Cat gagging: Serious or not?

My cat recently went out on my patio. I went inside to answer the phone and when I came back out, he had vomited a long leaf. I brought him inside, but he has been gagging on and off for about an hour and a half. He is eating, and drank a little. He has not vomited again, but continues to gag every few minutes. How do I know if this is serious? Should I take him straight to a vet, or should I watch him for a while longer?


Cat gagging can mean different things to different people, and without a physical exam, there is no way for me to say for certain whether this is an emergency or not. Is your cat gagging as if his throat is irritated from the previous vomiting? Or is he gagging as if something is lodged in his throat and he is struggling to get something else up?

Since there is no way to know for certain over the internet, a trip to the veterinarian would be strongly advised. It's always better to be safe than sorry!

Best wishes,
Dr. Neely