit (red streaks, coffee-grounds, fresh red)
  • Vomiting + can't keep water down for more than a few hours (cats dehydrate fast)
  • Vomiting + lethargy, hiding, or collapse
  • Suspected toxin ingestion: lilies (extremely toxic to cats, even pollen), antifreeze, household plants, medications, essential oils
  • Suspected linear foreign body: string, ribbon, or tinsel hanging from mouth or anus. Never pull it
  • Repeated vomiting (three or more times in 24 hours)
  • Vomit looks fecal or has a fecal odor: possible obstruction
  • Cat hasn't eaten for 24+ hours alongside vomiting (especially overweight cats: hepatic lipidosis risk)

For suspected poisoning in the US, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 (a fee may apply).

For suspected poisoning in Canada, call Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 (a fee applies).

For suspected poisoning in the UK, call Animal PoisonLine at 01202 509 000 (a fee applies).

For suspected poisoning in Australia, call Animal Poisons Helpline at 1300 869 738 (a fee applies).

For suspected poisoning in New Zealand, call Animal Poisons Helpline at 0800 869 738 (a fee may apply).

For suspected poisoning in France, call Centre Antipoison Animal at 02 40 68 77 40 (no charge) or CNITV at 04 78 87 10 40. Both are open 8:30 am to midnight. Outside those hours, call your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic.

For suspected poisoning in Spain, call your vet, or the Servicio de Información Toxicológica at 91 562 04 20 (open 24 hours). It is a poison centre for people that also advises on animals, so say the call is about your pet.

For suspected poisoning in Italy, call your vet, or the Centro Antiveleni di Milano at 02 6610 1029 (open 24 hours). It is a poison centre for people that also advises on animals, so say the call is about your pet.

If you think your pet ate something toxic, call your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic now.

Animal poison lines in other countries
  • For suspected poisoning in the US, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at 888-426-4435 (a fee may apply).
  • For suspected poisoning in Canada, call Pet Poison Helpline at 855-764-7661 (a fee applies).
  • For suspected poisoning in the UK, call Animal PoisonLine at 01202 509 000 (a fee applies).
  • For suspected poisoning in Australia, call Animal Poisons Helpline at 1300 869 738 (a fee applies).
  • For suspected poisoning in New Zealand, call Animal Poisons Helpline at 0800 869 738 (a fee may apply).
  • For suspected poisoning in France, call Centre Antipoison Animal at 02 40 68 77 40 (no charge) or CNITV at 04 78 87 10 40. Both are open 8:30 am to midnight. Outside those hours, call your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic.
  • For suspected poisoning in Spain, call your vet, or the Servicio de Información Toxicológica at 91 562 04 20 (open 24 hours). It is a poison centre for people that also advises on animals, so say the call is about your pet.
  • For suspected poisoning in Italy, call your vet, or the Centro Antiveleni di Milano at 02 6610 1029 (open 24 hours). It is a poison centre for people that also advises on animals, so say the call is about your pet.

If you think your pet ate something toxic, call your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic now.

Otherwise, the rest of this page helps you decide what to do.

“Cats just throw up sometimes” is one of those things people say that’s only half-true. Frequent vomiting is a symptom, not a personality trait, and in cats, problems often progress quietly until they’re advanced. Cats hide problems differently from dogs. See the “when to take to vet” framework for species-specific differences.

This is a decision framework. Use it, don’t replace your vet with it.

First decision: emergency, urgent, or wait-and-see

Emergency (call now or go to ER):

  • Bloody vomit (red streaks, coffee-grounds, fresh red).
  • Vomiting + can’t keep water down for more than a few hours (cats dehydrate fast).
  • Vomiting + lethargy / hiding / collapse.
  • Suspected toxin ingestion: lilies (extremely toxic to cats, even pollen), antifreeze, household plants, medications, essential oils. See the Cornell Feline Health Center’s common cat hazards page and the ASPCA toxic plant list.
  • Suspected string / linear foreign body: a thread, ribbon, or tinsel hanging from the mouth or anus. Never pull it. Vet now.
  • Repeated vomiting: three or more times in 24 hours. The AVMA lists more than two episodes of vomiting in a 24-hour period among emergencies that need a vet right away.
  • Vomit looks fecal or has a fecal odor: possible obstruction.
  • Cat hasn’t eaten for 24+ hours alongside vomiting (especially overweight cats: hepatic lipidosis risk).

Urgent (vet within 24h):

  • Vomiting twice in 24 hours: see your vet today or tomorrow. A third time, or any blood, moves it to the emergency list above. PDSA advises calling your vet if a cat vomits more than once, seems unwell, or has any other symptoms.
  • Vomiting alongside reduced appetite or unusual hiding.
  • Recent diet change with vomiting that keeps going. PDSA says to contact your vet straight away if a cat has been vomiting for more than 24 hours.
  • Diabetic cat or one with chronic kidney disease vomiting.
  • Senior cat with new vomiting pattern.

