Symptoms of cats eating foreign objects

After a cat swallows a foreign object, it may exhibit symptoms such as coughing, depression, loss of appetite, hunched back, reluctance to move, intermittent vomiting or dry heaving. If the owner notices these symptoms, they should be alert and take action immediately. Generally, cats develop pica due to random eating of foreign objects, but it could also be a sign of mineral deficiency in the body. Owners need to address their cat's abnormal eating behavior and consider supplementing their diet to help the cat recover to its normal eating state as soon as possible.

1. What owners can do after discovering that their cat has swallowed a foreign object:

   • If the cat shows signs of pain when touching the abdomen under the ribs, observe if there are any other injuries. If there are no external injuries, it could be a reaction to the foreign object being swallowed. In this case, the owner can choose to give the cat water to make it vomit up the object.

   • If blood is found in the cat's excrement, check if it is due to stomach bleeding or perforation caused by the cat swallowing a foreign object. It is best to take the cat to a pet hospital for X-rays and other examinations to confirm the situation and seek treatment.

   • If the cat suddenly emits a particularly painful groan, it could also be a symptom after swallowing a foreign object. The owner should pay close attention to the cat's condition and seek immediate veterinary care if it is severe.

2. What owners should not do after discovering that their cat has swallowed a foreign object:

   • Do not continue feeding: Some owners believe that continuing to feed the cat will help expel the foreign object, but this is not recommended and may even cause gastrointestinal obstruction or damage to the intestinal mucosa.

   • Do not forcefully remove the object: Sometimes, the cat swallows a foreign object that gets stuck in a visible location. Handle this situation according to the actual situation and do not try to forcefully remove it, as it could cause more severe injuries to the cat due to unknown conditions on the other end of the object.

   • Do not use traditional methods to induce vomiting: Some owners resort to using soap water or other "home remedies" to induce vomiting and help the cat expel the foreign object. However, this is dangerous before determining what type of foreign object the cat has swallowed, as it can easily scratch the cat's intestines, causing inflammation and ulcers. Additionally, some "home remedies" can cause chemical harm to the cat. In such cases, seek professional veterinary assistance.