{"id":139471,"date":"2022-07-11T15:23:24","date_gmt":"2022-07-11T15:23:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/"},"modified":"2022-07-11T15:23:24","modified_gmt":"2022-07-11T15:23:24","slug":"what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/","title":{"rendered":"What happens if a cat eats yarn?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_17 counter-hierarchy counter-decimal ez-toc-grey\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"display: none;\"><i class=\"ez-toc-glyphicon ez-toc-icon-toggle\"><\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1\"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#What_happens_if_a_cat_eats_yarn\" title=\"What happens if a cat eats yarn?\">What happens if a cat eats yarn?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#How_long_does_it_take_for_string_to_pass_through_a_cat\" title=\"How long does it take for string to pass through a cat?\">How long does it take for string to pass through a cat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#How_long_does_it_take_an_object_to_pass_through_a_cat\" title=\"How long does it take an object to pass through a cat?\">How long does it take an object to pass through a cat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#Can_cats_digest_fabric\" title=\"Can cats digest fabric?\">Can cats digest fabric?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#Will_yarn_pass_through_a_cat\" title=\"Will yarn pass through a cat?\">Will yarn pass through a cat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#How_can_I_help_my_cat_pass_string\" title=\"How can I help my cat pass string?\">How can I help my cat pass string?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#Can_a_cat_survive_eating_a_string\" title=\"Can a cat survive eating a string?\">Can a cat survive eating a string?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#Can_a_cat_pass_a_small_string\" title=\"Can a cat pass a small string?\">Can a cat pass a small string?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#How_long_does_a_string_take_to_pass\" title=\"How long does a string take to pass?\">How long does a string take to pass?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#Can_a_cat_pass_a_foreign_object\" title=\"Can a cat pass a foreign object?\">Can a cat pass a foreign object?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#How_long_does_it_take_for_a_cat_to_pass_a_piece_of_string\" title=\"How long does it take for a cat to pass a piece of string?\">How long does it take for a cat to pass a piece of string?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#How_do_I_get_my_cat_to_pass_a_foreign_object\" title=\"How do I get my cat to pass a foreign object?\">How do I get my cat to pass a foreign object?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#How_long_can_a_cat_live_with_an_obstruction\" title=\"How long can a cat live with an obstruction?\">How long can a cat live with an obstruction?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#What_if_my_cat_ate_fabric\" title=\"What if my cat ate fabric?\">What if my cat ate fabric?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#Can_a_cat_pass_fabric\" title=\"Can a cat pass fabric?\">Can a cat pass fabric?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#How_long_does_it_take_for_a_cat_to_pass_an_object\" title=\"How long does it take for a cat to pass an object?\">How long does it take for a cat to pass an object?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#What_happens_if_a_cat_eats_cotton\" title=\"What happens if a cat eats cotton?\">What happens if a cat eats cotton?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#Can_a_cat_pass_a_piece_of_yarn\" title=\"Can a cat pass a piece of yarn?\">Can a cat pass a piece of yarn?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#What_do_I_do_if_my_cat_swallowed_yarn\" title=\"What do I do if my cat swallowed yarn?\">What do I do if my cat swallowed yarn?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#Can_cats_digest_string\" title=\"Can cats digest string?\">Can cats digest string?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#Is_it_safe_to_let_my_cat_play_with_yarn\" title=\"Is it safe to let my cat play with yarn?\">Is it safe to let my cat play with yarn?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#What_do_I_do_if_my_cat_swallowed_a_string\" title=\"What do I do if my cat swallowed a string?\">What do I do if my cat swallowed a string?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#How_do_you_get_string_off_a_cat\" title=\"How do you get string off a cat?\">How do you get string off a cat?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#How_can_I_help_my_cat_pass_a_foreign_object\" title=\"How can I help my cat pass a foreign object?\">How can I help my cat pass a foreign object?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/what-happens-if-a-cat-eats-yarn\/#What_should_I_do_if_my_cat_eats_a_string\" title=\"What should I do if my cat eats a string?\">What should I do if my cat eats a string?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_a_cat_eats_yarn\"><\/span>What happens if a cat eats yarn?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Some cats find chewing on yarn appealing, resulting in <b>a piece getting stuck in the back of their throat. If this happens to your cat, try and remove the yarn piece immediately and call your urgent care vet or emergency vet. Sometimes cats will swallow yarn, and it will end up in the gastrointestinal tract.