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Cats love to play with stuffed toys! It’s so much fun to see your fur baby playing with a stuffed mouse, flinging it around the room. But some cats may be more on the destructive side and try to chew their toys. They may even open the toy and eat some of the stuffing! But what happens if a cat eats stuffing from a toy?
Has your cat eaten stuffing from a toy? Are you worried the stuffing 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 gathered information about toy stuffing and whether it can make a cat sick. Let’s get started!
What is Toy Stuffing?
Pet toys usually contain stuff that’s made from cotton, kapok, polyester, and more. These materials make the toy more plump and fun for your fur baby to play with. However, they can cause problems if eaten.
Toy Stuffing & Cats
The problem is that stuffing can be swallowed by a cat and then create a blockage in her intestines. This is a dangerous condition called intestinal blockage. Not only does the blockage cause pain and discomfort, but it can also cause death if it’s not treated.
If your cat eats a very small amount of stuffing, chances are the stuffing will pass through your fur baby’s digestive tract and come out in her poop. However, she may still experience digestive tract symptoms.
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Ask a Vet Live NowSymptoms of Toy Stuffing Ingestion in Cats
You may notice these symptoms if your cat has eaten stuffing:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Abdominal pain & swelling
- Hiding
If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, call the vet right away. This is an emergency.
Treatment of Toy Stuffing Ingestion in Cats
Treatment depends on the cat’s symptoms and the amount of stuffing she’s eaten. For instance, if a cat is having persistent vomiting and diarrhea, the vet has medications that can stop these symptoms. The vet may also give your feline companion an IV for fluids if she’s become dehydrated.
On the other hand, if the cat’s symptoms are indicative of intestinal blockage, the vet may run x-rays and other images. These are done to determine where the stuffing is causing the blockage. After this, the vet may need to perform surgery to remove the blockage safely. They will also repair any damage the blockage may have caused.
The prognosis is bests for cats that receive prompt medical attention after ingesting toy stuffing. In the future, you may want to consider buying your fur baby unstuffed toys. You’ll both be happier for it!
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Tom
Tom has always loved to write since he was little - he wanted to be either a writer or a veterinary doctor, but he ended up being a professional writer while most of his works are based on animals. He was born in San Francisco but later moved to Texas to continue his job as a writer. He graduated from the University of San Francisco where he studied biotechnology. He is happily married and a soon to be father!
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