As a devoted cat owner, you have likely experienced your feline companion vomiting from time to time. While occasional vomiting is normal, especially if your cat ate too fast or has a sensitive stomach, the color of the vomit can sometimes indicate a more serious health issue. Knowing the meaning behind different vomit colors can help you determine when it’s time to call the vet. This guide covers the most common cat vomit colors, what they mean, possible causes, home remedies, prevention tips, and when professional veterinary care is needed.
Normal Cat Vomit Colors
Cats can vomit up food in its original color if they eat too quickly or too much at one time. Seeing beige, brown, or shades of kibble in the vomit is often perfectly normal and not a cause for alarm. According to Catster, most brown vomit simply indicates the cat ate brown colored food too quickly and their body is rejecting it (https://www.catster.com/guides/cat-vomit-color-chart/). As Charity Paws explains, yellow or beige vomit is also common and typically results from bile being present, especially if the cat has an empty stomach (https://charitypaws.com/cat-vomit-color-chart-what-colors-mean/). So finding shades of your cat’s normal food in their vomit does not necessarily signify an underlying issue. However, frequent vomiting of undigested food may indicate other problems like eating disorders, food allergies, or gastrointestinal disease, so it’s worth monitoring.
When to Be Concerned
While vomiting is relatively common in cats, certain vomit colors can indicate potentially serious underlying health issues that require veterinary care. According to Catster (https://www.catster.com/guides/cat-vomit-color-chart/), pet owners should watch for these abnormal vomit colors that warrant a trip to the vet:
Bright Red: Bright red vomit often indicates the presence of fresh, oxygenated blood, which could signal a serious issue like an ulcer, cancer, or trauma. Seek immediate veterinary care if the vomit is bright red.
Dark Red: Darker red vomit is still a concern, as it signifies the presence of older, digested blood coming from somewhere in the GI tract (https://charitypaws.com/cat-vomit-color-chart-what-colors-mean/). Have your vet examine your cat.
Black: Black vomit can mean blood has been digested and looks like coffee grounds. According to A-Z Animals (https://a-z-animals.com/blog/cat-vomit-color-chart-discover-what-each-color-means/), black vomit with a tarry texture needs immediate emergency vet care.
Yellow: Yellow vomit may indicate a liver or intestinal issue, especially if it smells foul. Seek veterinary advice promptly if your cat has yellow vomit.
Causes of Abnormal Colors
There are a few key conditions that can cause a cat to vomit abnormal colors like red, brown, yellow, or green:
Internal bleeding: Vomit that is red or looks like coffee grounds can indicate the presence of blood in the vomit. This blood is often coming from somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract like the esophagus, stomach, or intestines and can signal internal bleeding. According to vcahospitals, internal bleeding should be treated as an emergency.
Liver disease: Liver issues can cause yellow vomit from the bilirubin pigment in bile. Liver disease reduces the liver’s ability to digest and process bile, allowing it to build up and be vomited up. Yellow vomit is often a sign of jaundice and liver problems, as The Cat Doctor Atlanta notes.
Bile issues: An intestinal blockage or inflammation can prevent bile from properly passing through and digesting in the small intestine, resulting in yellowish-green vomit, per Best Friends Animal Society. This may indicate a gallbladder issue.
Diagnosing the Issue
If a cat is experiencing frequent or severe vomiting, especially if other symptoms like lethargy or diarrhea are present, a veterinary exam is recommended to diagnose the underlying cause. The vet will take the cat’s full medical history and ask questions about diet, environment, symptoms, and other factors that could be contributing.
The physical exam allows the vet to check for signs of dehydration, tenderness, or other issues that may point to the source of the problem. Tests like blood work, urinalysis, imaging such as X-rays or ultrasound, and endoscopy procedures may be used to examine the gastrointestinal tract and look for potential causes of vomiting.
Bloodwork can check for indicators of infection, liver or kidney problems, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, or other conditions. Imaging like X-rays or ultrasound allow the vet to look for foreign objects, tumors, obstructions, or other anatomical issues. Endoscopy utilizes a tiny camera on a flexible tube to directly visualize the esophagus, stomach, and upper intestines.
These diagnostic tools help the vet pinpoint whether the cat is dealing with something like inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal parasites, food allergies, pancreatitis, or other illnesses leading to vomiting. Once the underlying cause is identified, proper treatment can be determined.
