My cat is vomiting — when to see the vet?

Cat vomiting: when is it serious?

Occasional vomiting: often normal

Cats vomit more often than most other pets, and it isn't always a reason to worry. Hairballs, eating too quickly, a blade of grass from the garden: these are common, harmless causes. But when does it become serious? And when do you need to act straight away?

Harmless causes of vomiting

Hairballs: Cats groom themselves regularly, and swallow hair as they go. It collects in the stomach and is usually brought back up as a ball. That's normal and no cause for concern if it happens about once a week and your cat is otherwise fit and well.

Eating too fast: Cats can be greedy too. When Luna empties her bowl in 30 seconds, the food sometimes comes straight back up just as fast. One fix: special slow-feeder bowls.

Eating grass: Cats sometimes eat grass and vomit afterwards. That's natural behaviour, not an emergency.

Warning signs: when to see the vet right away

Act straight away if you notice any of these signs: blood in the vomit (red, or dark brown like coffee grounds); vomiting more than three or four times within a few hours; apathy, weakness, or your cat not being able to get up; a bloated, hard or painful belly; or suspected poisoning (access to plants, cleaning products or medication).

See a vet within 24 hours if: the vomiting has lasted more than a day; there's weight loss over a short period; your cat is drinking unusually much or not at all; there's diarrhoea alongside the vomiting; or there's a loss of appetite for more than a day.

What can be behind repeated vomiting

If Luna vomits more often than normal, several conditions could be behind it: gastritis, a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract, kidney disease, an overactive thyroid (common in older cats), diabetes, or in more serious cases, tumours.

All of these conditions are treatable, and some very well when caught early. An early diagnosis often saves money and, above all, suffering. If you're unsure, the Lassie app gives you quick access to a vet online, ideal for a first assessment.