Cat ate a shoelace (maybe)

millie121 · #1 06-08-2006, 08:25 AM

Hi all,
When my boyfriend and I got home last night, the cats had gotten into the wastebasket in the bedroom. My boyfriend had a shoelace break on Monday, and had buried the broken piece (6-8 inches) in the trash. Well, now it can't be found. So, the cats either dragged it off somewhere or they ate it.

I called the vet, and they said just to keep an eye on them. But, I worry cuz I have to be at work all day. Does anyone know how long it would take to cause a problem if it was going to? Can something 6-8 inches be passed?

They are so good at finding trouble. Sigh.

kathydip · #2 06-08-2006, 08:38 AM

I am not sure how long it would take to pass but you should keep a close eye on them. My mother had a cat that ate a thread and almost died b/c it began to saw through her intestines. I wouldn't not think a shoelace would do this as easily. It's much thicker and wouldn't cut into the intestines as harshly. But that is just what I think. Have you looked everywhere for the shoelace? If you can find it I am sure you will feel much better. Kids! They are always getting into something!

SwC · #3 06-08-2006, 03:37 PM

I've had my puppy eat shoelaces before and fortunately it passed a few days later in the back yard lol. I've had kids come into the ER at work swallowing all kinds of things from necklaces to coins. As far as kitties though, are you sure they dont have a "stash" place for certain favorites as mine does and I find my pens, jewlery and all sorts of her collectables hidden in my bedroom closet way back in a corner! Watch thier litter box carefully to ensure they are going ok and if you should see any type of "strands" in the stool.

andreaS15 · #4 06-08-2006, 06:04 PM

I just want to mentioned, IF he has and you see it dangling from his bum, DO NOT pull it out! take him tot he vet to have then deal with it.
IF you pull on the string it can cuase internal problems and is very dangerous!

I've had cats eat string, it dosn't matter how well you hide it from them, it's like they have a little string beakon to tell them where it is. All my past pets passed the object without any troubles, so I'm sure everything will be ok

millie121 · #5 06-09-2006, 07:53 AM

Hi everyone, thanks for the opinions. Both cats are eating and seem pretty normal (as normal as they get, anyhow). Goblin used the litter box normally, but Sprout doesn't seem to have gone. She may, however, have gone while I was at work. Sometimes I wish I had kitty surveillance cameras. I'll keep a very careful eye on them both tonight and over the weekend. That way I can get a better gauge on their eating and litter box behavior. This weekend I will be going to buy the trashcans with the lids/foot levers. I'm sure they can still get those open, but they'd have to apply themselves a little more.

With fur babies being so ornery, I don't know how any of you get through raising human babies with your sanity intact. Good thing babies of all kinds are so cute!

MeggieQC · #6 06-09-2006, 10:05 AM

we got my cat a couple of days before christmas, and after christmas we realized that she was eating the icicles off the christmas tree. We saw them hanging out of her butt, we did pull them but next time we won't (thanks Andrea for the advice). Now she finds these ribbons and eat them. Don;t even know where she get them from. All i see, it's what end up in the litterbox

kathydip · #7 06-09-2006, 10:11 AM

We had to stop using icicles on our tree after we got our first cat bunny. The same thing happened. My mom spotted something silver coming out of her tush and pulled it. My mom realized quickly she should not have pulled it b/c Bunny (yes that was the cats name) cried. After that we all gathered around the tree and had to take every bit of the icicles off the tree. I think they can be pretty dangerous to animals.
I also never ever use plastic easter grass. I always spend a little more for the tissue shred.

DorkyChantelle · #8 06-09-2006, 10:13 AM

Oh goodness, cats are so weird. My cat ate a SEWING NEEDLE. I don't know what kitty instinct told him "mmm, that sharp metal object looks mighty tasty!" but he ended up having emergency surgery to get it out and fix his punctured intestines. I'd like to say I trust my cats but it seems they'll eat just about anything.

Glad to hear your kitty sounds okay! Hopefully he just has it hidden away somewhere or passes it without problem.

SwC · #9 06-09-2006, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DorkyChantelle


	Oh goodness, cats are so weird. My cat ate a SEWING NEEDLE. I don't know what kitty instinct told him "mmm, that sharp metal object looks mighty tasty!" but he ended up having emergency surgery to get it out and fix his punctured intestines. I'd like to say I trust my cats but it seems they'll eat just about anything. Glad to hear your kitty sounds okay! Hopefully he just has it hidden away somewhere or passes it without problem.

