Cat Ate String: Emergency Guide
String, yarn, and thread are linear foreign bodies that can cut through a cat's intestines. Do NOT pull any visible string тАФ call your vet immediately.
What to Do Right Now
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Step 1: Call Your Vet Immediately
Contact your veterinarian right away. Note when the string was eaten and how much.
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Step 2: DO NOT Pull Visible String
If string is hanging from the mouth or anus, do NOT pull it. This can cause the anchored end to cut through intestinal tissue.
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Step 3: Check Under the Tongue
If safe to do so, check if string is wrapped around the base of the tongue. If so, this is an emergency тАФ go to the vet NOW.
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Step 4: Monitor for Symptoms
Watch for vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, drooling, and inability to defecate. These require emergency surgery.
The Science Behind It
Linear foreign bodies (string, yarn, thread, tinsel) are uniquely dangerous because they anchor at one point тАФ typically under the tongue or at the pyloric sphincter тАФ while the rest is pulled through the intestines by normal peristalsis (intestinal contractions). This causes the intestines to bunch up ("pleat") along the string, and the taut string can saw through the intestinal wall like a wire. This leads to perforation, peritonitis, sepsis, and death without surgical intervention. Cats are especially prone due to their barbed tongues that easily catch string (AAFP, 2023).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is string dangerous for cats?
String is a "linear foreign body" тАФ it anchors at the base of the tongue or stomach and the rest is pulled through the intestines as they contract. This causes the intestines to "pleat" (bunch up) and the string can cut through the intestinal wall like a wire, causing perforation, peritonitis, and death.
What are the symptoms of string ingestion?
Vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, drooling, visible string hanging from the mouth or anus, abdominal pain, and inability to defecate. If you see string, DO NOT pull it тАФ this can cause more damage.
How is string ingestion treated?
Treatment depends on location. If the string is still in the mouth/tongue, your vet may cut it. If it has entered the GI tract, surgery is often required to remove it safely. X-rays and ultrasound help determine the best approach.