When Should I Be Concerned About My Cat Vomiting

If you keep a pet cat at home, chances are you’ve come across cat vomit on more than one occasion. Vomiting in cats is something normal, at least in most cases. There are different types of cat vomit each with a different meaning.

Sometimes a cat can vomit after eating due to a change in diet, hairballs, eating too fast, or even due to an allergic reaction to the food. However, there are instances when you should be concerned about your cat vomiting. So, when you should be concerned about your cat throwing up.

When to be concerned about your cat vomiting

The following instances should make you concerned about feline vomiting:

1. Frequent vomiting

You need to seek veterinary assistance if your cat is vomiting frequently and showing signs of illness such as lack of appetite, lethargy, drooling, diarrhea, increased thirst, increased or decreased urination, constipation, or hiding. Frequent vomiting in cats is okay as long as they do not show any signs of illness. So, the moment you see all these other signs then you need to take your cat to the vet.

2. Yellow vomit

Thick and yellow cat vomit containing foreign materials can be an indication of a serious health problem. Yellow vomit often indicates the cat’s stomach is completely empty (no food). However, it can also indicate the presence of liver disease. Check out for other signs of illnesses or liver disease to be more certain. Either way, you need to seek veterinary help if your cat’s vomit is thick yellow in color and contains foreign materials.

3. Non-productive retching

There could also be an issue if your cat is experiencing non-productive retching. If your cat keeps gagging but nothing is coming out, you should consider the possibility of gastrointestinal obstruction. Other serious health problems could be gastroenteritis (inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract) and tracheitis (infection of the trachea).

4. Green vomit

If you did not change your cat’s diet and are sure it did not eat something leafy, including catnips, green vomit should become an issue of concern. It can indicate the presence of gastrointestinal obstruction. Look out for other signs such as lethargy, lack of appetite, and inability to keep the water down. If you notice any of these then we recommend taking your cat to the vet.

5. Red vomit

Another reason to be concerned about your cat vomiting is if the vomit is red in color yet the cat did not eat any food with vibrant colors. Red liquid vomit in cats can indicate the presence of gastrointestinal bleeding, liver disease, stomach irritation, and severe gastrointestinal upset. You need to seek veterinary care for your cat if you did not change the diet yet the vomit changed to red in color.

6. Brown vomit

Assuming that food is not the cause of brown vomitus, this type of vomit may indicate serious health issues such as gastrointestinal tumors, fecal impaction (a result of severe constipation), or even cancer. You should take your cat to the vet if this type of vomit happens more than once or if you’re sure the food is not the cause.

7. Black vomit

If you notice the vomit is black immediately after the cat throws up, it could be a sign of gastrointestinal bleeding. Vomit with digestive blood can also turn into a darker shade of black and brown shortly after the cat vomits. You need to seek veterinary help for your cat because GI bleeding can be an indication of something severe.

Diseases that cause severe vomiting in cats

There are diseases that cause chronic vomiting in cats. It is not easy to tell if your cat is suffering from any of these diseases without the help of a veterinarian. That’s why we recommend seeking veterinary care for them.

That said, diseases that cause chronic vomiting in cats include:

• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Gastrointestinal motility disorders
• Renal disease
• Hepatobiliary disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Diabetes
• Neoplasia
• Infections (bacterial, viral, parasitic)
• Psychogenic disorders
• Certain medications or toxins
• Food allergies or intolerance

As you can see, you will need the help of a veterinarian to determine if your cat’s severe vomiting is caused by any of these diseases/disorders.

Final thoughts

You should be concerned about your cat vomiting if you notice your cat is vomiting too frequently or if the vomit is not the normal color or contains blood or foreign materials. You should also be concerned if your cat is throwing up and showing signs of illness mentioned above. In general, frequent vomiting is a sign your feline friend is not feeling well. That’s why you need to learn how to take care of a sick cat and make them as comfortable as possible.