Is this tool a substitute for calling a vet?

No. This is a triage aid that helps you decide whether to call now, this week, or simply note the date. The decision logic is built from AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners), ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine), and AVA (Australian Veterinary Association) owner-guidance frameworks, but it can't see your cat. For Tier 3 and above the action is always 'see a vet' — the tool just helps you decide how urgent.

Why does the tool ask about color first?

Color is the loudest signal owners notice but a relatively weak predictor of urgency on its own. Asking it first lets us catch the few colors that are emergency-flagging (bright red blood, coffee-ground material, visible foreign material) regardless of other inputs, then treat the more common colors (hairball, yellow bile, white foam) as context for frequency-driven decisions.

What's the difference between Tier 3 and Tier 4?

Tier 3 = vet appointment within 24-48 hours. Tier 4 = vet appointment today. The split exists because most vet clinics can fit a Tier 4 case in same-day with a clear phone description, while a Tier 3 case is fine to book for tomorrow morning. Tier 5 = emergency vet (after-hours equivalent of Tier 4 when day clinics are closed).

My cat has been vomiting weekly for months — what tier?

Tier 3 — vet within 24-48 hours, with bloodwork specifically requested. Weekly vomiting over a month is the textbook pattern for inflammatory bowel disease, hyperthyroidism (cats over 7-8), or chronic gastritis. None of these are emergencies but all need a workup including a CBC, chemistry panel, and T4 thyroid test. The pattern is the diagnosis.

Why does age get its own question?

Senior cats (7+) develop vomiting from systemic causes (kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, IBD) at much higher rates than adult cats. The same pattern that would be Tier 1 in a 3-year-old is often Tier 3 in a 12-year-old. Kittens get a small relax because they vomit from eating-too-fast at a much higher rate than adults, making single episodes less worrying.

Can I share or save my triage result?

Save: yes, the tool saves your last 5 triage results to your browser's localStorage (nothing leaves your device). Bring this list to a vet visit if the pattern continues — vets find the timeline far more useful than any single episode description.

What if the tool says Tier 1 but I'm worried?

Trust your gut and call your vet. The tool is built from population-level guidance — it doesn't know your cat. If your cat's behaviour is off in a way the tool's questions didn't capture (e.g. hiding more, withdrawn from grooming, weight off), call. Phone consults are usually free and your vet would rather over-screen than miss something.

Why isn't there a 'cat ate something toxic' option here?

Because that's a different decision tree (poison-control, not vomit triage) and pretending we can handle it would be misleading. If you suspect toxin ingestion (chocolate, lily, NSAIDs, antifreeze, xylitol, grapes), call ASPCA Animal Poison Control 1-888-426-4435 (US) or Pet Poison Helpline 1-855-764-7661 (US/CA), or your local emergency vet, immediately. Don't wait for vomit to appear.

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Decision tool

Cat Vomit Triage — Vet today, or watch & wait?

Five questions, one of five tiers. Hairball or hyperthyroidism? Boring 90% or the 10% that needs a vet today? This is what I run when a friend texts me a photo at 11pm.

TL;DR

~9 of 10 cat vomits are boring — hairball, eating too fast, food switch. Tier 1, watch and wait.
The 10% that matters: bright red blood, coffee-ground material, visible string/ribbon, refusal of food + water 24h+, or 3+ episodes in 24h with lethargy.
Pattern over puddle. Three episodes in a week is a stronger signal than any single colour.
Senior cats (7+) get a lower threshold. Same pattern that's Tier 1 in an adult is often Tier 3 in a senior.
Logic built from AAFP, ISFM, and AVA owner-guidance frameworks. Not a diagnosis — a triage aid.

1. What does the vomit look like?

2. How often is it happening?

3. How is the cat acting between episodes?

4. Is the cat still eating and drinking?

5. How old is the cat?

Your cat's name (optional, for saving)

Triage tier

Tier 1 — Watch and wait (24-48 hours)

Note the date. Track if it happens again. If it does, escalate.

Hairballs are by far the most common boring cause

This tool is a triage aid built from AAFP, ISFM, and AVA owner-guidance frameworks. It is not a diagnosis. When in doubt, call your vet — even Tier 1 cases can be flagged on a phone call without a visit.

How we built and validated this triage logic

Source: 3 published vet-body owner frameworks + 18-month observation log on my cat Marble.

The decision logic on this page combines three published frameworks (AAFP Feline Vomiting: Diagnostic Approach, ISFM consensus on senior-cat presentation, AVA owner-guidance for triage urgency) with what I observed across 18 months of tracking my cat Marble (domestic shorthair, 6 yr at start) through three vomiting episodes that produced very different outcomes.

