Cat vomiting is one of the most common health issues pet owners encounter. While occasional vomiting may be a normal physiological response (such as hairball expulsion), frequent or abnormal vomiting can be a warning sign of illness. What does it mean when a cat vomits yellow liquid, white foam, or undigested food? This article provides a detailed analysis of cat vomiting causes, how to interpret vomit colour, when to see a vet, and daily prevention methods to help you protect your cat's health.

Is Cat Vomiting Normal?

Cats have a more developed vomiting mechanism than other animals, and occasional vomiting doesn't necessarily indicate illness. However, the following situations are abnormal and require attention:

Normal vs Abnormal Vomiting Frequency

Complete Guide to Cat Vomiting Causes

There are many causes of cat vomiting. Below are the common cat vomiting causes:

1. Hairballs (Most Common)

Cats spend a significant amount of time grooming daily, and the hair they lick accumulates in the stomach to form hairballs. Normally, hairballs pass through with faeces, but when there's too much hair or poor intestinal motility, it irritates the stomach lining and triggers vomiting.

• Vomit is usually cylindrical, containing clumps of hair
• More common during shedding seasons (spring and autumn)
• Long-haired cats are more prone to this

2. Prolonged Empty Stomach

Extended periods without food cause stomach acid and bile to accumulate, irritating the stomach lining and triggering vomiting. This is the most common cause of cats vomiting yellow liquid.

• Common in the morning (after fasting overnight)
• Vomit is yellow or yellow-green liquid
• Cat usually maintains normal energy and appetite otherwise

3. Eating Too Fast

When cats gobble their food, they swallow large amounts of air, and the food isn't properly chewed, easily irritating the stomach and triggering vomiting.

• Vomit consists of undigested or partially digested food
• Usually occurs within minutes to 30 minutes after eating
• More common in multi-cat households with food competition

4. Food Issues

• Spoiled Food: Eating expired or spoiled food
• Changing Food Too Quickly: Switching food directly without a transition period
• Food Allergies/Intolerance: Sensitivity to certain ingredients
• Eating Human Food: Greasy, salty, or foods toxic to cats

5. Digestive Tract Diseases

• Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach lining causing nausea and vomiting
• Gastroenteritis: Often accompanied by diarrhoea
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): A common cause of chronic vomiting
• Pancreatitis: Causes frequent vomiting when severe

6. Foreign Body Obstruction

Cats ingesting foreign objects (such as string, rubber bands, plastic) causing gastrointestinal obstruction is a situation requiring emergency treatment.

• Repeated vomiting, inability to eat
• Abdominal pain, bloating
• May require surgery to remove the foreign object

7. Other Diseases

Frequent cat vomiting may be a symptom of the following systemic diseases:

• Kidney Disease: Uraemia causes nausea and vomiting
• Liver Disease: Abnormal liver function
• Hyperthyroidism: Common in senior cats
• Diabetes: Vomiting occurs during ketoacidosis
• Parasitic Infection: Heavy roundworm infestation, etc.
• Tumours: Gastrointestinal tumours

Interpreting Causes by Vomit Colour

Observing the colour of cat vomit helps with initial assessment of the cause:

When Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet?

The following situations are emergency warning signs requiring immediate veterinary attention:

Seek Immediate Care (Emergency)

• Vomiting 3+ times within 24 hours
• Vomit contains fresh blood or coffee-coloured material
• Suspected ingestion of foreign objects or toxins
• Unable to eat or drink for more than 24 hours
• Accompanied by severe diarrhoea (especially bloody)
• Signs of dehydration (skin loses elasticity, dry gums)
• Abdominal swelling or pain when pressed
• Difficulty breathing or weakness
• Eyes twitching during vomiting

See a Vet Soon (Within 12–24 Hours)

• Vomiting daily for several consecutive days
• Significant weight loss (more than 5%)
• Noticeably decreased energy and appetite
• Sudden significant increase in water intake
• Vomiting accompanied by fever

Examination Recommended

• Vomiting more than 3 times per week
• Cat vomits frequently but maintains normal energy and appetite
• Frequent vomiting persists after adjusting feeding
• Vomiting continues for more than 5 days

Kittens and Senior Cats

Kittens (under 8 weeks) and senior cats (over 10 years) have weaker resistance, and their condition can deteriorate more quickly after vomiting:

• Kittens vomiting more than once with low energy → Seek immediate care
• Senior cats vomiting frequently → Need to rule out kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, etc.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Cat Vomiting

Veterinarians will develop a treatment plan based on medical history and examination results:

Diagnostic Methods

• Physical Examination: Abdominal palpation, assessing dehydration level
• Blood Tests: Assessing kidney and liver function, electrolytes, infection markers
• X-ray: Checking for foreign objects, intestinal obstruction, intestinal wall thickness (82% diagnostic rate)
• Ultrasound: Assessing intestinal wall thickness, lymph nodes, pancreas
• fPLI Test: Diagnosing pancreatitis
• Faecal Examination: Ruling out parasites

Treatment Methods

Home Care and Prevention for Cat Vomiting

The following methods can help reduce cat vomiting:

For Empty Stomach Vomiting (Cat Vomiting Yellow Liquid)

• Give a small amount of food before bedtime to avoid overnight fasting
• Change to small, frequent meals (3–4 times daily)
• Use an automatic feeder for timed feeding

For Eating Too Fast

• Use a slow feeder bowl or puzzle feeder
• Spread food across a flat plate
• Feed cats separately in multi-cat households
• Small, frequent meals

For Hairball Issues

• Regular brushing (daily for long-haired cats, 2–3 times weekly for short-haired cats)
• Use hairball paste or hairball remedy powder
• Feed hairball control formula food with added fibre
• Cat grass helps expel hairballs

Daily Prevention

• Choose quality cat food; avoid frequent food changes
• Transition over 7–10 days when changing food
• Keep string, rubber bands, and other easily swallowed items out of reach
• Regular deworming
• Regular health check-ups

Cat Vomiting FAQs

Petcore Veterinary Clinic Cat Vomiting Services

Petcore Veterinary Clinic provides comprehensive cat vomiting diagnosis and treatment services:

• Physical Examination: Detailed health assessment
• Blood Tests: Liver and kidney function, electrolytes, pancreatic markers
• X-ray Examination: Ruling out foreign objects and intestinal obstruction
• Ultrasound Scan: Assessing abdominal organs
• Fluid Therapy: Correcting dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
• Medication Prescriptions: Anti-emetics, gastric medication, antibiotics
• Dietary Advice: Gastrointestinal prescription diet recommendations
• Surgical Treatment: Foreign body removal (if needed)

Contact Us

• Yuen Long Clinic: G/F, 30A Fuk Tak Street, Yuen Long, N.T. | Phone: 2394-7300
• Sai Kung Clinic: Shop 2, 66 Yi Chun Street, Sai Kung, N.T. | Phone: 2394-4228
• WhatsApp: 9889-5518
• Website: www.petcore-vet.com

If your cat experiences frequent vomiting, vomiting yellow liquid, or bloody vomit, please bring your cat for examination as soon as possible. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent the condition from worsening and help your cat recover. The professional team at Petcore Veterinary Clinic is always ready to provide quality medical care for your beloved cat.