Cat threw up 8 times today

My cat is 7 years old and threw up 8 times today. It is white, brown, and very liquidly. It is not her average hairball. Should I take her to the vet?

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Yes you should take her to the vet ASAP.  She could have a linear foreign body from ingestion of a sting, elastic band, piece of yarn or other potential foreign body.  If this occurs her intestines can be cut by tension of the string as the intestines go through peristalsis.  The foreign body does not have to be linear to cause a problem.  It could be something chewy such as a piece of rubber, or just about anything.  Additional possibilities include toxins or chemicals, parasites, hyperthyroid disease, kidney disease and more.  It is best to have your vet sort this out by abdominal palpation, bloodwork, X-Rays and barium study or ultrasound is necessary.