Anytime you notice your cat throwing up for an extended period of time, or whenever you notice that your cat is vomiting extreme amounts, it is cause for concern and a visit to the veterinarian’s office. While a small bout of vomiting can be simply due to stomach upset or a hair ball, whenever the vomiting is prolonged, or of an unusually large amount, it can be due to significant health issues.

Now, while I am going to post some of the common causes of vomiting in cats in this thread, I want to make it clear that you should not try to self diagnose your cat, and it is in your and your cats best interest to see a veterinarian regularly. This is especially true in cases of illness. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be taken as a substitute for the advice of a qualified veterinarian.

Common causes of cats throwing up include:

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is one of the most common conditions that will cause recurring vomiting in cats. In cases where cats are vomiting hairballs often, IBD can be suspected.

Pancreatitis – Eating high fat materials can cause pancreatitis, which often manifests in the cat throwing up.

Eating non-food items – Ingesting non edible materials such as Christmas tree tinsel, or similar items can cause vomiting and choking.

Worms – Worms are relatively easy to spot in the vomit, and are a common cause of cats throwing up, especially in kittens.

Poison – Ingesting poison matter such as antifreeze, pesticides and other chemicals can cause extreme vomiting in cats, and should be treated immediately.

Organ diseases – Liver and kidney diseases can both cause regular vomiting.

Stomach cancer – Tumors in the stomach can cause vomiting which will often contain blood.

The first step to cleaning up after a cat throwing up incident, is to of course remove the bulk of the mess simply by picking it up with a paper towel. Secondly, you want to ensure not to rub the carpeted area but to simply soak it with warm water for around twenty minutes. Then, blot up the water with a sponge or towel (again, do not rub the stain). After this you will want to use a stain remover and again spray the area and let it sit for about twenty minutes. After that time you can blot up the area until dry. If there is still any smell or stain present, you’ll want to use a mixture of white vinegar and warm water (about 2 parts water to 1 part vinegar) and let it soak one more time, cleaning up with a towel or sponge one last time. After completing these steps there should be no trace of cat throw up left, and you’ll be able to enjoy your carpet once again!

Of course, you’ll also want to take steps to ensure that you don’t come across worm laden cat vomit again, and ensure that your cat remains as healthy as possible. Such steps include regular check ups at the vet (annually) in order for your cat to be dewormed regularly. Also, eating dead animals can lead to worms and other feline health issues, so you’ll want to keep an eye on your cat when it’s outside (if possible). Also, ensure that you see a vet as soon as possible should you notice that your cat is acting differently than usual, such as showing signs of lethargy, lack of appetite, or other symptoms.

Remember, it’s very important to have your cat professionally treated should it have worms, as not only is your cats health at stake, but tapeworms can be passed on to humans as well.

Now, as cats will swallow a lot of hair as they groom themselves, it is impossible to get your cat to completely stop swallowing hair. However, if you are able to groom your cat frequently (once a day is best if at all possible), it will immensely cut down on the amount of hair your cat looses during its own grooming of itself, and in turn your cat will swallow less hair. This will of course result in less hair balls, and less instances of your cat vomiting.