Cat Consumed String: Consequences and Crisis Management Strategies
Cats are frequently drawn to exploring their surroundings, which can sometimes lead to perilous situations, such as consuming inedible objects like string. The ingestion of linear foreign bodies, as they're referred to medically, can pose hazards to a cat's health.
The question remains, what exactly jeopardizes a feline's wellbeing when they consume string? Discover the risks and the appropriate course of action should your cat eat string.
Why String Gains Feline Appeal
To humans, a string might not seem appetizing, but cats are susceptible to its allure due to their hunting instincts. String can provoke a cat's instinct to hunt as it mimics the movement of small prey. After a play session, a cat might feel inclined to consume the string out of instinct.
However, there's another condition known as pica, which prompts animals to consume non-food items like plastic, wood, and soil. Cats with pica may be enticed by string. It is essential to note that cats can be attracted to various types of string or string-like objects, including dental floss, yarn, tinsel, and ribbon.
Cat Eating String: Dangers and Symptoms
When a cat consumes a piece of string, it can become entangled around their tongue or caught at the exit of their stomach. Veterinarian Dr. Cameron Smart of the Veterinary Emergency Group in Tampa, Florida, explains that when this occurs, the string becomes stationary at either the tongue or the stomach exit, causing the free end to trail through the rest of the digestive tract.
The intestines then struggle to push the string down for elimination, leading to a condition known as plication, where the intestines bunch up and narrow, eventually causing an intestinal blockage. This blockage requires immediate surgical intervention to remove the string and can lead to further complications like a tear in the intestine if left untreated.
Signs Your Cat Ate String
It isn't always straightforward to determine if your cat has swallowed a piece of string, as you might not catch them in the act. However, signs that suggest your cat may have ingested string include lip licking, pawing at the mouth, a visible piece of string in their mouth or anus, decreased appetite, vomiting, straining to defecate, abdominal pain, unwillingness to lay down, lethargy, dehydration, or blood in stool or urine.
Should you suspect your cat has eaten string, seek veterinary advice immediately, even before observing any symptoms. Knowing the length of the string your cat ingested can be helpful information.
What to Do Next
If you witness your cat eating a piece of string or believe they may have eaten it, don't wait for symptoms to develop - call your veterinarian or local emergency animal hospital immediately for guidance. Although it might not always be possible, having an estimate of the string length ingested offers useful information.
A string less than an inch may pass harmlessly through the digestive system without intervention. Longer pieces, however, often necessitate medical intervention to expel or remove them.
Regardless, it is essential never to attempt to pull the string out yourself or make your cat vomit. Doing so can cause damage to your cat's esophagus and organs. Leave string removal to the professionals.
Preventing String-related Incidents
Always prioritize prevention when it comes to your cat and string-like objects. Store items containing string, such as sewing or craft supplies, out of your cat's reach. Keep household items like dental floss, hair ties, and ribbon secured, too.
Avoid using string, yarn, shoelaces, or other string-like objects as cat toys. Opt for toys specifically designed to withstand chewing without easily fraying or falling apart. Providing safe alternatives for chewing, such as catnip-filled toys, interactive toys, puzzle feeders, and scratching posts, can help satisfy their hunting instincts while minimizing the risk of them seeking out unsuitable items.
Above all, stashing away those loose threads helps safeguard your feline companion from string-related perils.
- Cats' hunting instincts are often stimulated by the movement of string, making it an appealing object for them to play with and potentially ingest.
- Consuming string poses risks to a cat's health, as there's a possibility it may become entangled in their digestive system, leading to plication and eventually an intestinal blockage that requires surgical intervention.
