My Cat Ate Sewing Thread What Should I Do?

Reviewed By Julie •  Updated: 08/05/21 •  3 min read
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There’s something about cats and sewing thread—they just seem to go together! Some cats love to play with sewing thread and string! Drag a string around the house, and you’re sure to grab your cat’s immediate attention! But what happens if your cat eats the sewing thread?

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Has your cat eaten some sewing thread? Are you worried the sewing thread will make your cat sick? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. It’s scary when our fur babies eat something they shouldn’t. It’s also hard to know what to do in these situations.

To help you and your cat, we’ve put together some information about sewing thread in this article. We’ll let you know whether or not thread can make your cat sick. Let’s get started!

What is Sewing Thread?

Sewing thread is a special type of yarn that’s specially made to use with a needle by hand or on a sewing machine. The tread can be used to make or mend garments and more. Sewing thread seems like such a safe item; however, can it make your cat sick?

It is strongly recommended to contact a Pet Poison Helpline or your veterinarian.

Sewing Thread & Cats

Sewing thread is not safe if eaten by your cat. There’s a danger that the tread could become stuck anywhere in your cat’s digestive system. It’s happened that thread has become stuck on a cat’s tongue, in the stomach, or even in the intestines.

One of the main worries about sewing thread eaten by a cat is that it will lead to an intestinal blockage. The thread usually becomes anchored in some part of the digestive tract. When this happens, the muscles of the intestines try to free the string. However, the result can be the anchored string causes the intestine to fold over on itself. This makes the string impossible to pull out. If the string is pulled, there’s a high chance it could result in the intestines perforating.

Another problem is that the thread can also cause intussusception. The bowel tries to move the sewing thread through; however, the string can’t pass. The bowel can then collapse onto another part of the bowel and lead to a complete bowel obstruction, as well as tissue death when blood flow to that section is cut off.

Call the Vet if Your Cat Has Eaten Sewing Thread

If your cat has swallowed sewing thread, then call the vet immediately. This is a medical emergency. Your cat needs to have medical treatment now. It could save his life.

In most cases, the vet will need to perform emergency surgery to fix these issues caused by sewing thread. The good news is that cats who receive prompt medical care do make a full recovery.

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Julie

Julie is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, where she studied Animal science. Though contrary to the opinion of her parents she was meant to study pharmacy, but she was in love with animals especially cats. Julie currently works in an animal research institute (NGO) in California and loves spending quality time with her little cat. She has the passion for making research about animals, how they survive, their way of life among others and publishes it. Julie is also happily married with two kids.

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