My Cat Threw Up Blood: What You Need to Do Right This Second

Panic is the only word for it. You’re standing in the kitchen, or maybe the hallway, looking down at a puddle that shouldn't be that color. Seeing that your cat threw up blood is a visceral, stomach-turning moment that sends most pet owners into a tailspin of "what ifs" and "how much is this going to cost?" It's scary. Honestly, it’s one of the most frightening things you can see as a cat parent, and your brain probably immediately jumps to the worst-case scenario.

Take a breath.

Not every instance of hematemesis—that’s the medical term vets use—means the end of the road. But it does mean you need to pay very close attention to the details. The color, the texture, and your cat's behavior in the last 24 hours are going to be the roadmap for your vet to figure out what's going wrong inside that small, furry body.

Identifying What You're Actually Looking At

First things first. Is it actually blood? Sometimes, certain cat foods with heavy red dyes can look alarmingly like blood when they come back up. If your cat just ate a bowl of salmon-flavored kibble with red bits, it might be a false alarm. But if you’re seeing bright red streaks or things that look like coffee grounds, we have a real situation.

Bright red blood usually suggests that the bleeding is happening high up. We're talking the mouth, the throat, or the esophagus. It’s fresh. It hasn't been sitting in the stomach long enough for the acid to get to it. On the other hand, if the vomit looks like dark, clotted coffee grounds, that’s "digested" blood. That usually means the source is the stomach or the upper part of the small intestine. The stomach acid has had time to break down the hemoglobin, turning it that dark, brownish-black color.

Don't ignore the "pink foam" either. Sometimes it isn't a puddle of red; it's just a light pink tinge in a pile of white froth. While it looks less dramatic, it still counts as blood.

Why Your Cat Threw Up Blood: The Likely Culprits

Cats are notoriously good at hiding when they feel like garbage. It’s an evolutionary trait; in the wild, showing weakness makes you a target. So, by the time your cat threw up blood, the underlying issue might have been simmering for a while.

One of the most common reasons for bright red blood is actually pretty mundane, though still serious: severe vomiting. If a cat has been barfing repeatedly due to a hairball or a minor stomach upset, the sheer physical strain can tear tiny blood vessels in the lining of the esophagus. It’s called a Mallory-Weiss tear in humans, and something similar happens in felines. It looks like a lot of blood, but it’s often a secondary symptom of the vomiting itself.

Then there are the "foreign bodies." Cats are weird. They eat thread, tinsel, hair ties, and those little plastic tabs from milk jugs. Dr. Marty Becker, a well-known veterinarian and founder of Fear Free Pets, often points out that linear foreign bodies—like dental floss or yarn—are particularly dangerous. These items can saw into the delicate lining of the digestive tract, causing internal bleeding that eventually makes its appearance in a puddle on your rug.

Ulcers and Medications

We don't often think of cats getting ulcers, but they do. Usually, it's because of something else going on in the body. If a cat is taking Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) like meloxicam for arthritis, and the dosage isn't quite right or they have a sensitive stomach, they can develop gastric ulcers.

Kidney disease is another silent culprit. When a cat’s kidneys aren't filtering toxins properly, those toxins build up in the bloodstream and can cause "uremic gastritis." Basically, the waste products in the blood irritate the stomach lining until it starts to bleed. This is especially common in older cats. If your senior cat threw up blood, the kidneys are often the first thing a vet will check.

The Scary Stuff: Toxins and Clotting

Rat poison is a nightmare. Many rodenticides work by preventing blood from clotting (anticoagulants). If a cat eats a poisoned mouse or gets into the bait directly, they will start bleeding internally. They might vomit blood, but they might also have bloody stool or bruising on their skin. This is a 10/10 emergency.

There's also the risk of cancer. Mast cell tumors or lymphoma in the GI tract can cause chronic inflammation and bleeding. It’s heavy, and it’s not what anyone wants to hear, but in older cats with chronic weight loss and vomiting, it has to be on the diagnostic table.

