As cat owners, watching your feline companion vomiting can be worrying. While occasional cat vomiting can be quite common, when it happens too frequently or unexpectedly, it can be a sign of a serious health issue.

If you’re a new pet parent, you must take a deep breath before going into panic mode and rushing to the vet. It’s important that you understand the different types of cat vomiting, what’s causing them, and how to address these episodes.

We get into the details of cat vomiting in this article so you’ll know whether your cat is simply experiencing a normal, occasional vomiting episode or if you need to call emergency vet services.

Cat Vomiting vs. Regurgitation

Sometimes, your cat may appear to be vomiting. However, you must know that they sometimes undergo regurgitation. Let’s discuss the differences between these two processes.

Vomiting

Cat vomiting is a process when your cat forcefully ejects contents from their small intestines and stomach through their mouth. The vomit would appear fully or partially digested and often comes with heaving or retching actions.

Regurgitation

Vomiting is an active process, while regurgitation is passive. This is when your cat brings up undigested food or other material without retching or any force. This happens when your cat eats too quickly or has a hairball. 

Understanding what your cat is going through is vital when taking them to the vet for a checkup. If you’re unsure whether your cat is vomiting or regurgitating, you can take a video to show your vet during the consultation to help them identify the cause of your cat’s condition accurately.

Acute vs. Chronic Cat Vomiting: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to cat vomiting, there are two main types: acute vomiting and chronic vomiting. Knowing the difference between the two can help you understand how urgent your cat’s situation might be.

Acute Vomiting in Cats

Acute vomiting happens when a cat, who doesn’t usually vomit, suddenly starts throwing up. If this happens multiple times within a short period, it could be a sign of a serious health problem.

Acute cat vomiting may need urgent vet care if your cat:

• Vomits more than three times

• Appears tired or shows signs of pain and discomfort

• Cannot keep food down

If your cat has been showing the symptoms above, then you should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible for urgent medical care.

A cat that vomits less than three times and appears normal and healthy might not need emergency care. This is unless you know that your cat has eaten something toxic.

Chronic Vomiting in Cats

If your cat vomits regularly, it’s considered chronic vomiting. It could happen once a day, week, or month over an extended period of time.

When your cat is experiencing chronic vomiting, you should take your cat for a health consultation. If you already have a scheduled check-up, make sure to mention this to your vet so your cat can be evaluated for any underlying health problems. 

Common Causes of Cat Vomiting

There are many reasons why your cat might vomit. It could be something as simple as a hairball to a more severe health problem. Observing your cat’s behavior and the specifics of the vomit can give you an idea of the problem’s root cause.

Hairballs

Hairballs are common in cats, especially those with long coats. When your cat grooms themselves, they sometimes swallows some of their fur. Sometimes, this can lead to vomiting as their fur accumulates in their stomach. While it’s normal for cats to vomit hairballs now and then, frequent hairball vomiting could mean they have a digestive system issue.

Indigestion from Objects

Cats have a curious nature, which can also lead them to trouble, like eating things they shouldn’t. Whether it’s a plant, a small toy, or spoiled food, your cat’s stomach will likely reject these non-food items. Vomiting is their way of expelling these harmful substances from their system.

Sudden Changes in Diet

A sudden change in your cat’s diet can upset their stomach and lead to vomiting. Whether you’re introducing a new type of cat food or a different brand, you must do this gradually. If you suddenly give your cat large amounts of new food, their digestive system may become upset, which can lead to vomiting.

Food Allergies or Sensitivities

Just like humans, some cats have food allergies or intolerances. If your cat is allergic to beef, fish, or chicken, their body may respond with vomiting. Food intolerances can also trigger digestive problems that lead to cat vomiting.

Gastrointestinal Issues

Conditions like IBD or inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, or gastritis can cause vomiting in cats. These health problems are often accompanied by diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, and other symptoms that may need veterinary care.

Parasite Infestation

Parasites like roundworms or hookworms can cause vomiting, especially in young kittens or underweight cats. Regular deworming treatments can help prevent these types of infections.

Chronic Diseases

Sometimes, vomiting is a symptom of a chronic condition like kidney disease, feline diabetes, or hyperthyroidism. For example, cats with kidney disease can experience vomiting because of the toxin buildup in their bloodstream.

Bacterial and Viral Infections

Bacterial and viral infections can irritate your cat’s stomach, leading to vomiting. This is their reaction to get rid of bacteria and viruses that are harming their body. These infections can worsen quickly, so prompt vet treatment is needed.

Poisoning or Toxin Ingestion

Cats can be sensitive to many household toxins, like cleaning products and certain plants. If your cat ingests anything toxic, vomiting is often their body’s way to try to expel the poison. If you suspect your cat has been poisoned, seek emergency vet care immediately.

What Your Cat’s Vomit Means

The color, texture, and contents of your cat’s vomit can give you important clues about what’s going on in their body. Here’s a guide to understanding what your cat’s vomit means.

