The color chart
A single episode in a cat that then eats and behaves normally is usually nothing. A pattern, or vomiting with other signs, is worth a vet visit.
| Color | What it can mean | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Clear liquid | Water or stomach fluid, often after drinking quickly or on an empty stomach | Watch. Call a vet if it repeats or your cat is drinking much more than usual. |
| White foam | Froth from an empty or irritated stomach | Watch a one-off. Call a vet if it happens several times or your cat stops eating. |
| Yellow | Bile, often on an empty stomach | Call a vet if it repeats over several days. |
| Brown, tube-shaped with hair | A hairball. Common, but frequent hairballs can point to over-grooming or a gut problem. | Mention it at the next visit. Call sooner if they become frequent. |
| Undigested food soon after eating | Eating too fast, or regurgitation rather than true vomiting | Try smaller, slower meals. Call a vet if it keeps happening. |
| Green | Plants or bile. Lilies and many houseplants are toxic to cats. | Call a vet now if your cat could have chewed a lily or another toxic plant. |
| Red or pink | Fresh blood | Call a vet today. Go now if there is more than a streak. |
| Black or like coffee grounds | Digested blood from the stomach | Call a vet now. |
Hairballs are not a free pass
An occasional hairball, especially in a long-haired cat, is common. Retching with nothing coming up, frequent hairballs, or hairballs together with weight loss, constipation or a poor appetite are worth a vet visit.
When to call a vet instead of waiting
- Vomiting several times in a day, or for more than a day.
- Vomiting with refusing food. A cat should not go more than a day without eating; cats that stop eating can develop a serious liver problem.
- Blood, or material that looks like coffee grounds.
- Repeated retching with nothing coming up, or a tight, painful belly.
- Straining in the litter box with little or no urine, especially in a male cat. This is an emergency.
- Any chance of lilies, string or thread, or medicines meant for people.
How Miyu helps with vomit checks
Photograph the vomit and Miyu reads the visible color and content, then gives one of four care levels: watch, keep an eye, see a vet today, or see a vet now. The history shows your vet how often it happens, which matters as much as how it looks.
Miyu never says all clear. A photo cannot rule everything out, and the list of red flags above is always free in the app.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my cat throwing up clear liquid?
Often it is water or stomach fluid after drinking quickly or on an empty stomach. Call a vet if it repeats, or if your cat is drinking more than usual.
Why does my cat throw up white foam?
Usually froth from an empty or irritated stomach. A one-off can be watched; several episodes, or foam with a poor appetite, are worth a call.
Is it normal for a cat to throw up every week?
No. Regular vomiting is common in cats but it is not normal. It is worth a vet visit even if your cat seems well otherwise.
Can an app diagnose my cat from a vomit photo?
No. Miyu is not a veterinarian and does not diagnose. It reads what is visible in a photo and suggests whether to watch or call a vet.
Sources
General guidance consistent with these veterinary sources. They did not review this page.
- Vomiting in Cats · VCA Animal Hospitals
- Vomiting · Cornell Feline Health Center
- Animal Poison Control · ASPCA
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Miyu is not a veterinarian and does not diagnose. If your pet seems unwell or you are worried, contact your vet.
