My Cat Is Throwing up Clear Liquid

If your cat is throwing up clear liquid, it can be challenging to know what to do. As a concerned owner, you may wonder what problem-solving strategies are available and when to use them.

As an experienced Ragdoll owner, I’ve seen all kinds of cat vomit and researched how to know when to intervene. I know it can be scary when they are puking, and you don’t know what to do. Some cat vomit can be acute, while others can be chronic or emergency-related. Let’s unpack all the information you need to know to keep your kitty safe.

Cat vomit can be several different colors, depending on the cause. It can vary depending on what food or objects your cat swallowed, any dyes present in their food, and various other factors. So, you can’t tell what is wrong with a cat just from the color of their vomit. Yet, there are some potential causes of clear cat vomit, some of which are serious and some that aren’t.

If your cat vomits clear liquid once, there are several possibilities. They may have just drank too much water, they could be vomiting digestive fluid because of a hairball, or it could be something more serious. A one-time incident might not be a big deal, but frequent vomiting should always be cause for concern.

This post is for entertainment purposes only. Please review our terms and conditions. Always consult with your veterinarian if you are concerned about your own pet.

Although I am an experienced cat owner, I am not a veterinarian! So, while you can use this article to learn more about some of the causes of clear cat vomit, you must always get your cat checked out if you are concerned. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, cat vomiting is never normal. If your cat experiences “sudden and severe” bouts, it should be considered an emergency, and you should seek immediate medical care.

Why Is My Cat Throwing up Clear Liquid?

Clear cat vomit could be water or gastric juice from your pet’s stomach. To narrow your options, consider if your cat drinks too much water. If they are, that could be the source of the vomiting. Cats drinking too much water may have a medical condition like diabetes or kidney disease that causes them to feel too thirsty.

Take some time to monitor your kitty’s water intake, and bring it up when you visit the vet if they drink too much water. Vomiting white foam or stomach juices can be caused by a hairball or a parasite. Some tumors can also cause vomiting, so visiting your veterinarian is essential.

When Should I Be Concerned About My Cat Vomiting?

If your cat is vomiting, the first step is to monitor its current behavior. How often does it vomit? Are there any changes in their usual day-to-day behavior?

Something as simple as a hairball can make a cat vomit. On its own, it isn’t a concern, but more frequent vomiting might be a sign of a more serious health problem.

If your cat vomits more than once or for several days in a row, book an appointment with your veterinarian. Chronic vomiting is a severe sign of illness. If vomiting is new or happening more than before, you should get your pet checked out.

Look at your cat’s vomit for clues about their health. If the vomit is clear, then it might be too much water intake. This is meaningful information to share with your vet if it includes yellow bile, red blood, mucus, or undigested food.

Get your cat to the vet if their vomiting is accompanied by unusual behavior, is happening more than twice a week, or your cat is showing other signs of poor health (weight loss, excessive thirst, being more tired than usual, etc.).

Is a Cat Throwing up an Emergency?

First, inspect your cat’s vomit. Quick action with no build-up is usually regurgitation. This is less likely to be a medical emergency. However, it’s still worth booking an appointment if it’s happening a lot.

Regurgitation usually involves things from your kitty’s throat or mouth instead of things already reaching the stomach. There may be more noise when a cat is vomiting, and your cat might look unwell.

You have time to monitor your cat without rushing straight to the vet. But book an appointment if your cat vomits more than once or twice or your pet shows other concerning signs.

What Does the Color of Cat Vomit Mean?

The color of your feline’s vomit may be affected by what they ate, or it could be a sign of what might be wrong with your cat.

Red or Pink
Cat vomit that is red or pink might contain fresh blood. If your cat vomits blood, this should be considered a medical crisis, even though it could also indicate a minor injury. Of course, some cat food can also lead to red or pink vomit, depending on the contents of the food and its dyes.

Brown or Yellow
Cat vomit that is yellow or brown may indicate the presence of bile. Bile can indicate an empty stomach if your cat has already cleared its stomach or if it hasn’t been eating.

Clear
Clear cat vomit may be water, but it could also be stomach juices. The first thing you should do is monitor your pet’s eating and drinking habits. If your cat drinks more than usual or isn’t eating much, you should seek specialized help.

Black
Black vomit, especially with lumps, could be a sign of blood from the stomach. This blood is often dry or lumpy because it’s older rather than fresh blood, caused by a minor injury within the throat or mouth. Seek immediate veterinary help.

