Cat Vomiting: 11 Reasons Your Cat May Be Throwing Up

Most cat owners are familiar with cat vomiting behaviors. It starts with that sudden retching sound from your cat, followed by the dreaded cleanup. Hairballs can cause your cat to vomit from time to time. But there are other reasons a cat could be vomiting more regularly, including certain health conditions that require treatment.

Read on to learn the most common reasons cats throw up and when it’s time to get help.

Common causes of vomiting in cats

Cats vomit for a number of reasons. While hairballs are common for cats, other health conditions can be more serious. Here are common reasons your cat may be throwing up.

1. Hairballs

Fur usually passes through a cat’s digestive system and is pooped out. But when loose hair isn’t digested, cats may throw it up as a hairball. 

“In some situations, cats who get hairballs may have an underlying disease,” Ann Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM, senior veterinarian at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York, told GoodRx Health. “Their intestine is not working well, and therefore the hairs are not passing through.”

You can help prevent hairballs by regularly brushing your cat. But if kitty is regularly vomiting up hairballs, contact your veterinarian to rule out digestive problems.

2. Eating too fast

Some cats may eat food too quickly, causing them to vomit. There are a number of reasons your cat may eat too fast.

If you have more than one cat, consider whether they’re competing for food and try separating them as they eat. Or try serving their food in an egg carton or buying a slow-feeder bowl to slow things down a bit.

3. Eating things they shouldn’t

If your cat eats something they shouldn't, it can lead to vomiting. Many common household items are toxic to cats, including:

• Human medications, including antidepressants and OTC medications

• Human foods, such as chocolate, nuts, and onions

• Plants and flowers, including lilies, aloe vera, and lavender

• Household products, such as antifreeze and cleaning and bath products 

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Objects that can get stuck in a cat’s digestive tract could also lead to vomiting. Keep things such as string, hair ties, and thread far away from your cats.

The FDA has a list of toxic or dangerous items that pets could ingest. If you’re not sure or you think your cat did consume something toxic, call a pet poison hotline.

4. Medication side effects

Any medication that a veterinarian prescribes for your cat could potentially cause vomiting as a side effect. Examples of medications that can cause vomiting include:

• Doxycycline

• Fluoxetine (Prozac)

• Meloxicam

• Methimazole

• Metronidazole

• Prednisolone

If you notice that your cat starts vomiting or their appetite is off after starting a new medication, call your veterinarian. “They can give you suggestions on how to better time the medication, with or without meals, or get a new prescription that sits better in your cat’s stomach,” Hohenhaus said.

5. Inflammatory bowel disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can cause cats to throw up. More common in older cats, IBD occurs when the intestinal walls become inflamed. This prevents the intestines from absorbing nutrients and can lead to digestive problems in your cat. 

Other signs of IBD in cats include: 

• Weight loss

• Diarrhea

• Lack of energy

• Loss of appetite

• Blood in their poop

6. Intestinal parasites

Intestinal parasites can make cats vomit. Cats who live outdoors or in an animal shelter are more at risk of getting intestinal parasites such as roundworm or tapeworm. Kittens are also at higher risk.

Other signs of intestinal worms in cats include:

• Diarrhea

• Weight loss

• Dull coat

• Pot belly

• Cough

• Dehydration

• Blood in their poop

• Small white grains in their poop (tapeworms)

7. Pancreatitis 

Pancreatitis — inflammation of the pancreas — generally “just makes cats feel crummy,”  Hohenhaus said. 

Pancreatitis can cause some cats to vomit, along with other symptoms including:

• Lack of appetite

• Low energy

• Weight loss

• Abdominal pain

8. Kidney disease

Kidney disease can cause vomiting as your cat’s kidneys, which filter toxins, lose function. It “gradually gets worse over time,” Hohenhaus said. “Once the kidneys are really not working well, then cats can be really sick.” 

Other signs of kidney disease in cats include:

• Increased thirst 

• Increased urination 

• Lack of energy

• Loss of appetite

9. Hyperthyroidism

Cats with hyperthyroidism have an overactive thyroid gland, which speeds up their metabolism. “They become very hungry,” Hohenhaus said. “Oftentimes in that process of, ‘I’m starving, and I need to eat,’ then they start to do a lot of vomiting.”

Along with vomiting, cats with hyperthyroidism may experience:

• Weight loss

• Increased thirst

• Increased urination

• Diarrhea

10. Liver disease

Liver disease is another chronic condition that can cause cats to throw up. Cats can develop liver disease due to other digestive conditions, cancer, or diabetes. But anytime a cat stops eating, especially suddenly, they can develop liver disease. 

In addition to vomiting, other signs of liver disease in cats include:

• Weight loss, often fast and sudden 

• Lack of appetite

• Diarrhea

• Weakness

• Yellowish eye whites, gums, and skin (jaundice)

11. Food allergies or intolerances

In rare cases, cats can be allergic to certain food ingredients, including chicken or seafood. This can cause itching and diarrhea, in addition to vomiting. But food allergies are not the most common cause of vomiting, Hohenhaus said. 

What to do after your cat vomits

After your cat vomits, keep an eye on them for a while. Make note of their behavior and any additional signs of distress, including:

• Repeated vomiting

• Loss of appetite

• Lack of energy

• Weight loss

• Diarrhea

If your cat seems normal after vomiting and it doesn’t happen again, there’s likely nothing you need to do. Just keep an eye on them. 

“You have to think about, how does the cat feel?” Hohenhaus said. “So the cat yaks up a hairball and then is climbing up your drapes and trying to get outside because it wants to go in the backyard? Not too worried.”

You might also want to hold off on offering food for a little while right after your cat throws up. But do always provide them with fresh water. 

What to do if your cat continues throwing up

If you notice repeated vomiting or other symptoms, call your cat’s veterinarian. Cats who vomit several times over the course of a few days should see a veterinarian. If your cat has vomited more than once in a week and isn’t eating, that’s another sign it’s time to talk to your veterinarian.

There are also times when throwing up becomes an emergency. If there’s blood in your cat’s vomit or diarrhea, they should also see a veterinarian as soon as possible.

“If the cat vomits many times a day, isn’t eating, looks like a dishrag — that’s an emergency,” Hohenhaus said.

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Written by:

Amy Jamieson

Amy Jamieson worked at People magazine and People.com for more than a decade. She covered a variety of topics including celebrities, television, pets, and human interest stories like September 11.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM, is from Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Princeton University for undergraduate studies. After a year of biology research at Duke University, he attended Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine.

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