What a panic, my cat swallowed something and I don't know what to do or how to make a cat vomit! This is the reaction I had when my little Licorice swallowed a plastic toy tip with which he was having fun.
And it's true that you quickly become anxious at the idea that your cat has swallowed an object, a chicken bone, a foreign body or worse a toxic liquid or food.
In fact, we stress by asking ourselves a thousand questions:
- What is the risk of my cat if he has swallowed something, can he die from it?
- How can I be sure my cat has swallowed something?
- What can I do ?
- Can the cat be made to vomit and if so, how?
Cat that swallowed something
Without mentioning the poisonings that a cat risks having swallowed a harmful product (see anti-poison center CNITV ou CAPAE West), here are the 3 major problems for a cat who has swallowed a foreign body:
- let him choke;
- have a perforation in their stomach or intestines;
- that he has an intestinal obstruction.
The severity and complications depend on the material, shape and size of the foreign body the cat has swallowed.
Indeed, there are cases where the foreign body will pass naturally into the digestive and intestinal system of the cat without causing any problems. The cat will then evacuate this foreign body in the stool without any damage.
On the other hand, if it concerns certain objects made of glass, metal, hard, pointed, too big or too long, the risks are serious and can go up to the death of the cat.
How do I know if my cat has swallowed something?
Well, either you've seen him eat something and you're sure of it, or you assume he's eaten something.
In the latter case, the first effects can only be seen in the hours that follow. It will especially be necessary to monitor the behavior of the cat and the state of his stool.
Here are the signs that should alert you:
- Your cat is losing his appetite ;
- He has convulsions or throws up ;
- Your cat has a stomach ache;
- He's constipated where has diarrhea ;
- Your cat seems sick or tired;
- he can have fever ;
- Your cat may be dehydrate.;
My cat swallowed something - What to do?
If your cat has swallowed anything (object, needle, piece of plastic, tissue, string or other), take him immediately to the veterinary emergency.
See Veterinary emergencies or call 3115 (free call).
An equipped professional will try to remove it. He will make him vomit or have other means of removing the foreign body (using an endoscope or surgery).
Can we make the cat vomit?
You should never induce vomiting yourself without first calling the veterinarian and receiving his instructions.
Of course, there are substances that can cause vomiting, but only the veterinarian knows, on a case-by-case basis, whether it is advisable or not and how to perform this gesture.
Why do cats eat anything and everything?
Cats, especially when they are young, love to suck, chew, cut your teeth and so it can happen that they swallow something.
In addition, they can unwittingly swallow a foreign body just in excitement while having fun with toys or objects dangerous to it.
And, there is also the case of cats which are afflicted with PICA. These cats have behavioral disorders that cause them to eat anything and everything even inedible objects or substances.