OUCH!! Now that is a very very scarey ordeal to even think about! So very glad that your kitty came through it successfully. I do try my best to keep things out of paw reach particularly since I have my Prairie dogs who free roam certain rooms in the house most of the time. I know they get into things alot but never really realized just how much danger there is to my kitties also when thier curiousity or tastebuds get the best of them. I've also learned to use Fooey on everything below knee level LOL. Best stuff in the world.

MeggieQC · #10 06-09-2006, 10:56 AM

When we pull the icicles out of her butt, she didn't seem to mind. Then she went right back to the tree to eat some more!!!??!! this year there will be not icicles on the christmas sure for sure. She was even eating the ribbons off the christmas gifts,(i love to make pretty wrappings and curl some ribbons etc..)
My friend had a cat who also like needles. The cat didn;t have the time to eat it thought. It was halfway in her mouth with the end sticking out !!!!

kathydip · #11 06-09-2006, 11:00 AM

I always keep the curling ribbon away too!

My dad's one cat was spitting up spit and acting strangely so they took her to the vet and the needle was caught in the roof of her mouth. When they pulled it out the string was still attached. My dad felt awful b/c by the color of the thread he knew he had left out the needle.
Why would they decide to eat such a thing though???

KIDS!!!

DorkyChantelle · #12 06-09-2006, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwC


	OUCH!! Now that is a very very scarey ordeal to even think about! So very glad that your kitty came through it successfully. I do try my best to keep things out of paw reach particularly since I have my Prairie dogs who free roam certain rooms in the house most of the time. I know they get into things alot but never really realized just how much danger there is to my kitties also when thier curiousity or tastebuds get the best of them. I've also learned to use Fooey on everything below knee level LOL. Best stuff in the world.

It was certainly one of the scariest things I've ever seen because I was right there with him when it happened. I saw him sort of "chewing" on it and then it started disappearing into his mouth. I grabbed him and forced his mouth open only to see the very tip sticking out of his throat (I tried in vain to pull it out...much to the dismay of my very distressed cat). Then I watched it disappear

This was at 10pm too so we had to get the secretary to call the vet at home and it took him awhile to get there. I remember when he called us in to view the x-ray, the needle was just laying flat out at the bottom of his belly (going through everything). He pulled through though and we're so obsessively careful when sewing now. I'll never understand the ideas cats have

Chinchilla_Girl · #13 06-09-2006, 11:39 AM

Pet proofing and child proofing are no different. You'd be amazed at some of the things we take out of the bellies of animals at work! I once got a 6 week old pit puppy into rescue and by the next afternoon, he looked like he hadn't eaten in a week. I rushed him into the vet and had x-rays done. Poor little guy had a blockage in his small intestine. Because of the time of day it was, the vet couldn't do the surgery then and instead pumped him full of Sub Q fluids and sent him home. We were to take him back the next morning for surgery. The next morning, Shane opened the kennel to take him out and his little butt exploded! Thank goodness for solid kennels because poop was EVERYWHERE! He took "Capone" out and gave him a bath and let him outside while he cleaned out the kennel before going to the vet. Low and behold, we found the culprit. A blue Pepsi cap was in the poo! Now we don't drink Pepsi so it didn't come from our house, but I still can't believe a 6 week old puppy could push a Pepsi cap out through that little butt, but that's exactly what he did! Luckily there was no damage and these days he's a big, healthy, happy 4 year old. I guess the fluids were enough to get things moving

Chrissy · #14 06-09-2006, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DorkyChantelle


	It was certainly one of the scariest things I've ever seen because I was right there with him when it happened. I saw him sort of "chewing" on it and then it started disappearing into his mouth. I grabbed him and forced his mouth open only to see the very tip sticking out of his throat (I tried in vain to pull it out...much to the dismay of my very distressed cat). Then I watched it disappear This was at 10pm too so we had to get the secretary to call the vet at home and it took him awhile to get there. I remember when he called us in to view the x-ray, the needle was just laying flat out at the bottom of his belly (going through everything). He pulled through though and we're so obsessively careful when sewing now. I'll never understand the ideas cats have

YIKES!! That is scarey

Glad he turned out ok!

Neth · #15 06-09-2006, 08:46 PM

Wow, that needle must've been scary! My ferret once got into a top drawer in my kitchen (how he managed to, i'll never know

) and ate 2 balloons! He was very lucky though and passed both of them. I didn't even know he had eaten them until I found them in the litter box. We don't keep balloons anymore, haha. My filly also ate a wal-mart bag when she was 2, I saw her out in the field straining to poo, poor girl! I helped her a bit though, then she seemed extremely relieved, haha. Glad your cat is okay!

Thanks