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My cat is throwing up, tired, and has worms. Vet or dewormer?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Male | unneutered | 11 months and 9 days old | 9 lbs

My cat has been throwing up all morning and acting really tired and sad. Found what I believe to be tiny worms in his stool. Can I medicate him with OTC dewormer or should I take him to the vet.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Emily, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 1st, 2017

Hello It is unusual for worms to cause vomiting in a cat Crowley's age. While most OTC dewormers are safe it may not solve his vomiting. Other considerations for vomiting include a foreign body, dietary indiscretion (eating something that doesn't agree with his system), liver disease, an infection and some other rarer diseases. If Crowley's vomiting continues or he has any signs of pain, decreased appetite, diarrhea or weakness he should be examined by a veterinarian to make sure nothing else is going b with him.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Rebecca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Hi. If Crowley is acting sick and tired I would recommend taking him to the vet. They can determine what type of worms he has and medicate approriately. Many OTC dewormers won't treat all parasites. But there may also be something else going on. Vomiting can be a sign of many other problems such as GI disease, foreign body or toxin ingestion. If a fresh one is available, bring his stool sample in a baggie for your vet to examine.

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    Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    I would be concerned that something more is going on with Crowley just based on the amount of vomit he's been having today. However, deworming him with an OTC product isn't wrong. If this is the route you decide to take and it works, great! If not I would recommend bringing him in to your vet where they may recommend x-rays and lab work to make sure nothing else more serious is going on. If Crowley has been vomiting more than 24 hours, there is blood in the vomit or he begins having diarrhea I would take him in right away.

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