Undigested Food

If your cat throws up food that’s not fully digested shortly after eating, it could mean they ate too quickly or have a food intolerance. Sometimes, stress can also contribute to vomiting undigested food.

Yellow Vomit (Bile)

Yellow vomit often means that your cat’s stomach is empty. Bile is a digestive fluid, and when a cat doesn’t eat for a while, the bile can irritate the stomach, causing vomiting. It could also be a sign of gastritis or acid reflux.

Hairballs

If your cat vomits a hairball, it’s usually a sign that they need to be groomed more often. Long-haired cats are more prone to vomiting hairballs, but even short-haired cats can experience them. If hairball vomiting is too frequent, it could suggest your cat has digestive problems.

Clear Liquid

Clear vomit can occur when your cat’s stomach is completely empty or they’ve been drinking too much water. Excessive water consumption can even lead to water poisoning. This can be harmful to their kidneys.

Blood in Vomit

If you see blood in your cat’s vomit, it’s always a serious concern. This could be caused by ulcers, severe inflammation, or ingestion of objects. Bright red blood means active bleeding. Dark, coffee-ground-like blood could mean internal bleeding.

Worms 

If your cat is vomiting worms, it’s a sure sign of a parasitic infestation. Roundworms are the most common parasites found in cat vomit, and kittens are the most vulnerable to these parasites.

How Vets Diagnose Vomiting in Cats

When you bring your cat to the vet, they’ll perform a few tests to find out the cause of your cat’s vomiting. Here’s what you can expect:

• Physical Examination –  Your vet will check your cat for other signs and symptoms of illness, like weakness or weight loss.

• Blood and Fecal Tests – These tests can identify infections, diseases like diabetes, or parasites like roundworms in your cat.

• Diagnostic Imaging – X-rays, endoscopy, and ultrasounds may be used to check if your cat has ingested any objects or has internal problems.

• Biopsy – In chronic cases, a biopsy might be needed to look into your cat’s gastrointestinal tract for any injuries or signs of disease.

Treatment Options for Vomiting Cats

Once your veterinarian has identified the cause of your cat’s vomiting, a personalized treatment plan will be given to your pet. It may be a combination of medications and vet procedures to treat the root cause of the vomiting episodes.

Mild Cases

For less severe vomiting, where your cat’s health is not critically affected, treatment focuses on basic medications and dietary adjustments.

Dietary Management 

The vet may recommend a diet change for vomiting caused by food sensitivities, allergies, or eating too quickly. This can involve specialized diets or eliminating certain foods to manage vomiting over time.

Medications

If your cat’s vomiting is linked to mild stomach aches, the vet may prescribe antiemetics or anti-nausea medicines to prevent vomiting. Antibiotics may also be given to solve cat vomiting due to food intolerance or mild infections.

At-Home Hydration 

If the cat's vomiting episodes haven’t caused severe dehydration, your vet may recommend offering water and oral rehydration solutions at home. Your vet may prescribe other home treatments to keep your cat hydrated.

Severe Cases

For frequent vomiting accompanied by other symptoms, which can be serious conditions, more interactive treatments may be needed.

IV Fluids

For more serious cases where your cat is becoming dehydrated, your vet may recommend hospitalization so IV fluids can be given to your cat. This is to restore fluids and prevent complications such as kidney damage.

Surgery

If your cat is vomiting due to foreign objects, gastrointestinal blockages, or tumors, surgery may be required to solve these internal issues and prevent further harm to your cat.

Specific Treatments

Your vet will prescribe targeted treatments if chronic conditions like liver problems or kidney diseases cause the vomiting. These tailored treatment plans can include prescription diets, surgeries, and medications. It will greatly depend on the severity of your cat’s condition.

How to Prevent Cat Vomiting

It may be impossible to monitor your cat 24/7 to prevent it from vomiting completely. You must not worry too much since occasional vomiting in cats is normal. However, persistent cat vomiting can mean a serious disease that needs attention.

Regularly groom your cat, especially if it has a long coat, to prevent hairball vomit. Provide safe and appropriate food for your cat with correct portions every meal to avoid overeating or eating too fast, which can trigger vomiting.

It’s also important to keep your home safe for your cat by removing substances or tiny objects that can cause harm to your pet. 

Lastly, regular vet check-ups can lower the risks of parasite infections and underlying health conditions. Your veterinarian will recommend preventive measures to keep your cat safe and healthy during your vet visits. This is why a health check-up once or twice a year is recommended.

Conclusion

Vomiting in cats is common and can often resolve on its own. However, there are cases when vomiting is caused by parasites, infections, toxins, foreign objects, and other gastrointestinal issues that require veterinary care.

With the help of your vet, it’s possible to diagnose the cause of vomiting in your cat. After knowing the cause, your veterinarian will administer medications or procedures that will help eliminate the reason for your cat’s vomiting.

Keeping your cat healthy starts with understanding your feline companion’s body. With knowledge and guidance, you can keep your cat safe from vomiting and other troubles.