What to do when your cat is vomiting or has an upset stomach

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Most cats throw up now and then, and a single episode in a cat that is otherwise eating, playing and acting normally is rarely serious. What matters is how often it happens, what comes up, and how your cat seems in between. Repeated vomiting, vomiting with other symptoms, or vomiting in a kitten or senior cat needs a vet, and quickly.

Vomiting or regurgitation?

It helps to know which one you're seeing, because your vet will ask.

• Vomiting is active. Your cat usually drools, licks its lips or makes a heaving, retching motion first, and the stomach muscles visibly contract. What comes up is often partly digested and may include yellow bile or liquid.
• Regurgitation is passive. Food slides back up with little or no effort, often soon after eating, and usually looks undigested and tube-shaped. It points to a problem in the esophagus rather than the stomach, and it should be checked by a vet if it keeps happening.

Signs of an upset stomach

• Vomiting food, liquid, foam or hair
• Drooling, lip licking or swallowing a lot
• Eating less, or walking up to the bowl and walking away
• Hiding, hunching or seeming quieter than usual
• Diarrhea at the same time
• Eating grass or plants more than usual

Common causes

• Eating too fast, especially dry food. It often comes straight back up.
• Hairballs, particularly in long-haired cats (see our guide to hairballs)
• A sudden change of food, or rich treats and table scraps
• Food sensitivity or allergy
• Eating something it shouldn't: plants, string, hair ties, rubber bands or toy parts
• Parasites, especially in kittens
• Poisoning, from plants such as lilies, human medicines, cleaning products or antifreeze
• Longer-term illness, including kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, liver disease, pancreatitis and inflammatory bowel disease. Repeated vomiting in an older cat is often the first sign of one of these.

Is it an emergency? Check this first

Call your vet or an emergency clinic now if any of these apply:

• Your cat vomits several times in a day, or can't keep water down
• There is blood in the vomit (red, or dark like coffee grounds)
• Your cat is retching without bringing anything up
• You can see string or thread in its mouth or under its tongue, or it may have swallowed a toy or other object. Never pull on string. It can cut the intestines.
• It's a kitten, a senior cat, or a cat with an existing condition such as diabetes or kidney disease
• Your cat is lethargic, weak, hiding, or its belly seems painful or swollen
• It's also straining in the litter box. A urinary blockage can cause vomiting and is life-threatening, especially in male cats.
• You think it may have eaten something toxic. Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Home care for a mild case

This is for an adult cat that has thrown up once or twice, still seems bright and alert, and has none of the warning signs above.

1. Rest the stomach for a few hours. Take the food away for a short time after vomiting, but don't go longer than your vet advises. Cats should never go without food for long, because not eating can trigger a serious liver condition called hepatic lipidosis.
2. Offer water in small amounts. A few sips at a time is better than a big drink, which can come straight back up.
3. Start with small, bland meals. A vet gastrointestinal diet is best. Plain boiled chicken breast, with no skin, bones or seasoning, is a reasonable short-term option. Offer a spoonful or two every few hours.
4. Return to normal food gradually over 2 to 3 days if no more vomiting happens.
5. Keep a note of when your cat vomits, what comes up and what it ate. Take a photo if you can. This helps your vet a lot.

If your cat regularly vomits right after eating, try smaller, more frequent meals and a slow feeder or puzzle bowl (see slow feeders for cats). Spread the food out on a flat plate if your cat gulps. In multi-cat homes, feed cats apart so nobody rushes.

Never give

• Human stomach medicines such as Pepto-Bismol, which contains a salicylate (aspirin-like) ingredient that is toxic to cats
• Any human painkiller. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is deadly to cats even in small amounts, and ibuprofen and aspirin can cause serious harm.
• Salt water or anything to make your cat vomit. Only a vet should do this.
• Cow's milk "to settle the stomach". Most adult cats are lactose intolerant and it usually makes things worse.

See a vet if

• Your cat vomits more than once or twice a month, even if it seems well
• The vomiting keeps coming back over days or weeks
• Your cat is losing weight, eating less, or drinking or peeing more than usual
• A mild upset hasn't settled within 24 hours

Frequent vomiting is not normal for cats, even if it has been going on for years. Your vet may suggest blood tests, a diet trial or imaging to find the cause, and many causes are very treatable once found.

Common questions

Why is my cat throwing up yellow liquid or foam?

Yellow liquid is usually bile, and white foam often means an empty stomach. It sometimes happens when a cat goes a long time between meals. A small late meal can help. If it keeps happening, or your cat seems unwell, see your vet.

Is it normal for cats to throw up once a week?

No. Occasional hairballs are common, but vets generally consider vomiting more than once or twice a month a sign that something needs checking, such as a food sensitivity or bowel disease.

Should I feed my cat after it vomits?

Wait a few hours, then offer a small, bland meal. Don't withhold food for a long time. Cats that stop eating can develop liver problems, so call your vet if your cat hasn't eaten for a day.

Why does my cat throw up right after eating?

Usually because it ate too fast. Smaller meals, a slow feeder and feeding cats separately often fix it. If the food comes up without any heaving, it may be regurgitation, which should be checked by a vet.

Can eating grass make my cat vomit?

Yes. Many cats bring up grass soon after eating it, and it's usually harmless if the plant is safe. Make sure your cat can't reach toxic plants, especially lilies.

Written from published veterinary guidance. How we write our guides.