Finding vomit on the floor is one of those ordinary cat-owner moments that still makes your stomach drop. Sometimes it’s a one-off after eating too fast. Sometimes it’s the first clue to something painful, obstructive, or toxic.
The safest approach is to work methodically: note what the vomit looks like, how often it’s happening, and what else has changed (appetite, thirst, toileting, behaviour). Then use those details to decide whether you can monitor at home or need a vet today.
Vomiting or regurgitation?
They can look similar, but they often point to different problems.
- Vomiting is usually active: nausea signs (drooling, lip-licking), retching, and abdominal effort. The material may be partially digested and mixed with fluid or foam.1
- Regurgitation is more passive: food comes back up with little effort, often shortly after eating, and may look tubular or undigested.1
If you’re not sure which you’re seeing, a short phone call to your vet with a description (or a quick video) can save time and guide the next step.1
Common causes of vomiting in cats
Dietary upsets (fast eating, sudden food changes, intolerance)
The simplest story is the most common: a cat bolts a meal, pinches food from another pet, or reacts to a sudden change in diet. This tends to be short-lived and the cat often looks normal between episodes.
Repeated vomiting, weight loss, or ongoing soft stools can still fit with food intolerance or allergy, but it’s also the point where your vet may recommend structured diet trials and testing rather than guesswork.1
Hairballs (trichobezoars)
Cats swallow hair during grooming. Most passes through. Some collects in the stomach and forms a hairball, which may be vomited up as a damp, cigar-shaped wad of fur.1
Occasional hairballs can be normal. What isn’t normal is frequent vomiting that gets explained away as “just hairballs”, especially in a cat that’s losing weight, off food, or vomiting fluid rather than fur.1
Helpful basics include regular brushing (especially for long-haired cats) and discussing hairball-focused diets or products with your vet if it’s happening often.1
Gastrointestinal disease (infection, inflammation, parasites, obstruction)
The gut is a busy place. Vomiting can follow viral or bacterial infections, inflammatory bowel disease, parasites, or anything that physically irritates or blocks the stomach or intestines.1
Foreign bodies matter because they can look deceptively mild early on, then escalate quickly. String is especially dangerous: it can saw through the intestines while the gut tries to move it along.2
Toxins and foreign bodies around the home
Cats don’t need to be “naughty” to be poisoned. A lick of residue, a chew on a plant leaf, or pollen brushed from fur during grooming can be enough to trigger vomiting and much worse.
High-risk hazards to take seriously
- Lilies (Lilium and Hemerocallis species) are an emergency for cats. Even small exposures (including pollen and vase water) can cause rapidly developing kidney failure, often within 12–72 hours.6, 7
- String, ribbon, tinsel, thread, fishing line and similar “linear” objects can become life-threatening if swallowed.2
- Cleaning products, human medicines, rich human foods and other household chemicals can trigger vomiting and systemic illness; if you suspect exposure, treat it as urgent.1, 4
If you suspect poisoning or a swallowed object
- Call a vet immediately (or an emergency clinic if after hours). Don’t “wait and see” with suspected toxins, lilies, or string.6, 7, 4
- Don’t try home remedies unless a vet tells you to (including trying to make your cat vomit).
- Bring details: packaging, plant name/photo, how much might be missing, and when it happened.
Systemic illnesses that can show up as vomiting
Not all vomiting starts in the stomach. Kidney disease, liver disease, pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, and other systemic problems can cause nausea and vomiting.1
This is why patterns matter: a cat that vomits often and is also drinking more, losing weight, or looking dull needs a proper exam and tests rather than another food change.1
Stress and environmental change
Stress can shift appetite and gut motility in some cats, and may contribute to vomiting in a changeable home (moving house, visitors, conflict with another cat). It’s rarely the only explanation when vomiting is frequent or severe, but it can be part of the picture.
Quiet, practical supports tend to help:
- Keep food, water, litter, and resting spots predictable.
- Offer a few safe hiding places and perches, especially in multi-pet homes.
- Use slow feeders for cats that bolt meals.
When to seek veterinary care (and when it’s an emergency)
Some vomiting can be monitored. Some needs a vet now. These are the situations where delay can cost you.
Go to a vet urgently (same day, or emergency clinic) if:
- Vomiting is repeated or persistent (for example, continues beyond 24 hours, or happens multiple times in a day).1, 2, 4
- There’s blood in the vomit, or the cat seems painful, weak, or unusually quiet.1, 4
- Your cat can’t keep water down, or you suspect dehydration (dry/tacky gums, low energy, “tented” skin).1, 5
- You suspect a foreign body (especially string/thread) or your cat is gagging/retching without producing much.2
- You suspect toxin exposure, especially lilies.6, 7
- Vomiting comes with diarrhoea, rapid decline, fever, weight loss, or a known medical condition (such as kidney disease or diabetes).1, 4
What you can do at home for a single, mild episode
If your adult cat vomits once, then returns to normal behaviour and can keep water down, it’s reasonable to monitor closely while you remove obvious triggers (sudden food changes, binge eating, access to plants/toys). If vomiting repeats, treat it as a vet problem rather than a cleaning problem.1
Be cautious with “fasting” advice. Cats can become unwell if they go without food, and withholding water can worsen dehydration. If you’re considering any short-term diet changes, check with your vet first—especially for kittens, seniors, or cats with existing disease.1
Prevention and management that actually helps
- Make diet changes slowly and avoid frequent, abrupt switching.
- Prevent bolting with puzzle feeders or smaller, more frequent meals.
- Brush regularly, particularly long-haired cats, to reduce swallowed hair.1
- Cat-proof the floor: keep string, rubber bands, and easily-chewed toys out of reach.2
- Ban lilies completely from the house and garden if you live with cats.6, 7
- Keep routine steady and provide safe resting spots to reduce stress-related gut upset.
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual (Pet Owner Version): Vomiting in Cats
- Vet Help Direct (Australia): Cat vomiting
- Perth Vet Emergency: My pet is vomiting
- RSPCA Victoria: Issues requiring medical help (includes severe vomiting guidance)
- Animal Welfare League: Your guide to pet first aid (dehydration signs)
- RSPCA Knowledgebase: Are lilies toxic to cats?
- RSPCA NSW: Toxic plants (cats and lilies)
- Vet Voice: What to do if your pet vomits or has diarrhoea
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom