If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
oh no, my cat ate string! (long)
Hi group, Frequent reader, infrequent poster here.
I need some advice, and hopefully some encouraging words that my boy will be ok. Let me say first that I've already spoken to my vet this morning about this, and it's basically a wait and see situation. Anyway, here's what happened This morning, about 4 hours ago, one of my cats was playing with some loose threads hanging from a cotton throw i have on a chair. He was getting this feet caught up in a particularly long hanging thread, so I cut it off (about 20-24 inches) and then waved it around on the floor for him to play with, which he did. Then he grabbed it and ran under a chair where he started to chew it. He likes to chew stuff, so I didn't think anything of it until I realized that he was eating it. So I tried to go to him and get it, but that just made him run under the sofa, where he evaded me trying to get him from wither side. Ended up he ate the dang string! It is all cotton and thin, more like a think yarn than a string or cord. After he did it, I got to thinkiing that I'd heard about not letting cats have string and rubber bands, but I thought it was b/c of choking hazard Then I got online and read about all the terrible things that can happen when a cat ingests string. I freaked out! So within an hour I went ot my vet (a minute's drive in the neighborhood) with a piece of the string to show her and explained what happened. She said we have 2 options: surgery immediately to remove the string or wait it out and watch him very closely and hope he poops it out. I'm doing the latter, of course. She says to watch for vomiting or refusing food and being lethargic or acting ill. (Also watch for him hiding from me, but he does that anyway. ) Doc said if there's going to be a problem with the string causing a blockage or getting caught up in his insides, he'd probably start to show signs of distress about 12 hours after eating the string, which will be tonight. If he does, I need to bring him in first thing in the morning for surgery. Best case is that he will just poop the string out, i guess in a day or two. And if he doesn't poop it out but is acting and eating fine, chances are the string dissolved in his system (since it's not nylon, dental floss, etc.), she says. I asked the vet if Laxatone would be a good idea, and she said it wouldn't hurt and may help him pass whatever's in there. But he a shy, skittish cat who won't let you near him if he suspects anything's up, which he does now, so he hasn't let me near enough yet to put some Laxatone on his paw or nose to even try that. I feel so stupid and guilty about giving him the string in the first place, and then not realizing the danger here until it was too late to stop it. Does anyone know what the chances are that he'll be ok and just poop it out? Is it more likely that that will happen versus the drastic step of him getting his insides damaged and needing surgery? Google is full of stories of the cat needing surgery or dying from this, but i hope that's the exception rather than the rule! many thanks for any advice, mary |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
In article , mw*678
@sprynet.com enlightened us with... Does anyone know what the chances are that he'll be ok and just poop it out? Is it more likely that that will happen versus the drastic step of him getting his insides damaged and needing surgery? Google is full of stories of the cat needing surgery or dying from this, but i hope that's the exception rather than the rule! Poor kitty! I'm glad you took him to the vet, as that's always the first suggestion. That said, I had a cat eat a piece of string a LONG time ago and it came out okay. It was a shoelace, actually. I've seen a couple other stories posted here where it came out all right, too. Do keep an eye on him and if there's no BM in the next 24-36 hours, assume it's blocked. Cats often don't show pain. The vet should be able to tell with an x-ray, depending on the size and fabric of the string. As to "helping" it pass, try a tablespoon or so of vegetable oil (olive oil is best, IMO) in the water. If he eats wet food, you should be able to sneak a teaspoon of Laxatone in the food at each feeding. My one cat loves the Laxatone and considers it a treat. Try behaving as though you've got some major yummies for him. He might just like the stuff. Good luck and purrs to the little furman. -- -- ~kaeli~ If that phone was up your a$$, maybe you could drive a little better! http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
In article , mw*678
@sprynet.com enlightened us with... Does anyone know what the chances are that he'll be ok and just poop it out? Is it more likely that that will happen versus the drastic step of him getting his insides damaged and needing surgery? Google is full of stories of the cat needing surgery or dying from this, but i hope that's the exception rather than the rule! Poor kitty! I'm glad you took him to the vet, as that's always the first suggestion. That said, I had a cat eat a piece of string a LONG time ago and it came out okay. It was a shoelace, actually. I've seen a couple other stories posted here where it came out all right, too. Do keep an eye on him and if there's no BM in the next 24-36 hours, assume it's blocked. Cats often don't show pain. The vet should be able to tell with an x-ray, depending on the size and fabric of the string. As to "helping" it pass, try a tablespoon or so of vegetable oil (olive oil is best, IMO) in the water. If he eats wet food, you should be able to sneak a teaspoon of Laxatone in the food at each feeding. My one cat loves the Laxatone and considers it a treat. Try behaving as though you've got some major yummies for him. He might just like the stuff. Good luck and purrs to the little furman. -- -- ~kaeli~ If that phone was up your a$$, maybe you could drive a little better! http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
From: tonks
