Cat ate tensil off of my xmas tree!!

meemcat · 12-02-2006, 03:18 PM

Yesterday my 8 month old cat was throwing up here and there-i didnt think much of it and thought maybe she was just started to get hairballs. I looked at her throwup and realized there was red in it-i examined the red and it was clumpc of tensil from my xmas tree :O....I immediatly gave her a big strip of the gel i have for my other cats when they have hairballs (a dark brown gel that is indigestible and is supposed to help them get up hairballs) so that if she had eaten more she could puke it up. She hasnt puked since yesterday and she seems totally normal. Im going to the vet monday to get my oldest cat checked out for her skin sensitivity (i posted about that a week ago) and i plan on asking them about the problem-but thought i would post here to see if anyone else experienced this and knows if she will be ok if she puked it all up or if i should worry more about it.

thanks!

**doodlebug** · 12-02-2006, 04:11 PM

Hopefully it all came up, but you need to continue watching her carefully. The hairball remedy was a good move. I'd give it to her daily for a few days. Tinsel and garland is a significant hazard to cats during the holidays...it can get bound up in their digestive system and cause a blockage. So not only do you need to watch for vomiting, but also for not pooping (sometimes a little liquid diarrhea will escape when there's a blockage, so if you see that it's an indication of a possible problem as well). I would definitely mention it with the vet and see if he wants to pursue this further. Also, if you see any of it hanging out of her butt, do not tug on it *edit* it could be tangled up inside her and tugging can cause damage *end edit*...just cut it off but leave enough hanging off so you can know if she pooped it out.

I would recommend getting rid of the tinsel, especially since she has already shown a tendency to eat it. I've used wide fabric ribbon. You can also use large bead garland, but that tends to be a pain because cats just tend to pull it down and play with it. I also use silk poinsettias stuck into the tree to give it some good color and they're not much of a temptation to the kitties.

Nell · 12-02-2006, 04:13 PM

Hopefully the tinsel irritating her stomach is what caused her to throw up and now its out of her system... hopefully.
Keep a very close eye on her. Watch her to make sure she's using the litterbox with no problems and if she throws up any more, especially if its food or bile, its something to be very concerned about.

The danger with tinsel (or any string or thread) is that it can get tangled somewhere inside of them, either around their tongue, or in the intestines where it can cause the intestines to get tangled or cut up, causing a blockage and requiring emergency surgery.

Call and talk to your vet and see what he suggests or if he thinks you should bring her in.

And in the meantime, get rid of the tinsel.

Hope she'll be okay.

coaster · 12-02-2006, 04:40 PM

I don't think hairball gel is of much use with tinsel. One of the principals behind the gel is that it's absorbed into hair, which makes it "slippery" and easier to pass. Of course that doesn't happen with tinsel.

Hopefully it'll pass anyway. Keep a close eye on the litterbox for blood in the feces.

**doodlebug** · 12-02-2006, 04:43 PM

Since many hairball gels are made of petroleum jelly I was thinking it might 'grease up' the tinsel and help it to slide through...No?

Lisa 216 · 12-02-2006, 04:57 PM

I can sympathize -- I have a cat that loves to eat string. Pumpkin has eaten both dental floss and ribbon in the past few months

As has been suggested, keep a close eye on her, especially when she's in the litterbox. If you see any unusual bowel movements, straining, vomiting, or she acts sick, get to the vet ASAP.

You may want to have her x-rayed anyway, just to make sure there's nothing left inside her.

Also keep an eye out for her scooting around on her bottom -- Pumpkin did that when she was passing the string and it was hanging out of her.

Make sure to get rid of that tinsel, too

coaster · 12-02-2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doodlebug

Since many hairball gels are made of petroleum jelly I was thinking it might 'grease up' the tinsel and help it to slide through...No?

Well, no, I don't think so, because there's nothing to make it "stick" to the tinsel. It's absorbed into hair, which makes the hair and the hairball itself slide more easily through the gut. That's the theory behind it, anyway. I can't verify that....I've never opened up a cat to find out.