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_for_string_to_pass_through_a_cat\"><\/span>How long does it take for string to pass through a cat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>10 to 24 hours<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_an_object_to_pass_through_a_cat\"><\/span>How long does it take an object to pass through a cat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>between 10-24 hours<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_cats_digest_fabric\"><\/span>Can cats digest fabric?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>If the cat is actually eating parts of the fabric or other objects, it can cause digestive problems, Delgado says. It also can cause an impaction, so it could require surgery. Delgado advises that you consult your vet as soon as possible. It&#8217;s also crucial that you keep your clothes away from him as best you can.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Will_yarn_pass_through_a_cat\"><\/span>Will yarn pass through a cat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes cats will swallow yarn, and it will end up in the gastrointestinal tract. Yarn is obviously not food and is considered a foreign body once your cat has ingested it. <b>It&#8217;s possible that your cat could pass the yarn by either throwing it up or it coming out in their stool<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_help_my_cat_pass_string\"><\/span>How can I help my cat pass string?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The best way to get your cat to stop eating string is to <b>ensure that it is not accessible for them. If you are a knitter, be sure that you put all of your supplies away and never leave anything unoccupied. If your pet is eating ribbon from clothing, put it away so that they are unable to reach it.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_cat_survive_eating_a_string\"><\/span>Can a cat survive eating a string?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While <b>string is dangerous to ingest, the danger isn&#8217;t immediate  you have time to seek veterinary care. If you try to remove the string yourself, you risk damaging the esophagus and causing choking or vomiting that could result in aspiration pneumonia (a lung infection). Head to your vet&#8217;s office promptly.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_cat_pass_a_small_string\"><\/span>Can a cat pass a small string?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Hopefully, the string will pass through the furball&#8217;s digestive tract without causing any complications. But there&#8217;s a good chance some parts of the string will remain inside your pet&#8217;s intestinal tract. Any type of thread (even soft wool) can lacerate the fragile tissue of your kitty&#8217;s intestines.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_a_string_take_to_pass\"><\/span>How long does a string take to pass?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Very lucky cats will have the string leave their guts at the other end, and it usually takes <b>2-5 days to pass, but this is not to be taken for granted! Early intervention is far better for your cat, so don&#8217;t wait for string to pass on its own.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_cat_pass_a_foreign_object\"><\/span>Can a cat pass a foreign object?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Cats are notorious for ingesting thread, wool, paper, rubber bands, plant materials, and small toys. <b>Many of these foreign objects pass through the intestinal tract without problem and it is common for cat owners to report all sorts of objects found in their cat&#8217;s vomit or stool.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_for_a_cat_to_pass_a_piece_of_string\"><\/span>How long does it take for a cat to pass a piece of string?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If there are no complications, your cat should pass the string in its feces in <b>10 to 24 hours. The problem is that it&#8217;s often impossible to know how much your cat ingested and whether any remains in its digestive system.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_I_get_my_cat_to_pass_a_foreign_object\"><\/span>How do I get my cat to pass a foreign object?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Moving the Foreign Object Once a foreign body makes it to the colon, it will pass in the feces. Another approach can be to <b>push the object far down into the rectum, and then reach up and pull it out through the anus. Pets are under anesthesia during these processes, so they do not feel pain.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_can_a_cat_live_with_an_obstruction\"><\/span>How long can a cat live with an obstruction?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Once cats become completely obstructed, they may attempt to urinate in the litter box but will produce no urine. The cat may cry, move restlessly, or hide because of discomfort, and eventually lose their appetite and become lethargic. Complete obstruction can cause death of the cat in <b>36 days<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_if_my_cat_ate_fabric\"><\/span>What if my cat ate fabric?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Signs of obstruction include frequent vomiting, acting painful\/ depressed and inability to defecate. If you notice this, then <b>she needs to be taken to the vet right away. The fabric should be passed within the next 3-5 days if all goes well.