Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.
Unlike dogs, it’s less common for cats to eat things they shouldn’t. But like one of my friends who shoved a Lego up their nose as a kid to prove it was possible, and ended up in the ER with some very amused docs, cats, too, sometimes do something they shouldn’t.
As a vet, I’ve seen all kinds. A cat that ate a small plastic carrot toy; another ate a child’s doll’s head (whole), one swallowed part of a straw, and another had a small pinecone lodged in his trachea, you can always guess! But, far and away, there are some consistent items that Pancake and Tiller either don’t allow, or I simply don’t keep them at home, for the reason that they usually end up in clinics as a foreign body.
So, let’s take a look at some of the more popular things that cats eat that they shouldn’t.
The 6 inappropriate things cats eat:
Thread
Thread, sometimes attached to a needle, is common as a foreign body in cats. It can wrap around the tongue, and become an anchor, which can cause a lot of issues, as the gut tries to dissolve the thread, which turns into a bunch. In turn, the thread can be more or less through the intestines, creating secondary issues such as infection and inflammation in the abdominal cavity, as the intestinal contents leak. As a vet, I saw a poor patient who ate yarn 3-4 weeks before I met him, and was suffering for so long that something stuck to his tongue, and the yarn was destroying his intestines. Ouch!
Fishing Lures
They often come with fun fur, they can seem like a perfect toy to an unsuspecting cat. But I’ve seen more cats than I care to admit, who ate a hook as part of the deal, and it got stuck in their mouth, their tongue, or their cheek.
Human Toys
Human toys. These squishy little bouncy ball-like things are a cat favorite, and are just the right size to get right out of the small intestine!
Foam
I have seen patients chew foam, including ear plugs, and chew pieces of flip-flops. Or maybe some of the scents of these items that spend their time in more unusual places, also add some irresistible?
Hair Tie
Fun to chase but easy to digest!
Christmas Tinsel
The perfect holiday cat toy, until they eat it!
What To Do About It
Obviously, cats can, and do, sometimes eat foreign objects other than those mentioned. But, this is a general list of items to watch out for, and keep curious cats out of the way!
So, if your cat has gotten into any of these, what are the next steps? Well, invariably, they all involve a trip to your cat’s vet! For things like thread, only an anesthetized exam can decide if your cat may have string trapped under his tongue. And fishhooks stuck in cats’ mouths usually also require sedation to be properly examined and removed. A small thing can end on its own without intervention, but I still recommend a veterinary examination, so that you can make a plan, together, about any lingering concerns that the item may cause .
In the end, it is always better to try and avoid any issues far before they happen! Worst case scenario, your cat may need surgery to remove the injected object. (Did you see my article on why cats need pet insurance, recently?)
At the end of the day, we love these furry creatures. But definitely watch out for any things your cat might get, or rather, that might end up on your cat!
This article is part of a series by Dr. Lauren, Pancake, and Tiller.
