# Cat Nausea and Vomiting: Safe Home Treatment If your cat is vomiting or acting queasy, the safest first step is to stop offering food for a short time and keep fresh water available. Do not reach for human anti-nausea medicine, because several common ones are toxic to cats. What you can give your cat for nausea depends on the cause, so the right move is a short fast, then a bland meal, and a call to your veterinarian if things do not settle. This article is educational and is not a substitute for veterinary diagnosis or treatment. ## Quick Answer - Withhold food for at least 12 hours if your cat's stomach or intestines seem inflamed, but always leave fresh water out [1]. - Do not feed your cat right after a vomiting episode, because it can make them feel worse [1]. - After the fast, offer a small amount of bland food such as canned tuna packed in water [1]. - Never give human anti-nausea drugs unless your veterinarian prescribes them for your cat. - Go to a veterinary clinic right away if your cat vomits during the fast, refuses the bland food, or becomes lethargic [1]. ## What Cat Nausea and Vomiting Actually Look Like Vomiting is the forceful ejection of stomach and upper small intestine contents through the mouth. It usually comes with heavy drooling, repeated swallowing, retching, and strong contractions of the belly and diaphragm [2]. That pattern matters, because it separates vomiting from regurgitation. Regurgitation is passive. Food or fluid slides back up without effort or belly contractions, and the material often looks undigested and may keep a tube shape from the esophagus [2]. Nausea is the quieter part. Your cat may lick their lips, drool, swallow repeatedly, or walk away from the food bowl. Some cats hide or sit hunched. These signs can show up before any vomit appears. An occasional hairball is common. Repeated hairballs or repeated vomiting are not normal, and something more serious than a hairball could be behind them [2]. ## Main Causes of Vomiting in Cats Vomiting has many causes. Digestive system disease is one. So are kidney or liver failure, pancreatitis, and nervous system disorders [2]. Other causes include poisons, insect stings or snake bites, internal parasites (including heartworm disease), infections, inflammation, drugs, swallowed foreign objects, food allergy, and tumors [2]. | Cause | Typical clues | How urgent | |---|---|---| | Dietary upset or food allergy | Vomiting after a new food, otherwise bright and eating | Routine visit if it repeats | | Swallowed foreign object | Sudden vomiting, no appetite, possible string or toy missing | Emergency now | | Poison or toxin exposure | Drooling, vomiting, tremors, known exposure | Emergency now | | Internal parasites (including heartworm disease) | Weight loss, poor coat, vomiting that comes and goes | Same day to routine | | Kidney or liver failure | Increased thirst, weight loss, poor appetite, vomiting | Same day | | Pancreatitis | Belly pain, hunched posture, refusing food, vomiting | Same day to emergency | | Infection or inflammation | Fever, lethargy, vomiting, diarrhea | Same day | | Tumor | Chronic vomiting, weight loss, older cat | Routine visit, sooner if severe | | Drug reaction | Vomiting starting after a new medicine | Same day, call the vet | If your cat started vomiting after a new medication, see [What to Do If Your Cat's Medication Is Causing Vomiting: Home Care and When to Call the Vet](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/pet-medication-guide/what-to-do-if-your-cats-medication-is-causing-vomiting-home-care-and-when-to-call-the-vet). ## Red Flags That Mean an Emergency Some signs mean you should not wait. Go to a veterinary clinic right away if your cat vomits during a fast, if bland food upsets their stomach, if they show no interest in eating, or if they are lethargic [1]. Call your veterinarian first if your cat is diabetic, so they can tell you the best course of action [1]. Other reasons to seek care without delay include repeated vomiting in a short window, vomiting with a known toxin exposure, belly pain, or a cat who cannot keep water down. Vomiting that keeps coming back is not something to manage at home for days. ## What You Can Do at Home While You Wait ### Fasting and water If your cat's stomach or intestines are inflamed, withhold food for at least 12 hours. Keep fresh water available the whole time [1]. Do not feed your cat right after they vomit. Offering food too soon can make them feel worse [1]. ### Reintroducing food After 12 hours have passed, give a small amount of bland food, such as canned tuna packed in water [1]. Keep the portion small and see how your cat handles it. If your cat vomits again during the fast, if the