Treating Underlying Conditions
If a serious underlying condition is causing your cat to vomit abnormally colored material, the veterinarian will recommend treatment options based on the diagnosis. Common treatments include:
Surgery
Surgery may be necessary to remove blockages, tumors, or other issues causing vomiting. For example, surgery can remove an intestinal foreign body if your cat swallowed something indigestible (VCA Animal Hospitals).
Medications
Medications can treat inflammation, infection, kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, and other conditions leading to vomiting. For inflammatory bowel disease, steroids like prednisone are often prescribed (Best Friends).
Diet Change
Switching to a gastrointestinal, low-fat, or easily digestible diet may help resolve issues like food allergies. Dietary therapy is commonly used for feline inflammatory bowel disease (Cornell).
At-Home Care
If your cat is vomiting frequently at home, there are some simple care methods you can try before taking them to the vet. Focus on hydration, feeding them a bland diet, and giving them rest.
Make sure your cat stays hydrated by providing fresh, clean water at all times. You can also try giving them unflavored Pedialyte electrolyte solution in small amounts with a syringe or dropper. Dehydration is a serious risk with frequent vomiting, so keeping them hydrated is key.
Feed them a bland, easy-to-digest diet like boiled chicken, boiled white fish, or meat baby food with no onions or garlic. Give them small portions frequently rather than large meals. This gives their stomach a chance to settle.
Let your cat rest and avoid stressful situations. Provide them with a comfortable, peaceful area with their litter box nearby. Monitoring their vomiting frequency and being attentive to their needs can help them feel secure.
While home care can provide relief, if the vomiting persists more than a day or your cat seems lethargic, immediately contact your vet. Dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and other issues may require medical treatment.
With some TLC and a bland diet, mild vomiting may resolve on its own. But repeated or severe vomiting requires a vet’s care. Always monitor your cat closely and don’t hesitate to call the vet if you have any concerns.
Prevention
There are a few key things cat owners can do to help prevent conditions that cause abnormal vomit colors and frequent vomiting:
- Feed a high quality diet – Choose a reputable cat food brand that contains quality ingredients and nutrients. Avoid cheap foods filled with fillers. Stick to a consistent diet and make changes gradually.
- Ensure proper exercise – Cats need daily playtime and activity to stay healthy. Engage your cat with interactive toys and play to get their energy out.
- Annual vet visits – Bring your cat to the vet once a year for a wellness exam. Your vet can assess your cat’s overall health and watch for any issues.
With proper nutrition, activity levels, and preventative care, you can help avoid conditions that lead to excessive vomiting in cats.
When to See a Vet
While occasional vomiting is normal in cats, persistent vomiting or vomiting accompanied by concerning symptoms warrants a veterinary visit. According to the VCA Animal Hospitals, you should take your cat to the vet if vomiting occurs more than 2-3 times per day or lasts more than 1 day.
Signs that vomiting may indicate a serious problem include lethargy, appetite loss, weight loss, diarrhea, abnormal color or smell of vomit, and inability to keep food or water down. The VetHelpDirect blog advises contacting your vet promptly if your cat is repeatedly vomiting abnormal matter. Prolonged issues keeping food down can lead to dangerous dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Texas A&M Veterinary Medicine also states you should see your vet if your cat is vomiting frequently or showing other problematic symptoms like lethargy, appetite loss, drooling, diarrhea, or hiding. Vomiting combined with lethargy and appetite loss is particularly concerning, as it may indicate a systemic illness requiring prompt veterinary attention.
Conclusion
In summary, cat vomit color can provide important clues about your cat’s health. Normal vomit is clear, yellow, or brown. Clear indicates expulsion of saliva or bile. Yellow and brown generally indicate food contents being expelled. You should be concerned with red, black, or unusual colors, as these can indicate blood or internal issues. Causes range from eating indiscretions to serious illnesses. It’s important to monitor vomit color and consistency, as this can aid diagnosing and prompt veterinary care. Quick action improves outcomes. At home, withhold food briefly and use remedies like chicken broth to soothe an upset stomach. Prevention involves monitoring diet, environment, and behavior changes. Overall, being aware of vomit color changes facilitates early detection of illness in cats.
Monitoring and understanding changes in cat vomit color are important for any cat owner. Detecting issues early allows for prompt veterinary diagnosis and care, improving health outcomes. By knowing what is normal and abnormal, owners can determine when to use at-home care versus seeking professional veterinary assistance. Being vigilant to changes in vomit helps catch conditions before they worsen. With greater awareness and quick response, cat owners can provide the best care for their beloved feline companions.