Green
Green vomit may be caused by bile (see Brown or Yellow), but it is often a sign that your cat has been eating grass or other plant material. Occasionally, grass can be coated with chemicals that may harm cats.

Can Cats Throw up From Stress?

Stress can cause a cat to vomit. Usually, vomiting is not the only sign that a cat feels stressed or anxious.

Other stress indicators include increased grooming, which might cause the fur to fall out, more frequent hiding, diarrhea, and hesitancy around eating or using their litter box. Another sign of stress in cats is increased aggression. If your cat starts swiping or hissing more, they could feel stressed, fearful, or in pain.

How Do I Know if My Cat Has Been Poisoned?

A cat that has been poisoned will probably vomit at least once. However, poison can quickly cause a cat to deteriorate and stop responding. Because cats are such small animals, they can be badly affected by just a tiny amount of toxic substances.

Outdoor cats can come into contact with many different toxic substances on their adventures. If you keep an outdoor cat, you need to know they are at higher risk of being poisoned than an indoor cat. Signs that a cat has been poisoned include twitching and unusual muscle movements, breathing problems, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Cats might collapse if they’re exposed to large amounts of poison. Rat and slug poisons are a common cause of concern for cat owners, but many other things can also poison cats. These include pesticides and weed killers, antifreeze, cleaning products, paints, and some plants and flowers harmful to cats, including daffodils, tulips, and lilies.

Look out for everyday household objects that may be harmful to your pet. Snowglobes contain antifreeze. Acetaminophen pills are harmful, even in the very smallest of doses. Chocolate is poisonous, and so are grapes, onions, and raisins. Essential oils can also poison your cat.

Some items that are safe for humans can be fatal for cats in small amounts, so if you notice signs of poisoning, it helps to be aware of where your cat has been and what they might have touched.

How Do Cats Act When They’re Sick?

A sick cat will usually show you they’re not in their best condition. Look out for vomiting, increased salivation, unusual muscle movements or twitching, loss of fur, or discharge from your cat’s eyes or nose as a sign that something is wrong. A sick cat might show signs of breathing trouble or have appetite changes. They may eat or drink much less (or more) than is typical, especially if they have food poisoning.

Look out for behavioral changes, as well as physical clues. If your cat starts hiding more, stops using its litterbox, or seems more aggressive than usual, these are other signs that it might feel unwell.

What Does Your Cat’s Vomit Look Like?

The appearance or color of a cat’s vomit can also provide some clues as to why a cat is vomiting – Although only the vet can properly diagnose the reason behind vomiting, pet parents can still use this information to get some clues and even share this information with the vet:

• Clear Vomit – It is usually gastric juices mixed with mucus. If you are wondering why the cat is throwing up clear liquid, it can be due to several reasons mentioned above.
• Yellow Vomit – This yellow color is due to the bile juice, which can indicate liver disease. But usually, it just means that the cat ate something yellow, which can also happen with an empty stomach.
• Brown Vomit (smelly) – Bleeding from the upper portion of the gastrointestinal tract can result in a brown and smelly vomit. If the cat has consumed something smelly and brown, that can also be a reason.
• White Vomit (foamy) – This one is similar to clear vomit and results in the discharge of gastric juices and mucus. If you are worried about your cat throwing up clear liquid (foamy), you can also contact your vet.
• Vomit (undigested food) – If the vomit contains undigested food, then the food was never digested. It can be due to allergies, gastrointestinal infections, or obstructions.
• Vomit (with blood) – The blood can be from the stomach, esophagus (the tube through which food passes), or mouth.

Cat Vomiting With Other Symptoms

Sometimes, a cat may also exhibit other symptoms along with vomiting. Once again, it depends on the symptoms a cat is showing. Some of these symptoms can be serious and may be a warning sign that you should consult a vet right away.

If your cat is vomiting and also shows other symptoms (mentioned below), then it can be a cause of serious concern:

• Blood in Vomiting – If you notice blood in the vomit, it may be a sign of internal bleeding.
• Vomiting too much – If the cat is vomiting too much (multiple times during a day), that can also cause serious concern.
• Weight Loss – This is also a serious symptom that may point towards hyperthyroidism.
• Twitching – If a cat is twitching along with vomiting, it may be a sign that it may have ingested poison.