cat eaten string??

[cwmack]

Got up this morning to discover my almost-two-year-old, very mischievious cat Odessa has destroyed her new cat-chaser toy ... usually my husband and I are very careful about putting it away after playtime but she got at it last night after we went to bed.

Anyway, we've located the mouse and the wand but not the string yet and I'm afraid she's eaten it (about a foot long, silky thing, quite thin)! Is this even possible (my husband thinks not)? If so, is it worthy of an immediate vet call (we're on posting in Eastern Europe so it's not quite as simple as heading to an emergency clinic back home)? Or should we simply keep an eye on her? Anything we can give her to help her pass it in case she has? She was her usual purry self this morning, has been alert and playful as usual, ate her usual amount of food overnight -- nothing to indicate trouble so far. But of course I'm freaked out -- any suggestions??

thanks for your help!
C.

[jason]

that string *could* be anywhere, im guessing you have looked under couches and between cushions etc etc?

if its a foot long, i dont think (just a guess really) that she has eaten it...is she prone to eating things like that? (not tasty and not have food like properties)

[Traci]

Agree with Jason, look everywhere for the string, and if it cannot be found, watch your kitty for the following symptoms: constipation, decreased appetite or refusal to eat, vomiting food and water, lethargy, fever, distended abdomen....in which case, to ER vet immediately, no time to waste.

If she did eat the string and if you notice it protruding from the anus at some point, whatever you do, do NOT pull on it, it could be wrapped up in the intestine, pulling could cause drastic consequences (again, to nearest ER vet promptly)

As for looking for the string, use a flashlight, if it was similar to fishing line or elastic, you might find it better with a flashlight, it would be illuminated, shiny.

[jdf]

just wanted to mention that sometimes a string can get looped under the tongue with both ends going down the esophogus. If you notice this, don't attempt to remove it because any attempt to do so at home could cause serious injury. This is also a job for the ER vet.

[cwmack]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions....I did look pretty carefully for the string, in all her usual toy hiding places, and haven't found anything yet. But she's alert and active, begging to play, eating normally and using the litter as usual, so we'll just keep an eye on her for the next few days.

Thanks again!