Wait-and-see:

  • One occasional vomit with hairball, returns to normal immediately.
  • One vomit of undigested food immediately after eating fast, then fine.
  • Otherwise totally normal cat: eating, drinking, playing.

If wait-and-see, watch closely. If at any point your cat seems unwell or vomits again, contact your vet (PDSA). Three or more times in 24 hours, or any blood: call your vet or an emergency clinic now. Give cats less benefit of the doubt.

Common non-emergency causes

  • Eating too fast. Slow-feeder bowls help.
  • Diet change. Transition gradually, mixing old and new.
  • Hairballs (occasional).
  • Mild stomach upset.
  • Stress. New baby, new home, schedule change.

Hairballs: when “normal” becomes a problem

Cats groom, swallow hair, occasionally vomit it back up. An occasional hairball is expected. VCA Animal Hospitals advises contacting your vet if your cat brings up hairballs more than once a month. Frequent hairballs can point to:

  • An underlying GI condition.
  • Excessive grooming (skin allergies, stress, parasites).
  • Dietary issues.

“Hairball formula” foods help with prevention but don’t fix underlying disease. If hairballs keep coming, vet conversation.

Common urgent causes (vet within 24h)

  • IBD, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, pancreatitis, lymphoma (see below).

“Cats just throw up” is not okay

Vomiting that keeps coming back is a symptom. Common underlying causes include:

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Affects many cats, often subtle until advanced.
  • Hyperthyroidism. Common in older cats. Vomiting + weight loss + increased appetite is a textbook triad.
  • Chronic kidney disease. Common in seniors. Vomiting may be one of the first signs.
  • Pancreatitis. Often subtle in cats.
  • Food allergies / intolerance.
  • Lymphoma (small-cell intestinal). A cause of chronic vomiting in older cats.

The Cornell Feline Health Center says cats that vomit more often than once a week should be evaluated by a vet promptly. Do not wait for that mark: if your cat vomits regularly, even less often, talk to your vet.

Common emergency causes

  • Foreign body. Cats with hair-tie, string, or ribbon habits.
  • Plant toxicity. Lilies are the worst: according to the FDA, the entire plant is toxic to cats, and a small amount of leaf, petal, pollen or vase water can cause fatal kidney failure. Other toxic plants per ASPCA list.
  • Medication or essential oil exposure. Human medicines are among the common cat hazards listed by the Cornell Feline Health Center. Treat essential oils the same way and call your vet.

What to note for your vet

Things to note:

  • Vomit count per day / week (a single number changes the conversation with the vet completely).
  • Time of day, before/after meals, content (hairball, undigested food, bile, foam, blood).
  • Appetite, water intake, urination frequency.
  • Weight (if you can: bathroom scale once a week, hold the cat, subtract your weight).
  • Energy and behavior.

Have ready for the visit:

  • Vaccination history.
  • Past bloodwork results: kidney values, thyroid (T4), pancreatic enzymes.
  • Medications, supplements, treats.
  • Diet history (brand, formulation changes).

For chronic vomiting workups, the vet wants to see months of data, not just today.

What not to do

  • Don’t give human anti-nausea or anti-acid medications without vet approval.
  • Don’t pull a string / thread that’s hanging from the mouth or anus. It can saw through tissue. Vet now.
  • Don’t ignore “just hairballs” if they keep coming.
  • Don’t wait beyond 24 hours if your cat hasn’t eaten. Loss of appetite can seriously affect an adult cat’s health within as little as 24 hours (Cornell Feline Health Center), and hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver) is a real risk, especially in overweight cats.

FAQ

My cat throws up undigested food right after eating. What does that mean?

Often eating too fast (regurgitation rather than true vomiting). Try a slow-feeder bowl or smaller more frequent meals. If it persists or worsens, vet.

How often is too often for cat vomiting?

Any regular pattern is worth a vet conversation. The Cornell Feline Health Center says more often than once a week needs prompt evaluation, and more than once in a day is a reason to call now (PDSA). Three or more times in 24 hours, or any blood, is an emergency (AVMA). “Cats just throw up” is a myth that delays diagnoses.

Cat vomiting yellow foam: is that bad?

Yellow foam is bile, often from an empty stomach. Try smaller more frequent meals. If persistent or paired with other symptoms (weight loss, low energy), vet.

My cat ate a string / hair tie. Emergency?

Yes. Linear foreign bodies cause severe intestinal damage. Vet ASAP. Never pull what you can see. It’s part of a longer string.

What plants are toxic to cats?

Lilies are the worst: even pollen exposure can cause kidney failure (FDA). Also: tulips, daffodils, sago palm, oleander, dieffenbachia, philodendron, pothos. Full list at ASPCA toxic plants.

Related

Sources