Bugsy ate a piece of plastic!

I put a shopping bag on the couch, and the next thing I see is Bugsy taking a bite at it... and eating it!
It was about the size of a quarter, and he definitely swallowed it...
What do I watch for? Is there a risk of getting stuck? Do I feed him something to help him pass it?
When do I worry to take him to the vet?

Oh, silly boy

Watch for changes in his eating and drinking habits, vomiting, lethargy. Chances are he will be OK, but you'll have to keep an eye out for stray bags. My Bella has a taste for rubber bands . We do everything we can to keep her away from them, but I still find them sticking out of her poop every so often

You might try some of that "Catalax" hairball remedy - it would help "move things through" as well, and cats seem to like the taste of it. If it was the soft plastic from a shopping bag, I would guess it wouldn't obstruct same as hard plastic. Only my opinion, of course.

Oh goodness... I know you're worried about him. I'm definitely not an expert, but I'd just watch for any behavioral changes - not eating or drinking,etc. You know what's normal for Bugsy, so just watch for any deviations from that. I'd say it's no big deal but again, I'm not a vet or even a seasoned cat owner for that matter.

In fact, it might not be a bad idea to call your vet and explain what happened and just ask them if they think it could cause a major issue.

Good luck and I hope everything turns out to be just fine.

Sending good vibes your way...

Candace

Miss Patchwillow loves to chew on plastic. It doesn't matter how well I hide it, she always seems to be able to find some. If she happens to swallow a piece I usually find that she's thrown up somewhere later and I can see the plastic in the vomit. Of course, it doesn't stop her from trying again.

Being paranoid, I'd call my vet's office, explain the situation, and ask them if/when I should panic - and, I do know where my ER vet's office is too! I bet it'll just pass, but I now put all my plastic bags in a secure container in a closed closet, and hope for the best. Amazing how adept these cats are, even without opposable thumbs.