Cat eats elastic???

[ahart44]

Ok so I have a cat that is always getting into things. When she was 6 months old she had to have emergency surgery b/c she ate a ribbon and balled up her intestines. The tonight she got up on the counter and ate part of a large elastic band. I am so afraid that she will get sick and need surgery again. :( Has this happened to anyone else??

[Medusa]

Unfortunately, yes. I have to keep a close eye on my fur posse because they do such things. My RB Peeka loved ribbons and Boo Bear does, too. Puddy will lick off all the adhesive on envelopes if I leave them out. I've been lucky because they've passed in the litterbox what they've eaten. Keep an eye on the litterboxes and, hopefully, she'll leave a "deposit" for you. Please keep us posted on her condition.

[columbine]

Yes, definitely keep a close eye on her, and if anything seems amiss, get her to the vet! Maybe she eats elastic and ribbons to stimulate her teeth and gums? Try a crunchy "anti-tartar" treat - maybe she just wants something to crunch on.

Love, Columbine

[Randi]

I agree, keep a close eye on her - and what's in her litterbox. I do hope it comes out in the other end! Just a few ago I saw an operation on a cat who had swallowed a string, it can get quite serious if not taken care of. :eek:

All you can do to avoid this, is to keep all string, yarn, elastic bands etc. in a safe place. If she is young, she will tend to explore, so keep an eye on her.

One time, my cat was in the process of swallowing some yarn, but luckily I was there to see it, and I pulled it slowly out.

She may want some cat grass, try that!

Good luck - and welcome to PT. :)

[ahart44]

well I have been scooping the box evey few hours.....no sign yet tho :( But, she is running around like her crazy self. That must be a good sign right?? I will keep you updated tho.

[moosmom]

It could be a good sign. If she starts dragging her butt on the floor, check her rectum to see if maybe the elastic is coming out. VERY GENTLY tug on it to see if it'll come out. If it stops, DO NOT PULL ANYMORE...get her to the vet.

My Munchkin loves to chew on dental floss, ribbon, thread, anything she can get into. So I have to watch her because she's cost me a lot of money in vet bills twice for chewing on dental floss and thread.

[kb2yjx]

Or if she starts to vomit, that would indicate she is obstructed(most likely by the elastic band). Hope it does not come to that and she will be a good girl and poop it out!!!!

[ahart44]

well still no elastic in the poop....she ate a little....but I hope that by tomorrow moring there will be a nice present for me in the littlerbox.......seriously tho am I that cat crazy that I am excited to be scooping the box?

[Medusa]

Well, it could cause her some internal damage if she doesn't pass it. If, by some off chance, you do see it, uh, hanging out of her behind, shall we say, DO NOT pull on it or try to help her pass it. Let her do it on her own. Years ago, a small dog of mine ate a nylon footie and my vet chose to see if she would pass it and, thankfully, she did but he warned me not to help her in any way because it could damage her internally. I'll feel better when you tell us it's in the box.

[moosmom]

Mary,

Me too!

[Catty1]

Other folks here - would it hurt to add a tiny bit of cooking oil to her wet food? Would that help, or maybe cause complications?

I keep every tiny thing put away - habit, after years of cats...but it's easy to overlook one little thing.

I hope your baby passes it and is ok!

[krazyaboutkatz]

My cats will also eat things that they're not supposed to. My girl Pearl will also elastic string and one time I was scooping the box just after she had used it and there was something red in her poo. At first I thought that it was blood but it was a red elastic string that she has eaten from a cat toy that my mom had given to me. Thank god she passed it. I didn't even know that she had eaten it so I can't tell you how long it took her to pass it. I found the toy and threw it away. I hope that your cat will also be able to pass this. Now I'm very careful with what I give my furkids to play with. I even cut off the tails of the mice toys that I give them just to be on the safe side. Good luck.:)

[ahart44]

See we have already had this problem once in Nov. My Abby baby got a hold of a ribbon that was under the heater in our new apartment (we thought we cleaned well enought but I guess not) She had to have surgery b/c it blocked her intestines. Then while at the vet she caught dystemper ( she ddint get all of her kitten shots, we didn't know) So a month and $1000 laters she ended up being ok. WE cleaned to whole house while she was sick. WE get rid of anything with string or elastic, even cut the tails off of mice and such.
But, this rubber band thing was different. It had been on my wrist at work and when I cane home I put it under a box on my dresser and shut the door intending to throw it out later (no trash in there). WEll the cats bumped the door open ( not sure how) and Abby dug the rubber band out from under the box. Hopefully this turns out better

PS- Still not rubber in the litter box but she is playing and eating and not vomiting so I am still on litter patrol.

[krazyaboutkatz]

How is your cat doing? Did she ever poop the elastic out?

[ahart44]

Nope still no elastic in the litterbox.....but she is doing fine. She is eating, sleeping. and playing with her sister. So, either I missed it in the litter checks or she chewed it so small that it didnt show up. I would assume that there would have been problems before now if there were going to be.

[csanchezveloso]

My girl Bieli did that a few months back. My mom was babysitting while I had to go away. I came home and while cleaning the litter I noticed something odd. I actually took it out and realized it was a rubberband.
She was fine. no biggie.
Is yours still OK?

[ahart44]

well......sorry I didn't update this sooner. I never found the elastic in the box but she had no negative effects so it must have passed (thank god)


PS-The pic of the two cats in the last post LOOK JUST LIKE MY TWO BABIES!!!!

[hayct123]

My very old cat even eats stuff like ribbon off of presents and she always throws up:( I don't know how to keep her away either.

[SANDY FROST]

My cat Baxter does not eat rubber bands but he finds some I missed. He brings them to me in carry it in his mouth. And then he drops it for me and then I tell him how good he is and give him cat treats.:cool:
Sandy

[genoismypet]

I agree, keep a close eye on her - and what's in her litterbox. I do hope it comes out in the other end! Just a few ago I saw an operation on a cat who had swallowed a string, it can get quite serious if not taken care of. :eek:

All you can do to avoid this, is to keep all string, yarn, elastic bands etc. in a safe place. If she is young, she will tend to explore, so keep an eye on her.

One time, my cat was in the process of swallowing some yarn, but luckily I was there to see it, and I pulled it slowly out.

She may want some cat grass, try that!

Good luck - and welcome to PT. :)

Hi, is cat grass safe? My cat seems to want to always munch on her hard food and I can bet that she isn't hungry...she also gets soft food too. I thought about getting that for her but does it upset their stomach or is it safe? Thanks