Why Do Cats Eat Their Own Vomit – 6 Common Reasons

Every cat owner has been there. You’re lying in your bed, in your quiet bedroom. Suddenly, you hear your cat retching, whether at the foot of your bed or in the hallway outside the door. You know that’s happening immediately. Your cat is throwing up. Gross! And then you see it – your cat is eating something, and you ask yourself, why do cats eat their own vomit?

Cats eat their own vomit because they mistake it for food. Vomit can carry the same scent and flavor as cat food. Cats also eat their own vomit as a coping mechanism, and as a territorial response.

Eating vomit is not one of your cat’s finer qualities, but it is one that most cat owners know well. If you’re fast enough, you might be able to stop your cat before it stops. Keep on reading to learn about why your cat eats your own vomit. 

Reasons Why Cats Eat Their Own Vomit

We all may wish there was only one avoidable reason cats eat their own vomit, but unfortunately, there are many reasons. 

Your Cat Doesn’t Know What It Is

You might think that your cat is the most intelligent animal in the world, but that doesn’t mean they’re smarter than humans. 

If your cat samples his own vomit, he may do it because he doesn’t know what it is. He could wonder what it is every time he throws up, which could seem like a habit! 

If your cat is only curious, he probably won’t eat more than a bite or two. 

Pushing your cat away from his vomit could cause him only to want to eat more of it, so it might not be the best idea! 

It Smells Like Your Cat’s Food

Some cats throw up when they overeat.

A cat could throw up after he eats, which means that his vomit will smell like the food he just ate.

Even if you think your cat knows not to eat his own vomit, the smell of his food could cause him to eat it. After all, it smells exactly like what he just ate! 

Your cat’s vomit had little time to be broken down in his stomach if he threw up quickly after eating. The food will look like it did right before your cat ate it.

I hate to say it, but there probably isn’t much wrong with your cat eating his vomit in this case, even if it is gross! 

Cats Don’t Know Any Better

As we’ve already said, some people that cats are smart animals. 

Unfortunately, that isn’t the same for all cats. Some cats are, without a doubt, stupid.

Your cat could be one of those cats that aren’t as bright as all the others, but there’s nothing wrong with that. You might find it endearing.

One thing is for sure, though, that you probably already know that your cat is dumb before he starts to eat his own vomit. 

Since your cat may not be as smart as the rest, he may not know better than not eating the vomit. 

Your Cat Thinks It Will Make Him Feel Better

When cats aren’t feeling well, they may try to feel better.

It sounds ridiculous that a cat would think eating his own vomit will make him feel better, but he’s desperate for some relief. 

Try to catch your cat before he starts to eat his own vomit. It won’t make him feel better; in fact, it may cause him to throw up all over again! 

Your Cat Is Trying To Keep Things Clean

Even when they don’t feel good, cats are spotless animals.

A particularly clean cat will want his space to be clean. If he throws up in a place where he likes to sleep or sit, he will try to clean it up.

What better way to clean up your mess than to eat it?

For your cat, eating his vomit is the only choice he has to clean it up.

On the other hand, you may think that a paper towel and some soap is the best way to clean up your carpet or couch. 

Your Cat Doesn’t Want Any Other Animal To Get It

In addition to being clean, some cats are also very territorial.

Sure, vomit may not be your first choice when you’re looking to guard and protect something. 

Cats don’t always care about what they are protecting, just that they are protecting something.

When your cat sees his own vomit, he can only think that he doesn’t want anyone else to get it. 

There are probably no other animals in your house that want the vomit, but your cat doesn’t always understand that!

Your Cat Is Still Hungry

Your cat could be eating vomit because your cat is still hungry.

Vomiting can happen when your cat eats too fast. It doesn’t necessarily mean that your cat has a stomachache. 

On the other hand, your cat is feeling ravenous from hunger. After he vomits, he’s still feeling hungry. And there it is – more food! 

As you can see from this example, vomiting doesn’t always mean that your cat is sick. Your cat doesn’t believe that eating vomit is your cat’s way of trying to make himself feel better.

If you find that your cat eats food too fast, you should feed your cat in smaller portions. 

Why Is My Cat Eating Vomit

Your cat is eating vomit because it smells like his food and is still warm.

We already talked about how your cat is tempted to eat his own vomit because the vomit smells like the food that he just enjoyed. We don’t need to talk about that again.

Let’s talk about something a little more disturbing but true nonetheless. 

Not only does your cat’s vomit smell like his food, but it is also warm. Cats like warm food, even though it’s something that he doesn’t get all the time. 

Vomit isn’t the warm meal that you would expect your cat to enjoy the most, but as gross as it is, it’s one of those things that make a cat an animal. 

For all the reasons that I can give you for why your cat may choose to snack on his own vomit, none of the reasons seem good enough! 

What Can Cats Eat When They Vomit

When cats don’t feel good, they’re looking for relief; one of the best things that your cat can eat is grass. 

Your cat’s digestive system isn’t able to process grass, but that’s what makes grass so great for your cat’s upset stomach. 

Grass may make your cat throw up again, but it will help your cat’s stomach in the long run.

There are two ways that your cat can get grass:

• Outside in the yard
• Inside in a pot

If you have an indoor/outdoor cat, you might notice that your cat goes right to the grass outside. You won’t have to do anything else. Your cat’s instincts will kick in, and he will eat grass to make himself feel better.

On the other hand, some cats aren’t allowed outside. If that’s the case in your house, then you can grow cat grass in a pot.

When you notice that your cat isn’t feeling great, pop the pot of grass in front of your cat. He will mow down that grass and hopefully feel better in no time! 

There’s no solution to a cat that doesn’t feel good, but there are things you can do to try to help him feel better in due time!