My sweet kitty ate 5 feet of string!

[rayo de sol]

I feel so dumb for leaving the string out.

I took her to the emergency vet earlier today. Now all there is to do is wait and hope that the string passes without getting stuck. If it doesn't come out, it can be life-threatening, and major surgery might be required.

I'm worried. This cat is so wonderful and precious to me. She's a really good friend.

Anyone else's cat live through eating string?

[Juvysen]

My cats are always trying to eat ribbon (like curling ribbon for wrapping paper?) so i know they'd go straight for it if they had an option. It's a terrifying possibility that I've imagined before. I supposed they may have eaten some, but I've never known about it (and I've heard it could cut them up pretty good inside, so I guess probably they didn't)

Hope your kitty gets better soon. I'll keep her in my thoughts.

[Irishmommy]

Well my dog used to like digging used tampons out of the garbage and lived to tell, if that's any help.

[Shenjall]

One of our kitties ate ALOT of thread, and lived to tell about it.

I had left the cover off my serger and sewing machine, and he was supposed to stay in the basement, but my older ds let him up without thinking so he has about 2 hours "alone time" with the thread by the time I found him. We waited and watched him, but then when he stopped eating we took him in. It was pretty bad, they had to do surgery to get it out. The vet was saying they usually only do about 2-3 incisions but they had to 10 to get it all out. Poor baby. However, he recovered quite nicely, and I NEVER leave my sewing machine unattended anymore.

Oh, and the vet gave us the thread in a little pill case. It sits on my sewing table as a reminder.

[rayo de sol]

Thanks, everybody, for the support.

I'm still waiting for the string to come out on its own. The wait is agonizing.

[rhiOrion]

Just remember that no matter how tempting it may be to NOT tug at the string if it's hanging partially out. I think you could probably cut it off at kitty's butt without an issue, but pulling it is dangerous, because it could pull through the intestines.

I've seen this surgery done many times, and it is expensive and takes a long time, but the success rate is high, as long as you get kitty in to the vet before she gets too weak.

I think that as long as you don't pull on it, and it doesn't block her up completely, that there is a pretty good chance she'll pass it on her own. But watch out for watery or bloody diarrhea or lots of unproductive vomiting/dry heaving- those would be signs to call the vet right away. Lethargy, too.

(sorry if I'm just repeating what the vet already told you!)

[outlier]

I hope the string comes out all right! How stressful.

My cat hasn't eaten long strings, but she is an expert rubber band eater. There were times in the past that she clearly had a secret stash hidden somewhere in the house because whenever I would go to scoop the litterbox, her poops would be strung together like bouncy sausage links.

[rayo de sol]

Thanks, everybody.

Still waiting for the string to come out. Kitty has a slow digestive system because she eats a raw food (low residue) diet.

She seems perfectly healthy, normal activity level, normal eating.

rhiOrion, your post is very helpful. Are you a vet?

[hibana]

OP, I hope your kitty is okay! You know those twisty coil shoelaces that you don't have to tie? My cat ate one of those once- it was neon colored and sparkly. We had no idea where it went until a few days later.

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by rayo de sol

Thanks, everybody.

Still waiting for the string to come out. Kitty has a slow digestive system because she eats a raw food (low residue) diet.

She seems perfectly healthy, normal activity level, normal eating.

rhiOrion, your post is very helpful. Are you a vet?

Nope. But I worked for one for years, and the way it was set up it was easy for me to stand in the doorway and observe the surgeries. But we so frequently got the "my pet ate ____, what do I do?" calls that I heard our techs answer those questions all the time.

I once gave a dog named Willie Nelson an enema to help him pass a rock. It's very fun to tell that story with the "dog" part.

[rayo de sol]

Good news!

Kitty has passed some of the string! Yay!

I'm hoping to see more string because I know she ate a lot more than what I've seen so far.

[Theia]

Yay kitty! that the rest comes out easily too.

[Shenjall]

Woo Hoo!!!

[lonegirl]

Good luck! Remember DO NOT pull on the string if you see it hanging out of her butt. This can cause incredible trauma and lead to likely needing surgery. you can cut it as it appears...just do not pull.
eta: I just read rhiOrion's post....yup on all she said!! (I am a tech )

[rhiOrion]

Any updates, OP? I'm hoping that five feet of string have come out the other end!