👉 See also: Exercises to relieve back pain: What most people get wrong about fixing a bad back

The Checklist: When to Leave for the ER Right Now

You might be wondering if you can wait until your regular vet opens on Monday morning. Sometimes you can, but often you shouldn't. You need to look at the "whole cat," not just the vomit.

Check the gums. Lift up your cat’s lip. They should be a healthy bubblegum pink. If they are pale, white, or blueish, your cat is in shock or losing too much blood. This is a "leave the house now" situation.

Is your cat lethargic? If they are hiding under the bed and won't come out for their favorite treat, something is very wrong. A cat that vomits once but then goes back to playing and eating is a much different case than a cat that vomits blood and then collapses.

Also, look for "melena." This is black, tarry stool. If blood is passing all the way through the digestive system, it turns the poop black. If you see blood coming out of both ends, your cat's internal system is under major duress.

What the Vet Is Going to Do (And What It Costs)

Walking into the vet with a cat that's bleeding internally is stressful for your wallet too. Honestly, it's rarely a cheap visit.

The first thing they’ll likely do is a physical exam and a blood panel. They want to see the red blood cell count (to check for anemia) and the platelet count (to see if the blood can even clot). They’ll also look at kidney and liver values.

Expect X-rays. They need to see if there's a glowing silhouette of a swallowed needle or a bunch of hair ties bunched up in the pylorus. If the X-ray is inconclusive, an ultrasound is the next step. It's more expensive—usually ranging from $300 to $600—but it gives a much clearer picture of the thickness of the stomach walls and any potential tumors.

👉 See also: Nurse Salary: What Most People Get Wrong About the Paycheck

In some cases, the vet might suggest an endoscopy. This involves putting a camera down the cat's throat while they’re under anesthesia to see exactly where the bleeding is coming from. It’s invasive and pricey, but it’s the gold standard for diagnosing ulcers or taking biopsies of the stomach lining.

Practical Steps You Can Take Immediately

If you're currently staring at a mess and your cat seems relatively stable—meaning they are alert and breathing normally—there are a few things you should do before you even get in the car.

1. Take a photo. It’s gross, but your vet needs to see the color and consistency. Your description of "reddish" might be different from their clinical definition.
2. Search the house. Did they get into a lily plant? (Lilies are incredibly toxic and cause kidney failure). Is the cabinet under the sink open? Look for chewed-up toys or missing pieces of string.
3. Check the medicine cabinet. Did someone accidentally drop an aspirin or an ibuprofen? These are highly toxic to cats and cause massive GI bleeding.
4. Fast them. Stop feeding them immediately. If their stomach is irritated or obstructed, more food is just going to make the vomiting worse and complicate any potential surgery.

Moving Forward After the Scare

Once you get past the initial crisis, the focus shifts to management. If it was a one-time tear from a hairball, the fix might be as simple as a round of "GI protectants" like sucralfate, which acts like a Band-Aid for the stomach lining.

If it's a chronic issue like Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) or kidney issues, life is going to change a bit. You’ll probably be looking at a prescription diet. These foods are designed to be incredibly easy to digest, putting less strain on the stomach's mucosal barrier.

Don't skip the follow-up blood work. If your cat threw up blood due to an underlying condition, that first vet visit is just the "stabilization" phase. You need to make sure their red blood cell counts are trending upward and that the original trigger—whether it was an infection or a toxin—is fully cleared from their system.

Actionable Next Steps

• Call your vet immediately. Even if the bleeding stopped, a cat's stomach lining doesn't just bleed for no reason.
• Keep a "Vomit Log." Note the time, frequency, and appearance. It sounds obsessive, but it helps identify patterns (e.g., does it only happen after eating?).
• Clear the environment. Remove any small objects, string, or toxic plants (especially lilies, sago palms, and azaleas) from the reach of your cat.
• Check the gums. Perform a "capillary refill test" by pressing your finger against their gum. It should turn white and then flip back to pink in under two seconds. If it stays white, get to an emergency clinic.
• Secure medical records. If you have to go to an emergency vet you've never used, have your regular vet's records or at least a list of current medications ready to go.