Ollie ate his Cat Charmer toy

I saw him poop first hand today. He is pooping normally and isn't seeming to strain or anything. He isn't throwing up still and I check him regularly for a fever and abdominal pain. Nothing. No obstruction or impaction..... but it hasn't come out.

I'm getting really frustrated because I'm wondering if he's just insanely clever and has put it somewhere that I'll never look..... but then when I start wondering if he's just smarter than me when it comes to hiding stuff, I remember that this is the same cat that sometimes brings me his poop as a gift.

I'm thinking it's stuck to the intestinal wall and things are just passing by it. On the other hand, if that was the case, I think he'd be having the same kind of pain that you would have if you have intestinal adhesions or inflammatory strictures, which is to say a lot of pain (I would know). I'm just totally confused and frustrated and wish I could turn back time and undo this.

Have you started feeding him?

Originally Posted by LawGuy

but then when I start wondering if he's just smarter than me when it comes to hiding stuff, I remember that this is the same cat that sometimes brings me his poop as a gift.

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But that really really grosses you out, right? If so, he may just be smarter than you think.

Keep looking. I really hope he's just out witted you this time.

Have you started feeding him?

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He's been eating since Sunday. The vet told me Monday to feed him completely normally, so he's eating plenty. His appetite is fine.

The things I'm looking out for are:

1) Abdominal pain
2) Throwing up
3) Fever
4) Loss of appetite
5) Bloody stool
6) No stool

there's probably more that I'm forgetting. So far he is acting pretty normal. Maybe a little lethargic, but I think that's just him being a lazy cat.

You could ask for another x-ray or an ultrasound, to ease your mind.....

Well, it's only been 2 days since the X-ray. I'm not sure if an ultrasound would reveal significantly more detail, plus I imagine they'd have to shave him to do it properly and I doubt he'd be happy. I'm just keeping an eye on him for the moment and hoping that it comes out soon or I find it. The vet said that the X-ray was only looking for indicators of obstruction and that it wouldn't show whether the toy's fabric is in there or not.

Any news? Hope all is well with all of you.

Originally Posted by LawGuy

He isn't throwing up still and I check him regularly for a fever
.

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so you are taking his temp? how?
Did they offer a barium test?
Hoping he is okay.

HE VOMITED SOME OF IT UP!!!!!!!!

Unbelievable. It's been sitting in his stomach for over a week and a half. He threw up part of the toy, and he also threw up the draw-string from one of my athletic shorts... which I didn't realize was missing the draw-string until just now.

There is more left, but I guess it's coming out little by little.

Originally Posted by LawGuy

HE VOMITED SOME OF IT UP!!!!!!!!

Unbelievable. It's been sitting in his stomach for over a week and a half. He threw up part of the toy, and he also threw up the draw-string from one of my athletic shorts... which I didn't realize was missing the draw-string until just now.

There is more left, but I guess it's coming out little by little.

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I would call the vet at this point...

Originally Posted by carolinalima

I would call the vet at this point...

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He saw the vet last Monday (the 7th) and they did an X-ray. The vet said that it would eventually exit on its own and to just monitor him otherwise. He is still eating and going to the bathroom from what I can tell and no abdominal pain. I'm just going to keep a close eye on him for the moment and see if the rest comes up, but I think it's great that it's finally coming out.

I think I'm with Carolinalima - if you can call the vet to update, I would, just to be sure all is pretty well ...I'm just wondering if the vet thought it would exit the other end. If nothing else, I'd definitely call tomorrow morning if the vet's not around this evening.

But, geez, what a stomach that little guy has!

I'm glad some of it came up but I'm with the others, I think you better update his vet.

Now that it's loosening up in there it may start to pass the other way, and I'm not sure that's a good thing. The intestines could become blocked, or tied up in some bad way.

I'll call the vet today and see if he thinks that this is a bad sign. I was thinking it was a good sign, but it seems you guys disagree. 3 vs me = 3 wins. The vet opens in a little under 2 hours. I'll call then. In the meantime, he seems ok. I just checked him again.

Originally Posted by LawGuy

I'll call the vet today and see if he thinks that this is a bad sign. I was thinking it was a good sign, but it seems you guys disagree. 3 vs me = 3 wins. The vet opens in a little under 2 hours. I'll call then. In the meantime, he seems ok. I just checked him again.

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Hey hun, we are not saying he is not ok just to be sure... It was there for too long... It is one of those things that is definitely better safe than sorry... Just a call, right?

I agree with the others.
Like Carolinalima said, it has been there too long, and better safe than sorry.
I am glad you are going to check with the vet.
What is this toy, from this thread I have seen that other cats eat this, It should have a big WARNING sign on it.

Oh, I don't think it's necessarily a bad sign - at least you know you can stop x-raying your room for the darn thing - but, I'm a nervous Nellie and a firm believer in calling the vet to make sure I'm not misreading the situation in any way (my internist says I should be as good about calling about myself).

I think everyone here knows you are more than a vigilant and wonderful daddy to those two - and if there were any question in your mind Ollie would have been at the ER vet within minutes. But, truly, doesn't hurt to bring the vet up to date and just make sure everything is on track. Please update - and, BTW, hope you and your family are all feeling terrific as well.

I spoke to the vet this morning. It wasn't the same vet, as he was out of the office for the day, but it was his partner - who is the same vet that Ally was seeing before we moved (and by coincidence, is also the daughter of a family friend - who is also one of my doctors).

She reviewed the X-ray and the notes from when he was in over a week ago in light of the recent development, and told me that as long as he is eating and going to the bathroom normally, and isn't vomitting routinely, just keep an eye on him but that she didn't feel it was any cause for alarm.

One thing I failed to mention to you guys, when I say vomit, I don't necessarily mean vomit as in a puddle of vomit - all that came out was the portion of the cat charmer, and the chewed off draw-string from my pants. So, maybe it was more like a hairball than vomit to him?

Ollie still seems fine. We played chase the laser beam a little while ago and he is still having no abdominal pain (you wouldn't believe how many times I've checked over the last week and a half or so). He and Ally are horsing around like normal.

Thanks for letting us know that the vet thought all was progressing ok. And let's hope for a nice quiet, vet-wise, new year for you and the kids!

Aren't cats amazing! ReeRee is my eater of all things. He pooped out a whole q-tip!, an 8 inch piece of ribbon-intact!, a whole toy mouse!. He has intestines of STEEL! I keep EVERYTHING away from him after the ribbon and q-tip incidences when he was a kitten. Have no idea what possessed him to eat the toy mouse.