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Please Don’t Put That In Your Mouth! Inappropriate Items Cats Eat

Good toys are significantly larger than a cat's mouth, and designed specifically for cats- like Tiller's favourite fish.

Hi, I’m Dr. Lauren! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my two adventurous cats, Pancake and Tiller.

Unlike dogs, it’s not all that common for cats to eat things they shouldn’t. But just like one of my friends shoved a Lego up their nose as a child to prove it was possible, and ended up in the ER with some very amused docs, cats, also, sometimes do things they shouldn’t.

As a vet, I’ve seen all sorts. A cat that ate a small plastic toy carrot; another that ate the head off a child’s doll (whole), one that swallowed part of a straw, and another that had a small pinecone lodged in his trachea, they can always keep you guessing! But, far and away, there are a few consistent items that Pancake and Tiller either aren’t allowed to be around, or I simply don’t keep them in the house, for the very reason that they commonly show up in clinics as a foreign body.

So, let’s look at some of the more popular items cats eat that they shouldn’t.

The 6 Inappropriate Things Cats Eat:

Thread

Thread, sometimes attached to a needle, is very common as a foreign body in cats. It can get wrapped around the tongue, and become anchored, which can cause lots of issues, as the intestines try to digest the thread, becoming bunched. In turn, the thread can more or less saw through the intestines, creating secondary issues such as infection and inflammation in the abdominal cavity, as intestinal contents leak out. As a vet, I saw one poor patient that had eaten thread 3-4 weeks before I met her, and had been suffering for that length of time with something stuck on her tongue, and the thread damaging her intestines. Ouch!

Fishing Lures

These often include fun feathers, they may seem to the unaware feline to be a perfect toy. But I have seen more cats than I’d care to admit who have eaten a fish hook as part of the deal, and it’s stuck in their mouth, their tongue, or their cheek.

Human Toys

Human toys. Squishy things that are small like bouncy balls are a feline favorite, and are nicely sized to get stuck right in the small intestine!

Pancake never understood Tiller's fishing fascination
Well-designed cat toys are a much safer option.

Foam

I’ve seen patients chew on foam, including ear plugs, and chewing up bits of a flip-flop. Or maybe some of the scent of these items that spend their time in more unusual places, also adds some irresistibleness?

Hair Ties

Fun to chase but can be easily ingested!

Christmas Tinsel

The perfect holiday cat toy, until they eat it!

The holidays are especially critical times to monitor cats around unusual items they might like to play with.
The holidays are especially critical times to monitor cats around unusual items they might like to play with.

What To Do About It

Obviously, cats can, and do, sometimes eat foreign objects other than the above. But, it’s a common list of items to be wary of, and keep well away from curious cats!

So, if your cat does get into any of these, what are the next steps? Well, invariably, they all involve a trip to your cat’s vet! For things like thread, only an anesthetized exam can truly decide if your cat may have string trapped under their tongue. And fishhooks stuck in cats’ mouths also generally need sedation to be properly assessed and removed. A small item may end up passing on its own without intervention, but I still recommend a veterinary checkup, so you can make a plan, together, about any lingering concerns the item may cause.

Ultimately, it’s always better to try and prevent any issues far before they occur! Worst case scenario, your cat may require surgery to remove the ingested item. (Have you seen my article on why cats need pet insurance, recently?)

At the end of the day, we love these furry creatures. But definitely be on the lookout for any items that your cat might get into, or rather, that could end up getting into your cat!

This article is a part of Dr. Lauren, Pancake, and Tiller's series.

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2 Responses

  1. My mature Ragamuffin is having an issue with canned Fancy Feast (grilled tuna, salmon and chicken) which he has always enjoyed. He went a day without eating, returned to eating and now is again, vomiting up white spittle and the food bits with thicker liquid.

    Vets don't have healthy food choices for healthy cats; only canned food and dry for cats with particular health issues. Please help. Bandit is eating greenies still for a treat, and just a bit of cooked chicken I eat. But I need regular healthy cat food with the vitamins etc. he needs. Please help.

    1. Hi Jo,

      We're sorry to hear about Bandit’s diet issues. We have this article here https://www.catster.com/nutrition/best-cat-food/ which has vet approved cat foods. Hopefully this helps. If you do want to speak with a veterinarian, however, we do have an online service called PangoVet, where you can chat with a vet from the comfort of your home on a video call. https://pangovet.com

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