My cat ate plastic and won't eat. Is it an intestinal blockage?

What you are describing does fit with an intestinal obstruction. The only other thing that we also commonly see is vomiting. The most concerning thing is that you report that he is acting extremely lethargic. Cats are very good at hiding their pain, so when they get this depressed, it indicates a severe problem. If you also think that he may have eaten a small toy, then I would recommend taking him to the vet as soon as possible. It would be less concerning if he was still active and eating, but a bowel obstruction can cause severe pain and quickly lead to life-threatening complications. I hope that helps and Binx gets better soon.

Hi there. Poor Mittens! Unfortunately with her history I would highly recommend having her seen as soon as possible-she could be blocked (it actually sounds like she is). It is possible she could pass it with laxatives and iv fluids without surgery (your vet would have to do x rays to determine this). The sooner she gets checked out the better if it's already been a while. I hope all goes well and my best to you both!

Hello. With Ginger vomiting, I would be very concerned that she may have a blockage in her upper small intestines where an enema will never reach. After 24 hours, it is now time to seek veterinary attention. Poor Ginger will continue to deteriorate due to dehydration & loss of electrolytes. Often, just with the use of IV fluid therapy & the judicious use of laxatives & motility modifying medications, a blockage can sometimes resolve on its own in the hospital. Otherwise, this may require surgery if there is a firm, non-moving obstruction. Please have Ginger evaluated as soon as possible to hopefully get her back to normal quickly. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Oh no it's not good that Kitty ate that vomit! At most, I would expect that eating this vomit could cause some GI upset, causing her to vomit and/or have diarrhea. It's good that it doesn't look like she has eaten the plastic bag, and if she ate the bag, I would be concerned that the bag could cause a foreign body obstruction. Keep an eye on her for now, and if you see any vomiting or diarrhea, I can give you a home remedy to see if that helps her. I recommend withholding food for 12-24 hours, then feeding a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken (no bones) in small amounts several times a day for a couple of days. Then slowly add back in her normal diet. If the vomiting continues in the absence of food, she vomits the bland diet, the diarrhea continues on the bland diet, she stops drinking water, starts vomiting water, or becomes very lethargic, she will need to see a vet right away. Good luck, I hope this helps!

Poor Willie! Given that it appears she has vomited a foreign object (decorative balls from your bedspread) and the face she isn't eating, I would take her into a vet now. It's actually very serious when a cat doesn't eat, as they will develop a fatty liver when they go too long without eating. A fatty liver is fatal without treatment, so that needs to be avoided. She may need x-rays to determine if she has any more of those balls in her GI tract. Please take her into a vet now. Best of luck, I hope this helps!

I can certainly understand being worried about your cat eating plastic! The problem with plastic is that is can get caught in the GI tract, causing an obstruction. The best thing to do is to take him into a vet on call or an ER vet to get a shot to induce vomiting now. That will get the plastic out of him, and prevent any chance of obstruction. If it did cause an obstruction, he would need surgery to remove it, so it's better to avoid a big surgery bill now by having him induced to vomit to remove it. There is a chance it could pass on it's own, and you can chose to monitor him over the next 72 hours. Signs of obstruction including vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, lethargy, and constipation, and should you see any of those signs, he would need to see a vet immediately. In my opinion, it's best to be safe, so I would recommend taking him into a vet now.

Lethargy can be a sign of a blockage, but it's good that Bud is eating, drinking, and pooping. I'd keep an eye on him for now, and if he's still lethargic in the morning, have him seen by a vet. Rush him into an ER vet if he vomits, has diarrhea, stops passing feces, or stops eating. Best of luck.