When to see a vet for your cat's diarrhea and vomiting

Disclaimer: This article and its content and related references does not constitute veterinary advice and should not be considered a substitute for veterinary care.

While bouts of vomiting and diarrhea can be stressful for you and your cat, they may not be a sign of an emergency. However, there are signs pet owners can look for to determine if immediate veterinary attention is needed. Read on to learn:

• When is vomiting or diarrhea an emergency in cats?
• Do I need to see a vet for my cat’s vomiting or diarrhea?
• How can a Vetster online vet help my cat’s upset stomach?

While most mild cases of feline vomiting and diarrhea are due to eating something unusual, the symptoms can be caused by a variety of problems, ranging in severity, that affect the gastrointestinal tract. A variety of conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease, intestinal parasites, liver disease, infections, and even stress, can all cause cat diarrhea and vomiting. In addition, food allergies can cause chronic diarrhea and vomiting when not addressed. Regardless of the underlying cause, it’s important to know when vomiting or diarrhea are severe and warrant veterinary attention. If you are concerned about your cat's health, it's best to get your cat looked at by a vet as soon as possible to determine the best course of action to care for your cat.

Vomiting occurs even in healthy cats from time to time for various reasons. Most bouts of a mild upset stomach due to eating something unusual are not emergencies. However, there can be signs that tell owners when a vomiting cat needs to be seen by a veterinarian immediately, such as:

• Other signs of illness such as lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite, collapse, or seizures
• Vomiting that is getting worse quickly
• Vomiting that has lasted longer than 24 hours
• Fresh blood in vomit
• Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
• Vomiting in a young kitten or elderly cat
• Ingestion of a toxic substance is suspected
• The vomit contains a foreign object
• A cat is retching unproductively

Vomiting can be more serious for young cats, senior cats, and cats living with chronic illness such as diabetes or pancreatitis due to a higher likelihood of complications. It’s better to seek care for them sooner rather than waiting it out.

Vomiting in an adult, otherwise healthy cat that isn’t accompanied by other symptoms and doesn’t get rapidly worse is usually not an emergency. The presence of additional clinical signs can point to a potential emergency that needs veterinary attention, but not having them doesn’t necessarily mean that your cat isn’t having an emergency. Even if your cat seems fine otherwise but continues to vomit for more than 24 hours, it’s best to talk to a vet. When unsure, online triage with a veterinarian at Vetster can let a cat owner know when a visit to the emergency vet is advisable.

Diarrhea in cats, like vomiting, can range in severity and has a large variety of potential causes. Diarrhea in cats may be an emergency if:

• Other symptoms are present, such as vomiting, lethargy, or loss of appetite
• There is a large amount of blood in the diarrhea
• The diarrhea is black and tarry
• A young kitten, pregnant cat, or senior cat has diarrhea
• The ingestion of a toxic substance is suspected

Just like with vomiting, a cat showing additional symptoms such as these is more likely to need emergency attention, but that doesn’t guarantee it. Similarly, while most cases of loose stools without other symptoms present in an otherwise healthy cat will resolve on their own, it’s still possible that a cat with diarrhea as its only symptom is having an emergency. Any time a pet parent is concerned, an online veterinarian at Vetster can help evaluate the situation and advise whether a trip to an emergency vet is warranted.

Vomiting and diarrhea are common in cats and are usually self-limiting. While they are commonly caused by eating something unusual, otherwise known as dietary indiscretion, they also occur with many other types of health issues. It’s best to talk to a veterinarian if your cat has repeated bouts of vomiting or diarrhea, is experiencing other symptoms, has an underlying condition, or is showing signs of a potential emergency.

Other symptoms are observed

Vomiting and diarrhea are more likely to be serious when other symptoms are seen. These can include but are not limited to:

• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite
• Collapse
• Seizures
• Changes in behavior such as hiding or aggression

If vomiting and diarrhea are occurring at the same time, a vet consultation may be warranted.

There is fresh or digested blood in the stool or vomit

A couple of drops or a single small streak of blood in diarrhea or vomit can be normal due to straining and retching. However, a large amount of fresh blood in stool or vomit is an indicator of an emergency. In addition, vomit that looks like coffee grounds or black and tarry stool indicates digested blood is present, and the cat needs to see an emergency vet immediately.