bland food upsets their stomach, if they refuse the meal, or if they seem lethargic, take them to a veterinary clinic right away [1]. For more gentle feeding ideas, see [Cat Upset Stomach: Home Remedies That Are Safe](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/digestive-and-urinary-care/cat-upset-stomach-home-remedies). ### What not to do Do not give human anti-nausea medicine on your own. Cats handle drugs differently than people, and the wrong medicine or dose can cause serious harm. Any anti-nausea drug for your cat should come from your veterinarian, who will calculate the dose from your cat's weight and health. Do not force food or water. Do not offer rich, fatty, or spicy table food. Do not assume a hairball is the whole story if vomiting keeps happening [2]. ## Cat Medicine for Nausea: What Veterinarians Prescribe Several prescription antiemetics are used in cats. The choice depends on the cause, the severity, and your cat's other health conditions. Maropitant is a widely used antiemetic for treating acute and chronic vomiting in cats. It comes as tablets or an injectable solution [3]. In one review of controlled studies, maropitant reduced the risk of vomiting compared with control, with vomiting in 11 of 141 treated cats versus 70 of 152 controls [4]. Ondansetron and metoclopramide are also used. In a study of cats given dexmedetomidine, maropitant, ondansetron, and metoclopramide all significantly reduced retching and vomiting compared with a saline control [5]. A separate study found the incidence of vomiting was very low with either butorphanol or maropitant alongside dexmedetomidine [6]. Route matters when a cat is already nauseated. Oral and injectable options can be hard to give to a vomiting cat, so transdermal maropitant has been studied as an alternative. In one report, compounded transdermal maropitant was applied to the inner ear once daily for five consecutive days in cats with at least two vomiting episodes in the prior 72 hours [3]. Your veterinarian will decide which drug fits your cat and will calculate the dose from your cat's weight and health. Never borrow a prescription from another pet or split a human tablet. ## What Your Veterinarian Will Check and Test Your veterinarian will start with a full history. They will want to know when the vomiting started, how often it happens, what it looks like, and whether your cat is eating, drinking, and using the litter box normally. The physical exam checks hydration, belly comfort, gum color, weight, and temperature. Your vet will also look for signs that point away from a simple stomach upset, such as jaundice, a mass, or severe pain. Testing often includes blood work to check kidney and liver values, electrolytes, and blood cell counts. These tests help sort out causes like kidney or liver failure, pancreatitis, and infection [2]. Fecal testing can look for internal parasites, including heartworm disease [2]. Imaging such as x-rays or ultrasound may be needed if a foreign object or tumor is suspected [2]. If your cat is dehydrated or cannot stop vomiting, your vet may give fluids and injectable antiemetics before sending you home with a plan. ## Prevention and Monitoring Keep a simple log. Note the date, time, what your cat ate, and what the vomit looked like. This record helps your veterinarian spot patterns and decide how urgent the problem is. Feed a consistent diet. Sudden food changes can trigger stomach upset, so switch foods slowly when you need to. Keep string, small toys, and human medicines out of reach, since swallowed objects and drug reactions are both causes of vomiting [2]. Schedule routine checkups, especially for older cats. Kidney and liver problems can start quietly and show up as vomiting later [2]. If your cat has a chronic condition, ask your vet how to handle vomiting episodes before they happen. Watch for the pattern of repeated hairballs or repeated vomiting. Both deserve a veterinary look, because something more serious than a hairball could be to blame [2]. For help judging severity over time, see [Cat Vomiting: When to Worry and What to Do](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/online-vet-and-care-costs/cat-vomiting-when-to-worry-what-to-do). ## Limitations and When to Contact a Veterinarian Home care has limits. A short fast and a bland meal can help a mild, one-time upset, but they cannot fix an infection, a blockage, organ failure, or a toxin. Contact your veterinarian the same day if your cat vomits more than a couple of times, has a poor appetite, seems uncomfortable, or has a known condition like diabetes [1]. Go to an emergency clinic now if your cat vomits during the fast, rejects bland food, becomes lethargic, cannot keep water down, has belly pain, or was exposed to a poison or foreign object [1][2]. Book a routine visit if vomiting comes and goes over weeks, if hairballs are frequent, or if your cat is losing weight [2]. Every cat is different. Individual cases need a veterinarian who can examine your cat, run the right tests, and prescribe treatment safely. