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Why is my cat throwing up brown liquid and not eating or drinking?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | American Longhair | Male | neutered | 1 year old | 11 lbs

My cat has been throwing up for the past 3 days. Initially, it was mostly food, but lately, it is just a brown liquid. I've noticed that he isn't eating as much and I haven't seen him drink in a few days. We've recently switched his food from a kitten formula to an adult formula. His brother (who also lives with us) has had no issues like this. What's happening?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on May 17th, 2019

Almost anything that can ail a cat can cause vomiting. It is a very non-specific symptom so there is no way I can tell you why he is vomiting with 100% certainty. What I can tell you is that the number one reason for a young cat to be vomiting is an intestinal obstruction as young cats are more opt to ingest foreign objects (like hair ties for example). I suggest you get him to the vet for an exam. It is possible that the diet change is the cause but not as likely. Vomiting and not drinking can cause significant dehydration so I strongly suggest you get him examined soon.

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