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Cats can eat a wide variety of things they find interesting, stuff they play with, and more. They also like to eat different things, including bubble gum! No one understands what causes a cat to eat something that’s not a normal part of the feline diet. But what happens when a cat eats bubble gum? Can bubble gum make a cat sick?
Has your cat eaten bubble gum? Are you worried the bubble gum 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 some information about bubble gum and whether it can make a cat sick. Let’s get started!
What is Bubble Gum?
Bubble gum is a type of chewing gum popular with kids and adults! The gum allows you to (carefully) blow bubbles and has a specific flavor. The flavor comes from artificial flavorings that are used to create a synthetic bubble gum flavor.
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Rubber is sometimes used to make chewing gum; however, many types of gum are made with synthetic gum-based materials. These materials hold the flavor longer, have a better texture, and are not as sticky as gum made of rubber.
While bubble gum is safe for humans, what about cats? Can bubble gum make a cat sick?
Bubble Gum & Cats
Unfortunately, bubble gum can make a cat sick. For one thing, the gum can cause a cat to choke. The gum may also become lodged somewhere in the cat’s digestive tract or cause hypoglycemia or liver damage.
Hypoglycemia and liver damage can develop if your fur baby happens to eat gum containing xylitol, which is toxic to cats (and other pets).
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Bubble Gum Ingestion in Cats
You may notice these symptoms if your cat has eaten gum:
- Breathing difficulties
- Gagging/retching/choking
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Abdominal swelling & pain
- Lethargy
If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, call the vet immediately. This is an emergency.
Don’t wait to see if your cat’s symptoms worsen or improve. She needs to see the vet ASAP. And do not try to induce vomiting, unless instructed to do so by the vet.
The treatment for a cat that has swallowed gum depends on her symptoms. However, we can say that cats who receive prompt medical treatment have the best chance of making a full recovery.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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