The cat has underlying health conditions

Cats with certain underlying medical issues that begin vomiting or have diarrhea may require early veterinary intervention because they are at a greater risk for developing complications from something as simple as an upset stomach. It’s best to talk to a veterinarian when symptoms occur. Seek veterinary advice if your cat has, or you suspect they may have:

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Hyperthyroidism
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Cancer

The cat is very young, a senior, or unvaccinated

“Young kittens and senior cats are less able to cope with even mild cases of vomiting or diarrhea and are more likely to rapidly develop complications from a simple upset stomach, ” explains Vetster veterinarian Dr. Jo Myers. “These special populations are also at higher risk for conditions associated with vomiting or diarrhea, such as:

• Metabolic diseases such as liver or kidney disease
• Intestinal parasites
• Viral infections

Unvaccinated cats and outdoor cats, whether young or old, are more likely to be exposed to communicable diseases and parasitic infections that may cause vomiting and diarrhea. Other outdoor cats, as well as wildlife in the area, can transmit potentially dangerous diseases, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. If you’re concerned your cat may have a communicable disease and are hesitant to bring them into a clinic, you can book an online appointment with a Vetster veterinarian who can help determine your next steps.

The cat may have eaten something toxic

Ingesting toxins can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea. It’s best to seek veterinary care right away if you think your cat has been exposed to:

• Canine flea and tick prevention
• Antifreeze
• Human medications
• Rat bait or poison
• Lily flowers
• Human foods such as chocolate

Foreign bodies, such as string or rubber bands, can also cause vomiting or diarrhea by getting stuck in the digestive tract. While these objects are not toxic, they can block the intestinal tract and may require surgery to remove them.

It may be difficult to know the cause of a cat’s vomiting and diarrhea without a thorough patient history, physical exam, and diagnostic testing. Vomiting and diarrhea in cats can occur due to dozens of different causes, ranging from relatively harmless to life-threatening. Examples of illnesses that may cause vomiting or diarrhea include, but are not limited to:

• Eating something out of the ordinary
• Stress
• Food allergies
• Infectious diseases and parasites
• Bacterial infections
• Chronic health conditions
• Toxins or poisons

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. You know your cat best, so if you are concerned about your cat’s symptoms, an online veterinary professional can help decide the appropriate course of action.

In most cases, the symptoms remain mild and resolve on their own within a day or two. In a virtual vet appointment, an online vet may walk you through a video assessment of your cat to help identify signs of an emergency and offer advice about what to expect. In some cases, it may be appropriate to monitor your cat and see if it improves on its own. Veterinarians commonly recommend symptomatic therapy, such as temporarily withholding food, implementing a bland diet, and/or using probiotics, to see if that helps the cat get over its upset stomach quickly.

If the episodes of vomiting or diarrhea are accompanied by other symptoms, do not get better, or become worse, a veterinarian may suggest diagnostic tests to determine the cause of the symptoms. This testing can only be done at an in-person veterinary clinic. Blood tests, fecal tests, and imaging such as X-rays may be used to help with diagnosis. Treatments will vary depending on the diagnosis and the presence of an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed.

Online veterinarians, like those on Vetster, are an excellent tool for online triage for vomiting and diarrhea in cats. A teletriage consultation that allows you to talk to a veterinarian and have your cat “seen” is a great way to learn if your cat needs in-person care - and if so, how quickly. Online vets are also usually available 24/7 and you won’t have a long wait time. Vetster also has a convenient app that allows you to talk to a vet whenever needed. If your cat is truly experiencing an emergency, an online veterinarian can let you know that you don’t have any other options. That’s when it’s time to get to a brick-and-mortar vet or emergency center for treatment as quickly as possible.

Even if your pet isn’t having an emergency, an online appointment makes it quick and easy to get expert advice and information from a veterinarian. Virtual appointments are an easy, low-stress, convenient way to:

• Talk with a licensed veterinarian about your cat’s symptoms
• Have your cat “seen” by the veterinarian over video
• Get expert information about your cat’s symptoms
• Learn more about what to expect or the signs of an emergency
• Monitor progress for an ongoing situation
• Make future appointments to manage chronic illnesses
• Save time and money on pet care with a subscription
• Access at-home testing, such as fecal kits
• Get prescriptions delivered to your door*

Whether the condition is mild or severe, our experts can help provide advice on the appropriate course of action based on the presenting symptoms and patient history. Talk to a vet today online or through our convenient app.

*The ability to receive a prescribed medication is governed by law and at the discretion of your Vetster veterinarian.

Do I need to take my cat to the vet for vomiting?

Vomiting that lasts longer than 24 hours, is rapidly getting worse, or has other symptoms needs to be addressed by a veterinarian. Online veterinarians are an option to get an appointment quickly to address your cat’s vomiting episode.

When should I take my cat to the vet for diarrhea?

Cats with bloody diarrhea, diarrhea with other symptoms, or diarrhea for longer than 24 hours need to be seen by a veterinarian. Virtual veterinarians can offer advice on symptomatic therapy or triage for emergencies, often before an appointment can be scheduled at an animal clinic.