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I give my cat human anti-nausea medicine? No, not without a veterinarian's direction. Human anti-nausea drugs are not made for cats, and the wrong drug or dose can be dangerous. Your veterinarian can prescribe a cat-safe antiemetic and calculate the dose from your cat's weight and health. ### How long should I fast my cat? Withhold food for at least 12 hours if your cat's stomach or intestines seem inflamed, and keep fresh water available the whole time [1]. Do not feed your cat right after they vomit, because it can make them feel worse [1]. If vomiting continues during the fast, stop home care and call your vet [1]. ### What should I feed my cat after vomiting stops? After the fast, offer a small amount of bland food, such as canned tuna packed in water [1]. Keep portions small at first. If the food upsets their stomach or they refuse it, take them to a veterinary clinic right away [1]. ### Which anti-nausea medicines do vets use for cats? Veterinarians commonly use maropitant, ondansetron, and metoclopramide. Maropitant is widely used for acute and chronic vomiting and comes as tablets or an injectable solution [3]. In controlled studies, maropitant lowered the risk of vomiting compared with control [4], and all three drugs reduced retching and vomiting compared with saline in one trial [5]. ### Is vomiting ever normal in cats? An occasional isolated episode can happen, but repeated vomiting is not normal. Frequent hairballs or repeated vomiting should prompt a veterinary visit, because something more serious than a hairball could be the cause [2]. Vomiting can also signal kidney or liver failure, pancreatitis, or other serious disease [2]. ## Related Articles - [Cat Upset Stomach: Home Remedies That Are Safe](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/digestive-and-urinary-care/cat-upset-stomach-home-remedies) - [Cat Vomiting: When to Worry and What to Do](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/online-vet-and-care-costs/cat-vomiting-when-to-worry-what-to-do) - [Cat Vomiting: When to Worry and How to Help](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/online-vet-and-care-costs/cat-vomiting-when-to-worry) - [What to Do If Your Cat's Medication Is Causing Vomiting: Home Care and When to Call the Vet](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/pet-medication-guide/what-to-do-if-your-cats-medication-is-causing-vomiting-home-care-and-when-to-call-the-vet) - [How to Give Your Cat Allergy Medication Safely](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/skin-allergy-and-ear-care/how-to-give-cat-allergy-medication) - [Is Your Cat's Medication Causing Vomiting? When to Worry](/knowledge/veterinary-medicine/pet-medication-guide/cat-medication-vomiting-when-worry) ## References 1. [Home Remedies for Sick Cats](https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/uncategorized/home-remedies-for-sick-cats/). Pet Poison Helpline. 2. [Vomiting in Cats - Cat Owners](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners/digestive-disorders-of-cats/vomiting-in-cats). Merck Veterinary Manual. 3. [Evaluation of the efficacy of transdermal administration of maropitant in managing vomiting in cats](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36589400/). Open veterinary journal, 2022. 4. [Receptor-Targeted Antiemetic Strategies in Cats: A Systematic Review and Intervention-Specific Meta-Analysis](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42599757/). Veterinary medicine and science, 2026. 5. [The Effect of Maropitant, Ondansetron and Metoclopramide on Dexmedetomidine-Induced Vomiting in Cats](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39792081/). Veterinary medicine and science, 2025. 6. [Evaluation of the antiemetic, sedative and analgesic effects of butorphanol and maropitant in combination with dexmedetomidine in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41405173/). The Veterinary record, 2025. ## Further Reading - [American Veterinary Medical Association: First Aid Tips for Pet Owners](https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/emergencycare/first-aid-tips-pet-owners) - [Merck Veterinary Manual: Cat Owners](https://www.merckvetmanual.com/cat-owners) - [Cornell Feline Health Center: Health Information](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information)