My cat licks wax from cheese wrappers. Is it bad for his health?

It could be that eating that wax upset Arlo's stomach, and that's why he didn't eat and was hiding yesterday. It's good that he's ate today and used the litter box, but given that he is not hiding again and not eating, I would monitor him for now. There is a possibility that this wax could cause a GI obstruction, and that could be causing his symptoms. If he's still acting this way in another 24 hours, or develops other signs such as vomiting, I would take him into the vet right away.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your cat. Cheese should not be toxic to him, but could cause some gastrointestinal upset. I would monitor him for any vomiting or diarrhea. If so, he will need to see his veterinarian. I hope this information helps!

If Gatsby eats the wax, it will likely just pass naturally. You can try to get the wax out by breaking most of it off. If you take Gatsby to a groomer on Wednesday or a vet, they may be able to shave off the hair.

A lick of margarine should result in nothing worse than minor stomach upset (vomiting or diarrhea). This can usually be managed at home with a short fast followed by a bland diet fed in small, frequent amounts until symptoms resolve.

Some cats chew on it because they like the taste and texture in their mouth. This can be a concern because if the cat eats it, it can cause a foreign body. When I was in college, I had a cat eat the plastic streamers from a pom pom, and she had to have emergency surgery. I would keep Sasha from doing this. I hope this helps!

I’m guessing it was a plastic wrapper - if it was small then it would probably pass without any problems. If it is larger then it might cause vomiting, diarrhea or even an obstruction. I’d recommend seeing your veterinarian if Ozzy vomits, develops diarrhea or has a decrease in appetite.

This is small enough that it has a good chance of passing with any major concerns. Keep an eye on Cheeky for any signs of trouble which includes: excessive vomiting, little to no appetite, little to no stool +/- lethargy. I would then feed her some canned food to help bind the wrapper and hopefully help it pass along. Monitor the stools daily until it is found. If you happen to see any symptoms develop, then a trip to your vet is warranted. I do hope that Cheeky does well and has no issues with this wrapper ingestion. As mentioned earlier it is rather small and flimsy, so it should be able to pass on its own. Best wishes and take care.