Call a vet now
Cat swallowed string or tinsel: why it is urgent
String is not a wait-and-see swallowed object. A linear foreign body anchors at one end and the gut keeps pulling against it, which is why this needs a vet rather than time — and why pulling on a visible end is dangerous.
Signs that this is what you are seeing
- String, thread, dental floss or tinsel visible at the mouth or anus
- Repeated vomiting, especially after drinking
- Sudden loss of appetite with a tense belly
What to do now
- 1Get to a clinic straight away — surgery is usually needed and the window is short.
- 2If a needle may be attached to the thread, say so on the phone.
Never do this
- Never pull on a string you can see, from either end. It can slice the gut from the inside.
- Do not feed anything to “push it through”.
Find a vet clinic near you
Open the Felper emergency toolkit to search for nearby clinics and check their opening-hours information before you travel.
Other cat emergencies
- Straining in the litter boxA male cat that cannot pass urine is a life-threatening emergency within hours.
- Ate or licked something toxicLilies, antifreeze, paracetamol and flea products made for dogs are all lethal to cats.
- Trouble breathingCats almost never pant. Open-mouth breathing is an emergency until proven otherwise.
- Fall, road accident or crush injuryCats hide internal injuries well — a cat that walks away can still be bleeding internally.