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Many pet parents love Babybel cheese! The cheese comes in small rounds that are covered by wax. After removing the waxy covering, most people put it in the trash! But what happens if a curious cat (or one who loves cheese) happens to eat the Babybel wax?
Has your cat eaten Babybel wax? Are you worried the Babybel wax will make your cat sick? If so, you’ve come to the right place! We understand it can be scary when your cat eats something like this.
We’ve put together information about Babybel wax and whether it can make a cat sick. Let’s get started!
What is Babybel Wax?
The wax used to cover the Babybel cheese products is made from a blend of paraffin and microcrystalline waxes and coloring. The wax contains no bisphenol A, and it’s food-safe, which means the waxy cheese covering follows very strict regulatory standards for food products and packaging.
The Babybel site says the wax poses no health risk (is not toxic) if accidentally eaten. But what happens if a cat eats the Babybel wax covering? Can the covering make a cat sick?
Babybel Wax & Cats
Unfortunately, it is possible for the Babybel wax covering to make a cat sick. While the packaging is not toxic, it’s possible the cheese wax covering could cause gastrointestinal blockage in cats. However, it depends on how much of the wax covering a cat has eaten.
If a cat eats only a small portion of the Babybel wax, chances are the wax will come out in the cat’s poop. It may take a few days; however, it usually passes without a problem.
On the other hand, if the cat should eat the entire Babybel cheese wax covering, it’s possible the cat may develop an intestinal blockage.
An intestinal blockage is dangerous in cats and other animals. The reason is that the intestine is completely blocked. If a cat has this problem and tries to eat or drink, the digestive tract isn’t able to process the food or water. The food and water may build up on one side of the obstruction and lead to an infection and other dangerous conditions.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Intestinal Obstruction in Cats
You may notice these symptoms if your cat has eaten Babybel wax:
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Lack of appetite (cat refuses to eat)
- Abdominal pain & swelling
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Cold body temperature
- Crying
- Unwilling to lie down
If your cat shows any of these symptoms (or you suspect she has eaten the Babybel wax covering), call the vet immediately. This could be a life-threatening emergency.
In some cases, the vet may need to perform emergency surgery to safely remove the wax covering from your kitty’s digestive tract. She may need to be hospitalized for a time, too, depending on her condition.
The good news is that most cats will make a full recovery if they receive prompt medical treatment!
If your fur baby has a penchant for eating Babybel wax covering, you may want to consider investing in a cat-proof wastebasket. That’s because prevention is always the best medicine!
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Kyoko
Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!
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