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Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 10 months and 5 days old
In the last few hours, cat might have eaten a small, about 1 cm, metallic (steel?) hollow ball (a little round bell that makes a sound) that was part of a cat toy. (I don't know if she has eaten it for sure. I can't find it.) She just ate a full meal and hasn't lost her appetite. What will be the symptoms in the next few hours if she has indeed eaten it? Is there any chance she'll be able to defecate the ball? How soon before I know if it's causing her any harm? No access to vet here. Thanks.
2 Answers

Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS
Veterinarian
Published on February 1st, 2017
Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM
Veterinarian
The first sign of obstruction is usually vomiting or a decrease in appetite. 1 cm is a little large but there is a chance that it could pass through without issues. It could take a day or two before you would see it in her stool. If you are able to make it to a veterinarian metal easily shows up on x-rays. If she makes it 7 days without any vomiting or diarrhea or bells in her stool then she probably didn't eat it.
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