A practical guide to tell mild from serious — but when in doubt, always ask your vet.
Last reviewed: 2026-09-05 · Reference ranges: ASPCA, Pet Poison Helpline & Merck Veterinary Manual
Veterinary advice recommended today — For most cases, follow the home-care steps below and call your vet the same day if warning signs appear.
Cats vomit hairballs now and then, but frequent or forceful vomiting, or vomiting with lethargy or poor appetite, is a reason to call your vet.
Contact your vet if any of these apply:
Keep fresh water available and remove food for a few hours. If vomiting stops, offer a small bland meal. Never give human anti-nausea medicine.
Your vet may look for dehydration, foreign bodies, hairball obstruction or illness, and may offer fluids or anti-nausea medication.
Call your vet or an emergency clinic the same day if there is blood, repeated vomiting for more than 24 hours, a painful or swollen belly, or if your pet also seems weak, wobbly or won’t eat.
No. Never induce vomiting unless your vet or a poison line tells you to. Some substances cause more damage coming back up, and home methods can be dangerous.
Same symptom in Dog: see Dog Vomiting — causes and home care can differ by species.
This page is educational triage information, not a diagnosis. Pets vary — when in doubt, ask your vet. In an emergency, contact your local emergency clinic or pet poison hotline directly.