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_cat_pass_fabric\"><\/span>Can a cat pass fabric?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>As connoisseurs of life, many cats don&#8217;t hesitate to sample all sorts of objects from toilet paper to thread, clothing, and even rodents and insects. While <b>many of these things are able to pass through the intestinal tract without incident, sometimes a cat&#8217;s appetite for life can cause problems.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_long_does_it_take_for_a_cat_to_pass_an_object\"><\/span>How long does it take for a cat to pass an object?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>between 10-24 hours<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_happens_if_a_cat_eats_cotton\"><\/span>What happens if a cat eats cotton?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Pica in cats is the regular eating of non-food items. Plastic, cotton, paper, cords, and shoelaces are all common targets of cats with pica. It can be very dangerous for a cat to engage in pica because <b>non-food items can cause choking, GI upset, and intestinal obstruction that may require surgery<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_cat_pass_a_piece_of_yarn\"><\/span>Can a cat pass a piece of yarn?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>If there are no complications, your cat should pass the string in its feces in 10 to 24 hours. The problem is that it&#8217;s often impossible to know how much your cat ingested and whether any remains in its digestive system.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_I_do_if_my_cat_swallowed_yarn\"><\/span>What do I do if my cat swallowed yarn?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>While string is dangerous to ingest, the danger isn&#8217;t immediate  you have time to <b>seek veterinary care. If you try to remove the string yourself, you risk damaging the esophagus and causing choking or vomiting that could result in aspiration pneumonia (a lung infection). Head to your vet&#8217;s office promptly.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_cats_digest_string\"><\/span>Can cats digest string?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Olsen shares, <b>String has the potential to cause serious issues for cats if ingested, specifically if it gets stuck someplace. If you saw your cat recently ingest string (i.e., within the past 1-2 hours), contact your veterinarian with the size and type of string and see if they would recommend inducing vomiting.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_safe_to_let_my_cat_play_with_yarn\"><\/span>Is it safe to let my cat play with yarn?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Unfortunately, <b>a cat playing with yarn is not a safe activity. If ingested, yarn, string and ribbon can become wrapped around the intestine, causing life-threatening complications. Instead, offer kitty-safe alternatives that satisfy her yarn cravings, such as the Moody Pet Fling-Ama-String cat toy.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_I_do_if_my_cat_swallowed_a_string\"><\/span>What do I do if my cat swallowed a string?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is imperative that you <b>call a veterinarian immediately if your cat ingests a string, yarn, dental floss, or any other long, threaded object. If it happens outside regular business hours, contact an emergency vet in your area.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_you_get_string_off_a_cat\"><\/span>How do you get string off a cat?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If it&#8217;s been a while since your cat swallowed the string, then <b>your vet may try to retrieve it with an endoscope, a flexible tube with a camera attached that&#8217;s inserted into the stomach via the mouth. If they locate the string during the endoscopy, it can be safely removed.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_help_my_cat_pass_a_foreign_object\"><\/span>How can I help my cat pass a foreign object?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Although most foreign bodies do pass uneventfully through the intestinal tract, if an obstruction occurs for some reason, <b>surgical removal of the blocked object is the only treatment.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_should_I_do_if_my_cat_eats_a_string\"><\/span>What should I do if my cat eats a string?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>It is imperative that you <b>call a veterinarian immediately if your cat ingests a string, yarn, dental floss, or any other long, threaded object. If it happens outside regular business hours, contact an emergency vet in your area.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Table of Contents What happens if a cat eats yarn?How long does it take for string to pass through a cat?How long does it take an object to pass through a cat?Can cats digest fabric?Will yarn pass through a cat?How can I help my cat pass string?Can a cat survive eating a string?Can a cat&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"spay_email":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[622],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-139471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pet-care"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139471"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139471"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139471\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/animalshelterz.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}