Cat Vomiting Clear Liquid: What to Do

Even as a veterinarian, I sometimes shrug off the occasional vomit from my cats so long as it contains a hairball. But when the vomit is clear with barely anything in it, I get a bit more worried! 

It can be hard for pet parents to know if a cat vomiting clear liquid is serious, so let’s get into it. Learn about possible causes of clear cat vomit and what you should do if your cat is puking clear liquid. 

Cat Vomiting Clear Liquid: Immediate Next Steps

Not only is your cat vomiting clear liquid, but now you’ve got a mess on your hands. Let’s go over the immediate steps to take.

Step 1: Check on your cat. Are they acting normal? If so, you can usually monitor at home. Plan to contact your veterinarian if the problem persists. If they’re acting abnormal, such as repeatedly vomiting or acting lethargic, call a veterinarian. 

Step 2: As gross as it may sound, take a picture of your cat’s vomit. You can show this to your veterinarian or potentially use the image for a telemedicine consult.

Step 3: Use paper towels to remove excess vomit. It’s better to scoop than to push down into the carpet.

Step 4: Wet the area with cold water and then blot it with a dry paper towel.

Step 5: Saturate the area with a store-bought or homemade carpet cleaner. Agitate the area by scrubbing with a towel or cleaning brush. Blot dry.

Step 6: Sprinkle a little baking soda on the area, making sure to keep pets and children away while it dries.

Step 7: Once the area is dry, you can vacuum up the baking soda.

Make sure to wash your hands with soap after handling your cat’s vomit.

13 Possible Causes of Clear Cat Vomit

Your cat’s clear vomit could look like watery liquid, clear foamy liquid, or clear stringy mucus. Sometimes the clear vomit may have a yellow tinge to the color because of the presence of bile and stomach acid. 

The causes of clear cat vomit can range from a little stomach upset to much more serious issues. We’ve listed causes below and other signs to watch for.

Empty stomach

Your cat will usually act normal but vomit shortly before their expected mealtime. They’ll still eat when food is presented.

Parasites

Cats with stomach worms are called “happy pukers” because they act normal despite occasional or frequent vomiting. Other parasites like giardia sometimes cause vomiting. Additional signs of parasitism could include diarrhea or loose stools, visible worms in stools, and weight loss.

Indigestion or food intolerance

Like us, sometimes our cats eat something that doesn’t sit well with them. You can also cause stomach upset by switching your cat’s food too rapidly rather than slowly over seven to 10 days. Other signs to watch for include decreased appetite and diarrhea. 

Infectious diseases

Some infectious diseases, like feline coronavirus (not the same as COVID-19) or panleukopenia, can also cause vomiting of clear liquid. These diseases are more common in young cats, unvaccinated cats, cats who go outside, and cats who spend a lot of time in social settings like a cattery or animal shelter. The cat usually has other signs of disease, such as diarrhea, poor appetite, and lethargy.

Constipation

When your cat is constipated, they may vomit because secretions from their stomach or intestines can’t pass through their gastrointestinal tract. Other signs include lethargy, straining in the litterbox, appetite loss, and a bloated appearance.

Obstruction in the stomach or intestines

If your cat eats something they shouldn’t, like a string or a piece of a toy, it can cause a blockage in their stomach and/or intestines. You’ll usually notice them vomiting multiple times, acting lethargic, losing their appetite, and potentially having diarrhea.

Diabetes

Cats with uncontrolled diabetes may vomit clear liquid. Other signs of diabetes include weight loss and excessive drinking or urination. Cats with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a medical emergency, may repeatedly vomit, act lethargic, become dehydrated, and lie next to their water bowl. Diabetes is more common in overweight, middle-aged to older cats.

Kidney disease

Besides vomiting, other signs to watch for include weight loss, excessive urination and thirst, dehydration, and decreased appetite. Kidney disease is more common in older cats.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is a common senior cat health issue that can cause the cat to vomit clear liquid or clear foamy liquid. Cats with hyperthyroidism often lose weight despite a normal or increased appetite. You can also notice an unkempt appearance, drinking and peeing more than normal, increased activity, behavioral changes like aggression, and soft stools or diarrhea.

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas can come on suddenly or be a long-standing issue for a cat. Aside from frequent vomiting, the cat may also have a poor appetite, act lethargic, have diarrhea, and react painfully to being picked up.

Liver or gallbladder disease

Vomiting is a common sign of liver or gallbladder issues in cats. Other signs of liver or gallbladder issues can include acting lethargic, appetite loss, drinking and peeing excessively, and diarrhea. With severe disease, you may see yellowing of the gums and whites of eyes (jaundice) or your pet may act disoriented or have seizures.

Urinary obstruction

If your cat can’t urinate, toxins build up in their system and cause vomiting. Your cat will usually act lethargic, lose their appetite, and repeatedly try to urinate. Classically, the cat is standing in the litter box yowling while they try to urinate. 

Cancer

A wide variety of cancer types can cause your cat to vomit clear liquid, and the signs may vary depending on what kind of cancer your pet has and how aggressive it is. In some cases, your cat may be acting normal aside from vomiting clear liquid and weight loss. In other cases, your cat could have other signs like diarrhea or changes to appetite.

Treatment

If your cat is vomiting before meals, consider feeding smaller, more frequent meals to prevent the build-up of stomach acid. For cats with frequent hairballs, there are diets and supplements (like Vetoquinol’s Laxatone) you can give to help move things along in the intestinal tract.

Make sure you’re not feeding spoiled or expired food. If you suspect your pet is experiencing stomach upset, you could speak with your veterinarian to see if they recommend feeding a bland diet for a few days. You should also keep your pet on regular parasite preventives. Always provide water at all times.

If your cat’s vomiting occurs frequently and at random times of day but they otherwise act normal, you should set a veterinary appointment. Frequent vomiting is not normal in cats. If your cat has other symptoms, like diarrhea, weight loss, or excessive drinking, contact your veterinarian.

Signs that your pet needs to go to the emergency veterinarian include:

• Repeated vomiting with loss of appetite
• Severe vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Blood in the vomit or in diarrhea
• Lying next to a water bowl due to excessive thirst
• Lethargy or collapse
• Disorientation or seizures
• Sunken eyes or prolonged skin tent (dehydration)
• Jaundice
• Straining and/or vocalizing in the litter box with no urine or feces produced
• Abdominal pain that causes yowling or aggression when the cat is picked up

My Take on Clear Cat Vomit

So, what’s the overall gist for clear cat vomit? 

If your cat vomits once and is acting normal, you’re good to monitor at home. But if your cat is regularly vomiting clear liquid, puking multiple times throughout the day, or having other signs like a loss of appetite or diarrhea, this is more concerning to me. You should contact your veterinarian as soon as possible so they can help your cat get back to feeling good.