Cat Vomiting Brown Liquid: What This Colour Usually Means

In this guide

Brown vomit tends to alarm cat parents more than clear or white vomit, and rightly so in some cases, since the colour can point to a few different things depending on what exactly is going on.

What could be behind the colour

• Partially digested food, particularly if it has been in the stomach for a while before being brought up
• Bile mixed with food, which can take on a brownish tinge
• Digested blood, which typically looks like coffee grounds rather than a uniform brown
• Ingestion of something like soil, faeces, or a brown-coloured object or substance

Why the coffee-ground appearance is significant

If the brown vomit has a grainy, coffee-ground texture rather than looking like liquid food, this often indicates digested blood from the stomach lining. This points to internal bleeding, ulceration, or a foreign object causing irritation, and needs a same-day veterinary visit.

Less concerning scenarios

If your cat has recently eaten a meal with gravy or a brown-coloured wet food, and the vomit closely resembles the food itself with no unusual smell or texture, this is more likely simple regurgitation of a recent meal rather than a medical emergency.

When to seek care

• Any vomit with a coffee-ground or gritty texture
• Brown vomit accompanied by lethargy, pale gums, or reduced appetite
• Repeated episodes rather than a single one-off
• A strong, unusual, or foul odour to the vomit

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