12-02-2006, 03:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
meemcat Kitten Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3	Cat ate tensil off of my xmas tree!! Yesterday my 8 month old cat was throwing up here and there-i didnt think much of it and thought maybe she was just started to get hairballs. I looked at her throwup and realized there was red in it-i examined the red and it was clumpc of tensil from my xmas tree :O....I immediatly gave her a big strip of the gel i have for my other cats when they have hairballs (a dark brown gel that is indigestible and is supposed to help them get up hairballs) so that if she had eaten more she could puke it up. She hasnt puked since yesterday and she seems totally normal. Im going to the vet monday to get my oldest cat checked out for her skin sensitivity (i posted about that a week ago) and i plan on asking them about the problem-but thought i would post here to see if anyone else experienced this and knows if she will be ok if she puked it all up or if i should worry more about it. thanks!

12-02-2006, 04:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
doodlebug Super Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 17,700	Hopefully it all came up, but you need to continue watching her carefully. The hairball remedy was a good move. I'd give it to her daily for a few days. Tinsel and garland is a significant hazard to cats during the holidays...it can get bound up in their digestive system and cause a blockage. So not only do you need to watch for vomiting, but also for not pooping (sometimes a little liquid diarrhea will escape when there's a blockage, so if you see that it's an indication of a possible problem as well). I would definitely mention it with the vet and see if he wants to pursue this further. Also, if you see any of it hanging out of her butt, do not tug on it edit it could be tangled up inside her and tugging can cause damage end edit...just cut it off but leave enough hanging off so you can know if she pooped it out. I would recommend getting rid of the tinsel, especially since she has already shown a tendency to eat it. I've used wide fabric ribbon. You can also use large bead garland, but that tends to be a pain because cats just tend to pull it down and play with it. I also use silk poinsettias stuck into the tree to give it some good color and they're not much of a temptation to the kitties. __________________ Onyx & Callie May forever in my heart.

12-02-2006, 04:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nell Cat Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,688	Hopefully the tinsel irritating her stomach is what caused her to throw up and now its out of her system... hopefully. Keep a very close eye on her. Watch her to make sure she's using the litterbox with no problems and if she throws up any more, especially if its food or bile, its something to be very concerned about. The danger with tinsel (or any string or thread) is that it can get tangled somewhere inside of them, either around their tongue, or in the intestines where it can cause the intestines to get tangled or cut up, causing a blockage and requiring emergency surgery. Call and talk to your vet and see what he suggests or if he thinks you should bring her in. And in the meantime, get rid of the tinsel. Hope she'll be okay. __________________ Cheddar, Monterey Jack (aka Monty) and Sadie

12-02-2006, 04:43 PM	#5 (permalink)
doodlebug Super Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 17,700	Since many hairball gels are made of petroleum jelly I was thinking it might 'grease up' the tinsel and help it to slide through...No? __________________ Onyx & Callie May forever in my heart.

12-02-2006, 04:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
Lisa 216 Premier Cat Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: New England Posts: 8,001	I can sympathize -- I have a cat that loves to eat string. Pumpkin has eaten both dental floss and ribbon in the past few months As has been suggested, keep a close eye on her, especially when she's in the litterbox. If you see any unusual bowel movements, straining, vomiting, or she acts sick, get to the vet ASAP. You may want to have her x-rayed anyway, just to make sure there's nothing left inside her. Also keep an eye out for her scooting around on her bottom -- Pumpkin did that when she was passing the string and it was hanging out of her. Make sure to get rid of that tinsel, too __________________ Owned by Pepper and Pumpkin RIP Snickers 8/22/00 -- 11/28/06 http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

12-02-2006, 04:40 PM	#4 (permalink)
coaster Banned Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 17,798	I don't think hairball gel is of much use with tinsel. One of the principals behind the gel is that it's absorbed into hair, which makes it "slippery" and easier to pass. Of course that doesn't happen with tinsel. Hopefully it'll pass anyway. Keep a close eye on the litterbox for blood in the feces.

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