Marble's three episodes — three Tiers, three outcomes

Episode 1 — Tier 1 (yellow bile, mornings, 3 days). Yellow liquid at 5:30 AM three mornings in a row. Marble normal between episodes. The triage tool would say: Tier 1, watch and wait, suggest bedtime snack. Outcome: $12 puzzle feeder fixed it in 4 days. No vet visit.
Episode 2 — Tier 2 (undigested food, 3 in one afternoon). Triggered by a same-bowl food brand switch. Triage tool says: Tier 2, phone vet for advice this week. I phoned, vet said go back to old food + 10-day transition. Done. No vet visit needed.
Episode 3 — Tier 4 (single vomit, then lethargy + hiding 48h later). The dangerous one. A single vomit Tuesday, by Thursday she was hiding in the wardrobe and had vomited twice more. Triage tool: lethargic+hiding overrides single-episode color → Tier 4. Vet visit cost $480 AUD; mild gastric inflammation, antibiotic + probiotic course. If I had waited until weekend emergency clinic, just the after-hours consult would have been $400+.

The pattern across all three: by the time I noticed something wasn't right, I could look back and see the trajectory. The tier system above isn't about being right on episode #1 — it's about recognising trajectory in episode #2 and #3 before the situation escalates.

For the full clinical context behind these tiers, including the 10 most common causes by frequency, the hairball test, AI symptom checker honesty, and Sydney 2026 vet costs, see the deep-dive blog post: Why Is My Cat Vomiting? 10 Causes I See Most Often.

FAQ

Is this tool a substitute for calling a vet?: No. This is a triage aid that helps you decide whether to call now, this week, or simply note the date. The decision logic is built from AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners), ISFM (International Society of Feline Medicine), and AVA (Australian Veterinary Association) owner-guidance frameworks, but it can't see your cat. For Tier 3 and above the action is always 'see a vet' — the tool just helps you decide how urgent.
Why does the tool ask about color first?: Color is the loudest signal owners notice but a relatively weak predictor of urgency on its own. Asking it first lets us catch the few colors that are emergency-flagging (bright red blood, coffee-ground material, visible foreign material) regardless of other inputs, then treat the more common colors (hairball, yellow bile, white foam) as context for frequency-driven decisions.
What's the difference between Tier 3 and Tier 4?: Tier 3 = vet appointment within 24-48 hours. Tier 4 = vet appointment today. The split exists because most vet clinics can fit a Tier 4 case in same-day with a clear phone description, while a Tier 3 case is fine to book for tomorrow morning. Tier 5 = emergency vet (after-hours equivalent of Tier 4 when day clinics are closed).
My cat has been vomiting weekly for months — what tier?: Tier 3 — vet within 24-48 hours, with bloodwork specifically requested. Weekly vomiting over a month is the textbook pattern for inflammatory bowel disease, hyperthyroidism (cats over 7-8), or chronic gastritis. None of these are emergencies but all need a workup including a CBC, chemistry panel, and T4 thyroid test. The pattern is the diagnosis.
Why does age get its own question?: Senior cats (7+) develop vomiting from systemic causes (kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, IBD) at much higher rates than adult cats. The same pattern that would be Tier 1 in a 3-year-old is often Tier 3 in a 12-year-old. Kittens get a small relax because they vomit from eating-too-fast at a much higher rate than adults, making single episodes less worrying.
Can I share or save my triage result?: Save: yes, the tool saves your last 5 triage results to your browser's localStorage (nothing leaves your device). Bring this list to a vet visit if the pattern continues — vets find the timeline far more useful than any single episode description.
What if the tool says Tier 1 but I'm worried?: Trust your gut and call your vet. The tool is built from population-level guidance — it doesn't know your cat. If your cat's behaviour is off in a way the tool's questions didn't capture (e.g. hiding more, withdrawn from grooming, weight off), call. Phone consults are usually free and your vet would rather over-screen than miss something.
Why isn't there a 'cat ate something toxic' option here?: Because that's a different decision tree (poison-control, not vomit triage) and pretending we can handle it would be misleading. If you suspect toxin ingestion (chocolate, lily, NSAIDs, antifreeze, xylitol, grapes), call ASPCA Animal Poison Control 1-888-426-4435 (US) or Pet Poison Helpline 1-855-764-7661 (US/CA), or your local emergency vet, immediately. Don't wait for vomit to appear.

How we built and validated this triage logic

Marble's three episodes — three Tiers, three outcomes

FAQ

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