My cat ate sisal rope from his cat tree. Should I be concerned?

Luckily is was only a short piece of fringe. Usually when cats eat strings and yarn that cause intestinal perforations the length is longer than two inches. If there is a medical problem she will become painful, stop eating and may not poop regularly. She should be out of the woods in another day or two. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Maisy.

1.5 " of a string should not really be a problem and will likely come out the natural way. It is too short to cause a linear foreign body obstruction. If you check her poo for the next 3-4 days you should be able to find it eventually. Apart from that I would monitor her for diarrhea and possibly retching/vomiting. If that occurs, please see your vet right away.

Oh no, Nina! Fortunately it was a small piece, but yes, this could still be a cause for concern for causing an intestinal obstruction. Closely monitor Nina for signs of vomiting, lethargy or a loss of appetite. If you observe anything abnormal, you will need to take Nina to a vet immediately for evaluation. Also monitor her stool to watch for signs of the hair tie passing. You may not see it, but it doesn't hurt to look to be sure that it passes. I hope that all goes well!

If Atlas seems OK, I would keep an eye on him while you continue to search for the item. Signs to look out for of a possible obstruction include vomiting, diarrhea, attempting to vomit without being able to, loss of appetite, lethargy or pain in the abdomen. A cat that isn't feeling well may also try to hide or become less social. If you do see these signs, or suspect that the item was ingested, it is best to bring Atlas into your vet for care.

Hi Sam! I can understand being worried about G. If he is the same as usual, I wouldn't be too worried. I would suspect you may have missed it. Continue to monitor him, and if he does start to appear to be sick, have him seen by a vet. Best of luck.

Just monitor her for the moment; unfortunately strings and any type of linear foreign body can sit in the intestine and stomach for ages before coming out!. As long as she eating fine and drinking ok and passing feces and urine normally and being normal in terms of demeanor and activity level she will be ok and she won't need any check up. You could potentially give her some mineral oil (2mls every meal )like paraffin oil to lubricate the gastrointestinal canal and help to get rid of the strings if there. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation (where you can post pictures ) if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

A two inch long fluffy string likely will not cause a foreign body obstruction. It willl ikely pass the natural way. Should your cat start vomiting, get lethargic or get diarrhea within the next week then you should have her examined by your vet.