My cat ate tinsel and has string from her butt, what should I do?

Oh no, Snow! Tinsel and feathers run the risk of causing an intestinal obstruction/blockage by means of a linear foreign body. In these cases, the material gets stuck in the stomach or intestines and essentially causes the intestines to bunch together like an accordion. Sometimes this material can also get stuck under the tongue, so if you can safely open her mouth to look under the tongue, that would be helpful. If you see material under the tongue or if it has been less than two hours since Snow ate the feathers and tinsel, consider taking her to the vet to have vomiting induced. If it has been longer than two hours since the time of ingestion, you can closely monitor her for signs of vomiting, lethargy, and inappetence, as these can indicate an obstruction. If you do see any of these signs, Snow should be seen by her vet immediately because obstructions are a surgical emergency. That said, it is also quite possible that she passes this material in her stool.

This tinsel may be able to pass without problem, but there could be a chance it could cause a linear foreign body. I would keep an eye on her. If you see any vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and/or lethargy, I would take her into a vet immediately. Best of luck.

Hello. It should pass on its own, but if it is annoying Spirit, then you may need your veterinarian to help remove it. I do not recommend you just pulling as it is possible to lacerate the colon if you do. Hopefully, he did not eat any more as tinsel can cause intestinal blockages. Give him a bit of time & hopefully he will poop out the tinsel on his own. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

It would be best to seek veterinary care in person ASAP as linear foreign bodies can cause a lot of GI issues if left untreated. Your vet can help monitor Silence, and let you know if he requires surgery or if it looks like things are passing.

String foreign bodies can become entangled in the bowel and cause significant complications. I would monitor her very closely for any signs of pain, discomfort, vomiting or altered stools and also contact your vets office to discuss the option of removal before they have a chance to become an obstruction

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.

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.