Vomiting is a natural part of your cat's digestive repertoire. She may need to vomit to get rid of a nasty hairball. She could have gotten into the garbage can when you weren't looking and gobbled a leftover that wasn't exactly feline-friendly. Or perhaps she's simply eaten too fast. These behaviors often lead to vomiting.

Occasional vomiting in healthy cats is very common, and usually not accompanied by any discomfort. An episode can be brought on by anxiety, a stressful car ride or overeating. Your pet may vomit if she consumes grass, a treat that cats seem to enjoy regularly. Some experts believe that grass may provide roughage or vitamins they need, and may also help them regurgitate unwanted substances, such as hairballs.

To get her system back to normal after a bout of vomiting, it's a good idea to withdraw your pet's food for up to 24 hours. Do make sure that fresh water is available, but if your pet has trouble holding that down, offer her some ice cubes. Not only do some cats find them fun to play with, they take longer to consume than liquid-which may prevent your pet from vomiting the water back up.

If your pet regularly suffers from hairballs-this is especially common with long-haired cats-be sure you groom her often; there are also remedies available at pet supply stores that will help your feline pass the offending mass of hair.

If the vomiting is persistent, or if your cat is throwing up blood, get to the vet immediately. Severe vomiting accompanied by abdominal pain and excessive thirst can mean a serious digestive problem. Vomiting can also be an indicator of systemic disease involving the heart, kidneys, liver or endocrine system, tumors of infectious diseases, as well as intestinal obstructions.

If your cat seems lethargic, disoriented and is vomiting severely, call your veterinarian.