Does anyone know what the chances are that he'll be ok and just poop it out? Is it more likely that that will happen versus the drastic step of him getting his insides damaged and needing surgery? I know you're very worried right now. But try to be calm. My cat Mickey ate a 5 inch leather string that had fur on it (from one of those furry mice toys). He got bad diarrhea but then it passed and he was fine. I do admit to being a total wreck though. Just really keep an eye on your cat. Remember, if he starts pooping out the string, do not, whatever you do, do not pull on the string. Take him to your vet immediately. Good luck and please let us know what happens. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
From: tonks
Does anyone know what the chances are that he'll be ok and just poop it out? Is it more likely that that will happen versus the drastic step of him getting his insides damaged and needing surgery? I know you're very worried right now. But try to be calm. My cat Mickey ate a 5 inch leather string that had fur on it (from one of those furry mice toys). He got bad diarrhea but then it passed and he was fine. I do admit to being a total wreck though. Just really keep an eye on your cat. Remember, if he starts pooping out the string, do not, whatever you do, do not pull on the string. Take him to your vet immediately. Good luck and please let us know what happens. Lauren ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecat.com/articles/claws.htm |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 17 May 2004 14:13:52 -0500, kaeli
wrote: In article , mw*678 enlightened us with... Does anyone know what the chances are that he'll be ok and just poop it out? Is it more likely that that will happen versus the drastic step of him getting his insides damaged and needing surgery? Google is full of stories of the cat needing surgery or dying from this, but i hope that's the exception rather than the rule! Poor kitty! I'm glad you took him to the vet, as that's always the first suggestion. That said, I had a cat eat a piece of string a LONG time ago and it came out okay. It was a shoelace, actually. I've seen a couple other stories posted here where it came out all right, too. Do keep an eye on him and if there's no BM in the next 24-36 hours, assume it's blocked. Cats often don't show pain. The vet should be able to tell with an x-ray, depending on the size and fabric of the string. As to "helping" it pass, try a tablespoon or so of vegetable oil (olive oil is best, IMO) in the water. If he eats wet food, you should be able to sneak a teaspoon of Laxatone in the food at each feeding. My one cat loves the Laxatone and considers it a treat. Try behaving as though you've got some major yummies for him. He might just like the stuff. Good luck and purrs to the little furman. -- Thanks, Hugh and kaeli. I just got through examining his first poop since this happened. I kept telling myself they were really Godiva chocolate bonbons I was cutting with my plastic fork! yuk! Kinda gooey, no signs of string, tho at 6 hours on, it's probably too early for it to be showing up. But he's eating very well (a litlle wet food, a little dry, and a few little chunks of baked chicken), and has pooped once. I also got him to eat 1/2 tsp of Laxatone mixed with a spoonful of his wet food about an hour ago, so i got that done. The waiting is agonizing, but I've calmed down a bit since this morning when I was expecting the absolute worst. I'm going to watch him and his poop like a hawk for the next three days, and hope it's just 'passin through'. mary |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
On Mon, 17 May 2004 14:13:52 -0500, kaeli
wrote: In article , mw*678 enlightened us with... Does anyone know what the chances are that he'll be ok and just poop it out? Is it more likely that that will happen versus the drastic step of him getting his insides damaged and needing surgery? Google is full of stories of the cat needing surgery or dying from this, but i hope that's the exception rather than the rule! Poor kitty! I'm glad you took him to the vet, as that's always the first suggestion. That said, I had a cat eat a piece of string a LONG time ago and it came out okay. It was a shoelace, actually. I've seen a couple other stories posted here where it came out all right, too. Do keep an eye on him and if there's no BM in the next 24-36 hours, assume it's blocked. Cats often don't show pain. The vet should be able to tell with an x-ray, depending on the size and fabric of the string. As to "helping" it pass, try a tablespoon or so of vegetable oil (olive oil is best, IMO) in the water. If he eats wet food, you should be able to sneak a teaspoon of Laxatone in the food at each feeding. My one cat loves the Laxatone and considers it a treat. Try behaving as though you've got some major yummies for him. He might just like the stuff. Good luck and purrs to the little furman. -- Thanks, Hugh and kaeli. I just got through examining his first poop since this happened. I kept telling myself they were really Godiva chocolate bonbons I was cutting with my plastic fork! yuk! Kinda gooey, no signs of string, tho at 6 hours on, it's probably too early for it to be showing up. But he's eating very well (a litlle wet food, a little dry, and a few little chunks of baked chicken), and has pooped once. I also got him to eat 1/2 tsp of Laxatone mixed with a spoonful of his wet food about an hour ago, so i got that done. The waiting is agonizing, but I've calmed down a bit since this morning when I was expecting the absolute worst. I'm going to watch him and his poop like a hawk for the next three days, and hope it's just 'passin through'. mary |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
|
#9
|
|||
|
|||
|
#10
|
|||
|
|||
"tonks" wrote in message ... Does anyone know what the chances are that he'll be ok and just poop it out? Is it more likely that that will happen versus the drastic step of him getting his insides damaged and needing surgery? ... mary Hi Mary, Sorry I can't give you the odds, but it sounds like you know what to do now. We'll send some good vibrations your way in hopes that everything turns out to be O.K. for your cat. Annie, servant to Cinder and Rosie |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Decorating the Tree With Mommy | CatNipped | Cat anecdotes | 53 | January 17th 05 11:59 PM |
Vet Tech Journals 17 (long) | Mischief | Cat anecdotes | 8 | December 5th 04 12:07 AM |