Cat Keeps Throwing Up: Is It an Emergency?

When your cat keeps throwing up, it can be hard to know whether to worry or wait it out. Vomiting in cats ranges from harmless hairballs to serious medical emergencies requiring immediate attention.

Understanding when to seek help can make all the difference in your cat's recovery and health. This guide will help you recognize the warning signs and know exactly what steps to take when your cat keeps throwing up.

Top Questions About Cat Vomiting

When Should I Rush to Emergency Care?

A cat that keeps throwing up needs emergency care when vomiting happens three or more times within 24 hours. Seek veterinary care right away if you notice blood in the vomit, suspect your cat ate something harmful, or if vomiting comes with low energy or refusing to drink. These situations can signal serious problems that need quick medical help.

What Are the Warning Signs That My Cat Is in Danger?

Watch for repeated vomiting episodes, blood in vomit (appearing red or like coffee grounds), significant low energy, and refusing to drink water for over 12 hours. Other danger signals include pale gums, rapid breathing, hiding behavior, or pain when you touch your cat's stomach. If your cat shows any of these symptoms while throwing up, call a veterinarian right away.

How Do I Know If It's Mild or Serious?

Mild cases typically involve a single vomiting episode with normal behavior afterward. Your cat continues eating, drinking, and playing as usual. Serious cases involve multiple vomiting episodes, behavior changes, and additional symptoms like diarrhea or weakness. When you're not sure about your cat's condition, call your veterinarian for guidance.

Why Cat Vomiting Happens

Cats may throw up because they eat too quickly, have hairballs, experience diet changes, or have food sensitivities. More concerning causes include eating toxic substances, stomach blockages, or health conditions like kidney disease or thyroid problems. Feeling sick on an empty stomach can also cause morning vomiting in some cats. Finding the exact cause usually requires a veterinarian's assessment.

Spotting Mild Cases

Occasional vomiting (less than once a month) with normal behavior afterward usually points to a mild issue. Hairballs appear as tubular masses of hair in the vomit. Eating plants or new foods can trigger temporary stomach upset. Cats with mild vomiting maintain normal energy, appetite, and water intake. Even with mild symptoms, watch your cat closely for any changes that might signal a worsening condition.

Recognizing Serious Cases

Serious cases involve frequent vomiting (multiple times in a day) or vomiting that continues for more than 24 hours. Yellow-tinged vomit contains bile and suggests stomach emptying issues. Vomit containing foreign material, blood, or unusual colors needs immediate attention. Serious cases often come with additional symptoms like significant low energy, hiding, refusing to eat or drink, weight loss, or stomach pain. These combinations of symptoms indicate a need for urgent veterinary care.

What To Do

Step 1: Check Symptom Severity Right Away

Count how many times your cat has thrown up and note what the vomit looks like, including color and whether there's blood or foreign material. Watch your cat's behavior for signs of pain, weakness, or breathing problems. Compare what you see with the mild versus serious indicators mentioned above to determine urgency.

Step 2: Call an Emergency Clinic for Guidance

Call a veterinary emergency clinic to describe your cat's symptoms and get professional advice. Share details about how often your cat is vomiting, what the vomit looks like, and any other symptoms you've noticed. Ask about current wait times and whether you should bring your cat in immediately or watch at home.

Step 3: Prepare Your Cat for Transport if Necessary

Place your cat in a secure carrier with a soft towel for comfort. Keep the environment quiet to reduce stress. Offer small sips of water if your cat hasn't thrown up in the past hour, but don't force drinking. Withhold food during active vomiting episodes and call your veterinarian for further feeding and watering instructions.

Potential Life-Threatening Conditions

Stomach blockages from swallowed objects like string, toys, or bones can cause persistent vomiting and stomach pain. These blockages prevent food and water from moving through the digestive tract and need quick medical attention. Toxin ingestion from plants, household cleaners, or medications can cause vomiting alongside organ damage. Inflammation of the pancreas and severe infections can also trigger dangerous vomiting episodes with fever and extreme low energy. These conditions can quickly worsen without proper medical care.

Helping Your Pet Before the Vet Visit

Offering Small Sips of Water

If your cat hasn't thrown up for at least an hour, offer small amounts of water to prevent dehydration. Use a teaspoon to provide just a few sips at a time, watching for any signs of nausea afterward. Stop offering water if vomiting returns and call your veterinary clinic immediately for guidance on fluid management.

Withholding Food During Acute Episodes

Temporarily withhold food while your cat is actively throwing up to avoid further irritating the stomach. This gives the digestive system time to settle. Call your veterinarian for specific instructions on when and how to reintroduce food, as the approach depends on your cat's particular situation. Never withhold food for extended periods without veterinary guidance.

Preventing Future Vomiting

Feeding smaller, more frequent meals helps cats who throw up from eating too quickly or having an empty stomach. Consider using puzzle feeders to slow rapid eaters. Regular grooming reduces hairball formation, especially in long-haired cats. Keep a consistent diet and avoid sudden food changes that can upset sensitive digestive systems. If your cat has known food sensitivities, work with your veterinarian to find an appropriate diet that minimizes stomach upset.

We're Here to Help

Our hospitals provide care for cats experiencing vomiting, from mild cases to serious emergencies. We understand how worrying it can be when your cat keeps throwing up, and we're equipped to provide the necessary care.

For mild symptoms like a single vomiting episode with normal behavior, contact your primary-care veterinarian for an appointment. For severe symptoms such as multiple vomiting episodes, low energy, or blood in vomit, call an emergency veterinary hospital immediately. If you're not sure, call us — we can talk you through the situation.

Key Takeaways

• Seek veterinary evaluation if your cat keeps throwing up, especially if vomiting happens multiple times or comes with concerning symptoms like low energy or pain.
• Offer small sips of water during vomiting episodes and withhold food temporarily, but always call your veterinarian for specific feeding instructions.
• Early intervention often leads to better outcomes, so don't hesitate to call a veterinarian when your cat shows signs of illness.