Cat vomiting yellow liquid and not eating – what to do next

The yellow liquid the cat is throwing up is likely to contain bile, which is usually a yellow or green substance from the cat’s liver. Here are a few reasons why your cat is suddenly throwing up yellow liquid and not eating.

Stress and anxiety

The vomiting of yellow liquid would usually be a result of cats being on an empty stomach. Stress and anxiety could be driving the loss of appetite. Cats are quite sensitive to change. Try think back to the past few days and consider if you changed anything that may cause your cat to get stressed out. This could be something as innocuous as changing the furniture around. It could also be frequent visits by “strangers”. You would know if the cat hides from everyone but you.

Medical conditions

Your cat could also be suffering from some form of illness such as pancreatitis. This condition refers to the inflammation of the pancreas and may lead to a loss of appetite and throwing up of bile. According to VCA Hospitals, pancreatitis can appear spontaneously in cats without any identified trigger.

Upset stomach

The vomiting of yellow liquid could be temporary and your cat’s appetite may return once the upset stomach goes away. Cats can get upset stomach for a variety of reasons, such as eating spoiled foods and from getting affected by stomach infections.

What to do next

Loss of appetite, especially if it extends for many days, is always a concern as it could be a sign of something serious brewing in the cat’s body. We would call the vet to be safe, even if your cat is acting normal (with the exception of the vomiting and loss of appetite).

In the meantime, make sure your cat stays well-hydrated with access to plenty of clean drinking water. If your cat refuses to drink the water then try switch it up to something with a bit more flavor, such as water from a tuna can or low-sodium chicken broth (do check the ingredient labels to make sure it doesn’t contain any ingredients toxic to cats).

While it may not help the immediate problem, it may help to start feeding your cat digestive supplements like probiotics. These supplements can help maintain your cat’s gut health.