Cat ate a present string!!

rketto · 12-05-2010, 03:15 AM

My male cat Gabriel just ate one of those strings used to tie up presents. I was trying to grab him to pull it out of his mouth but he kept running away and swallowing more of it. Should I be concerned? I don't want him to suffer from this.

Jan Rebecca · 12-05-2010, 06:16 AM

I'm not really experienced with cats but I would keep an eye on his eating and pooping to make sure nothing gets 'tied' up in there.

Susan · 12-05-2010, 08:20 AM

I'm not sure where you're located, but if it's currently Monday in your neck of the woods, I would give the vet a call and ask whether or not you should bring him in. If it's currently Sunday, then I would keep a close eye on Gabriel today and call the vet tomorrow. Call the vet (or EC) today if you see any negative signs, including vomiting, attempting to vomit, straining to poop, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy or any behavioral changes. You can also try giving Gabriel some petroleum jelly (or hairball cream)...put it on his paws and have him lick it off. I hope nothing serious comes of his having eaten the string.

Sinatra-Butters · 12-05-2010, 02:26 PM

If he poops and you see the string coming out, DO NOT PULL IT! Call your vet.

Auntie Crazy · 12-05-2010, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinatra-Butters

If he poops and you see the string coming out, DO NOT PULL IT! Call your vet.

Yeah, that!

Definitely watch for digestive upsets - vomiting, no pooping, loss of appetite - and lethargy and if you see any of them, bring him in to the vet and have them do an x-ray ASAP.

If the string causes problems, surgery can fix it - however, the sooner the problem is corrected, the better for your kitty.

How long was the string?

AC

rketto · 12-06-2010, 06:57 PM

It was pretty long I think. But there have been no problems so far... knock on wood. But Gabriel has been eating normally and acting normally too.

Carmel · 12-06-2010, 07:19 PM

Once my cat ate a needle attached to thread. We didn't even know until it was out the other end! Wow were we ever lucky. I think the longer the string the more dangerous it is, if it was pretty long I would be concerned. Keep an eye on your cat to make sure they aren't acting strange, and if they are take them to the vet ASAP! If they start pooping it out, I'll echo everyone else in saying do not pull it out! Instead I'd suggest cutting it every time you see some... or going to the vet.

Auntie Crazy · 12-06-2010, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carmel

Once my cat ate a needle attached to thread. We didn't even know until it was out the other end! Wow were we ever lucky. I think the longer the string the more dangerous it is, if it was pretty long I would be concerned. Keep an eye on your cat to make sure they aren't acting strange, and if they are take them to the vet ASAP! If they start pooping it out, I'll echo everyone else in saying do not pull it out! Instead I'd suggest cutting it every time you see some... or going to the vet.

A needle?! Holy momma! I'm glad your kitties ok!

bluegoo06 · 12-07-2010, 02:50 PM

keep an eye on the cat. You might even want to just take the cat in so the vet can look down its throat and make sure the string didnt get caught in the throat. I had an unfortunate experience with cats and strings. My old cat, was about 6 or 7 at the time had eaten some thread. She was a hiding cat so she often slept under the bed for hours. Turns out the string got lodged around her tongue and she stopped eating. It took a while for her to start looking ill. cats seem to hide illness well, she always was a hider cat so she didnt seem to be acting any different. After a week or two she lost a couple pounds. We took her to the vet. It was too late. Her kidneys failed from her not eating for so long and not drinking.

Not to say that this will be happening to your cat and the chances of this are probably really rare. But definately keep an eye out for the string. MY cats have eaten ribbon before and within a few days it "passed" and was in the box with the bowels. Just keep an eye on eating and drinking.

Carmel · 12-07-2010, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Auntie Crazy

A needle?! Holy momma! I'm glad your kitties ok!

Yeah, I know! I wasn't around for the discovery of it, but apparently he was running around the house like mad trying to get the string out once it started coming... we have no idea where he found it, either.

12-05-2010, 03:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
rketto Jr. Cat Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 69	Cat ate a present string!! My male cat Gabriel just ate one of those strings used to tie up presents. I was trying to grab him to pull it out of his mouth but he kept running away and swallowing more of it. Should I be concerned? I don't want him to suffer from this.

12-05-2010, 08:20 AM	#3 (permalink)
Susan Premier Cat Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,632	I'm not sure where you're located, but if it's currently Monday in your neck of the woods, I would give the vet a call and ask whether or not you should bring him in. If it's currently Sunday, then I would keep a close eye on Gabriel today and call the vet tomorrow. Call the vet (or EC) today if you see any negative signs, including vomiting, attempting to vomit, straining to poop, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy or any behavioral changes. You can also try giving Gabriel some petroleum jelly (or hairball cream)...put it on his paws and have him lick it off. I hope nothing serious comes of his having eaten the string. __________________ Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.

12-05-2010, 02:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Sinatra-Butters Cat Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Paul, MN Posts: 2,912	If he poops and you see the string coming out, DO NOT PULL IT! Call your vet. __________________ Becky, the proud momma of:

12-05-2010, 06:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jan Rebecca Cat Addict Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,507	I'm not really experienced with cats but I would keep an eye on his eating and pooping to make sure nothing gets 'tied' up in there.

12-06-2010, 06:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
rketto Jr. Cat Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 69	It was pretty long I think. But there have been no problems so far... knock on wood. But Gabriel has been eating normally and acting normally too.

12-06-2010, 07:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Carmel Cool Cat Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 1,212	Once my cat ate a needle attached to thread. We didn't even know until it was out the other end! Wow were we ever lucky. I think the longer the string the more dangerous it is, if it was pretty long I would be concerned. Keep an eye on your cat to make sure they aren't acting strange, and if they are take them to the vet ASAP! If they start pooping it out, I'll echo everyone else in saying do not pull it out! Instead I'd suggest cutting it every time you see some... or going to the vet.

12-07-2010, 02:50 PM	#9 (permalink)
bluegoo06 Jr. Cat Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 49	keep an eye on the cat. You might even want to just take the cat in so the vet can look down its throat and make sure the string didnt get caught in the throat. I had an unfortunate experience with cats and strings. My old cat, was about 6 or 7 at the time had eaten some thread. She was a hiding cat so she often slept under the bed for hours. Turns out the string got lodged around her tongue and she stopped eating. It took a while for her to start looking ill. cats seem to hide illness well, she always was a hider cat so she didnt seem to be acting any different. After a week or two she lost a couple pounds. We took her to the vet. It was too late. Her kidneys failed from her not eating for so long and not drinking. Not to say that this will be happening to your cat and the chances of this are probably really rare. But definately keep an eye out for the string. MY cats have eaten ribbon before and within a few days it "passed" and was in the box with the bowels. Just keep an eye on eating and drinking.

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