Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds • Profound lethargy alongside vomiting • Signs of pain, hunched posture, reluctance to be touched • No food or water for more than 24 hours in a Cat who also seems unwell • Suspected toxin or foreign object ingestion.
What’s normal, what’s not, and what it might mean.
Occasional vomiting that hasn’t recurred for several months is generally not a concern. However, vomiting more than once or twice a week, increasing in frequency, or any vomiting accompanied by lethargy or appetite change warrants evaluation. Monthly vomiting is not considered normal and should be discussed at your next visit.
Paying attention to what your Cat is vomiting is actually really useful: seeing undigested food points to a swallowing or movement issue; digested food or yellow bile suggests the stomach is having trouble emptying; and foamy liquid often means an irritated throat or a hairball is on the way. Finding blood in your Cat’s vomit is never normal and is always a reason to call our Care Team promptly.
A single episode of soft stool in an otherwise alert, eating Cat is often self-limiting and of no major concern. Diarrhea lasting more than 24 to 48 hours, occurring multiple times daily, containing blood or mucus, or accompanied by lethargy should prompt a visit or call.
Weight loss in Cats is always significant, even when appetite appears normal or increased. A Cat eating well but losing weight, particularly a senior Cat, should be evaluated promptly.
Appetite decrease is also clinically significant. Cats who go without eating for 24 to 48 hours can develop hepatic lipidosis more quickly than almost any other species. Never let a Cat "work through" appetite loss without veterinary guidance.
An occasional hairball every few months is usually perfectly fine, especially for medium or long-haired Cats. However, if your Cat is bringing up hairballs weekly, hacking without producing anything, or if you are noticing these signs in a short-haired Cat, there is likely an underlying health or digestive concern that we should look into. A sudden increase in grooming that triggers more hairballs may be your Cat’s way of communicating that they are experiencing skin discomfort, environmental stress, or hidden pain.
What to document and whether to fast.
- Frequency: how many times per day, and for how many days
- Content of vomit or stool, a photo is genuinely helpful
- Any blood, mucus, or unusual color visible
- Appetite: eating normally, eating less, or not eating
- Water intake: any change from normal
- Energy level: normal, quieter, or hiding more
- Any recent diet change, new food, new treats
- Other pets in the household showing similar signs
For vomiting Cats, withholding food 2 to 3 hours before the visit can reduce nausea. Do not fast a Cat that is already not eating, very young, diabetic, or frail without checking with us first.
A fresh stool sample collected within the past few hours in a sealed clean container allows us to run a fecal parasite exam at the same visit.