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My 5 kg cat drank a tablespoon of white vinegar 3 hours ago and vomited once — how long should I monitor her?

Cats · Food safety

Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual

Short answer

Monitor her closely for the next 24 hours. Vinegar is acidic and irritating, so a single bout of vomiting is common. The main risk after the initial upset is dehydration if she keeps vomiting or refuses water. Offer small amounts of fresh water frequently and watch that she's drinking normally. Check her gums—they should be pink and moist, not tacky or pale. If she stops vomiting, eats a small meal, and acts normally by tomorrow morning, she's likely fine. Call your vet if she vomits again, becomes lethargic, or shows any sign of abdominal pain like hunching over.

Vinegar — Food safety facts

Feed with care · Cats · full breakdown on the linked food page

Acidic and irritating. Small amounts in food are harmless, drinking it is not.

Dogs and cats carry the same rating (Feed with care), so the notes below hold for either pet.

Vinegar is not poisonous to cats, but it is easy to over-feed. Rich fat, salt or seasoning can bring on vomiting or diarrhoea within a day, and repeated large portions are a recognised trigger for pancreatitis.

If it ate some before you noticed, watch for vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, unusual tiredness or a painful, swollen abdomen over the next 24 hours. A one-off small amount in a healthy adult usually passes with water and rest; repeated exposure, a puppy or kitten, a senior, or a pet with an ongoing illness is a reason to call your vet the same day.

Vinegar can turn up now and then, but not as a daily habit: keep the rest of the day's food unchanged and watch the litter box and how quickly they finish the next meal.

The full verdict, portion guidance and serving notes are collected on the Vinegar food facts page.

Open the full food page: Vinegar food facts →