Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

My cat ate string and vomited. Should I worry about obstruction?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | British Shorthair | Female | spayed

Hello, I think my cat has eaten string from a meat carcass and has brought it up through vomiting. She was sick this morning with a bit string in it and a bit of food. I checked if she was ok and she seemed fine so I went about my daily business to come home to see she had been sick again but this time with no food etc just string bunched together. She seems ok, she is her usual self but I just wanted to get an expert opinion.

3 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

Published on January 28th, 2019

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This could have been due to a partial obstruction. If she vomited all the obstructing material (string) then she may be ok. However, if she continues to vomit, this may be due to an obstruction and further therapy may be needed. If the issue continues, I recommend that you have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

2Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

Answered By Lauren Kennedy, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on July 14th, 2017
It's unlikely that Trouble vomited feces but her vomitus may have looked like it. If she is painful, not eating, and continuing to vomit I would recommend taking her in to the vet. They may recommend an X-ray to rule out an obstruction and give her some nausea medication to help with vomiting. Good luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Answered By C. Rathjens, DVM
Veterinarian
Published on December 13th, 2018
Poor girl, her intestines are definitely not feeling very good. I'd recommend looking/thinking about anything in your house that she could have eaten, paying particular attention to new plants you might have in the home for the holidays. If you can't find anything, and she's otherwise normal (eating, drinking, moving around), it's ok to wait to see if the vomiting continues today. If it continues or you see any of the previous symptoms, or think of a toxin or object she might have eaten, she needs to go to the vet tonight or tomorrow. Good luck!!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

My cat ate a cord, threw it up, and passed some. Is she okay?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is possible that this was causing her an obstruction and now she has thrown it up and defecated some of it and has thankfully relieved her obstruction. That is good as surgery is needed in most cases as they are not able to pass it or throw it up on their own. You can continue to monitor her for signs of an on-going obstruction such as vomiting, abdominal pain, inappetence or lethargy and if observed, have her examined then as soon as possible as that may represent an emergency. Otherwise, if she is back to her normal self and no more symptoms show, she may be ok. Good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat threw up ribbon, now bile but acts normal. Should I worry?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Tatum! The vomiting could be from residual irritation from the ribbon or there could be more ribbon that is causing an obstruction. It is also possible it is completely unrelated to the ribbon in general: intestinal parasites, hair ball, ate something else gross (plant, etc), pancreatitis, food allergy/intolerance, reaction to a new food/treat/table food. You can continue to watch him but if he continues to vomit or stops eating that is an emergency and he needs to see a vet for an exam and an X-ray to check for a blockage. I wish you the best!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My cat ate string and threw it up. Is he okay since he vomited it?

Once he threw up the balloon and the entire length of string, he should be fine. The offending foreign body has left his gastrointestinal system. However you should really check your house for any more items like that including string, as a linear foreign body (string causing an intestinal blockage) is a serious problem and would need surgery to remove. So since your kitty regurgitated the entire string and balloon he should be okay.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat ate string and vomited it days later. Is this normal?

Yes, this would not be uncommon but I would continue to monitor for any additional vomiting and for normal bowel motions for the next few days as a precaution in case not all was vomited up. Objects can stay in the stomach for months and do not always cause clinical signs (these are mostly related to actual obstruction of the GI tract so many small objects do not cause significant pain or vomiting if food can move around them)

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Health & Wellness

My cat swallowed a shoestring and is vomiting. Is it an emergency?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Zula! If she is extremely lethargic and is vomiting a lot she should go to the ER today. If she seems ok and the vomiting is minimal she should she your Vet first thing in the morning in case she needs surgery. I wish you the best of luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My kitten ate string 20 minutes ago. What to do if I can't see a vet?

Hi and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Ingested string is a very serious concern as it has the potential to cause an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract which may require surgery. You will need to visit your nearest emergency veterinarian to induce vomiting as soon as possible. After 2 hours, inducing vomiting will have little to no effect as the string will have likely passed through her stomach. Best of luck to you and Oreo!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My cat ate a bird. What health issues should I be worried about?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend that you monitor her for signs of a gastrointestinal obstruction such as vomiting, nausea and/or abdominal pain. If any of these are observed, have her evaluated by a veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Otherwise, she could be just fine. Have a great day!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share