{"id":613233,"date":"2024-06-24T02:42:26","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T06:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=613233"},"modified":"2024-06-28T01:37:23","modified_gmt":"2024-06-28T05:37:23","slug":"why-is-my-cat-throwing-up-brown-liquid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/ask-the-vet\/why-is-my-cat-throwing-up-brown-liquid\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Is My Cat Throwing Up Brown Liquid? 3 Vet Explained Reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Cats are rather infamous for being \u201cvomity\u201d creatures, with hairballs being the cause of most feline gastrointestinal evacuations. Because of this, a certain amount of vomiting is considered normal for cats, sometimes making it more difficult to recognize when there is a problem.<\/p>\n

There are a few key points to consider when assessing your cat\u2019s upchuck habits, including whether we are dealing with vomiting or regurgitation, how often they are doing it, and the amount, consistency, and color of what they are bringing up.<\/p>\n

Although cats will experience the odd vomit from time to time, any cat that is vomiting frequently or violently, is losing weight, or is showing any other signs of illness should be assessed by your veterinarian without further delay. If your cat is throwing up brown liquid, you are going to want to know why. Fortunately, you have found yourself in the right place.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at how the color of your cat\u2019s vomit can be a useful diagnostic tool, as well as what else you need to know.<\/p>\n

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The 3 Reasons Your Cat Is Throwing Up Brown Liquid<\/h2>\n

The color of your cat\u2019s vomit can give us a surprising amount of information about what\u2019s driving the problem. For example, yellow vomit (bile) often indicates an empty stomach, clear vomit suggests they\u2019ve been drinking a lot of water, and pink vomit can be a sign of mild bleeding in the stomach or esophagus.<\/p>\n

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You are free to use this image but we do require you to link back to\u00a0Catster.com<\/a>\u00a0for credit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Your cat could be throwing up liquid for many different reasons, including renal failure, overactive thyroid, or digestive issues. The reasons this fluid might be brown include:<\/p>\n

1. Diet<\/h3>\n

Most cat foods are varying shades of brown, so brown-hued vomit is not a huge surprise. However, if your cat\u2019s food tends to be a paler beige or yellow, we need to consider other causes.<\/p>\n

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2. Bleeding in the Gastrointestinal Tract<\/h3>\n

Fresh blood from the esophagus or stomach will show up as red or pink in the vomit, but if there is a slow bleed (e.g., from a gastric ulcer) or if there is bleeding further along in the intestines, this can appear brown or even black when thrown up. If you suspect your cat\u2019s vomit may contain blood, you should contact your vet immediately.<\/p>\n

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3. Fecal Matter<\/h3>\n

If your cat has an obstruction further down the intestines or large bowel, this can cause fecal matter to back up in the digestive tract and appear as vomit. The smell of the liquid will be the most obvious indication that this is the problem, and it is a sign that your cat needs urgent veterinary care.<\/p>\n

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Image Credit: H_Ko, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Vomiting vs. Regurgitation<\/h2>\n

Apart from the color of what your cat is throwing up, we need to know whether we are dealing with vomiting or regurgitation.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the Difference?<\/h3>\n

Vomiting<\/strong>, or throwing up, is an active process whereby the contents of the stomach or small intestines are forced upward into the esophagus and out of the mouth. It is usually accompanied by signs of nausea (drooling, lip smacking, appearing unwell) and involves abdominal effort. The material produced when vomiting typically includes fluid, partially digested food, or hairballs.<\/p>\n

Common causes of vomiting include:<\/div>
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