17 yr old cat swallowed cat toy "string"

Has anyone had experience with whether or not a cat can pass a string after swallowing it!

My sister's, 17 yr old Maine Coon swallowed about a foot long piece of braided nylon string from a cat toy! We tried to gently pull it out of her stomach with no luck! We just returned from the vet who x-rayed and could not see the string in her stomach. (This happened between noon and 3:00 pm today!)

The vet sedated the cat, "Mittens", still no luck removing the string! The vet cut the string and the vet hopes she may pass the string in a bowel movement over the next 2-3 days, otherwise surgery will be necessary!

Any advice, encouragement/feedback, "vibes" are welcomed!

Vibes you do have!

Advices? Possibly some liquid paraffine could help. Didnt vet mentioned it?
If not, you can surely phone and ask - you are his paying patient.


Good luck!

Calvin ate about a foot of his Da Bird string within a couple of minutes while I went to answer a phone. I called the ER vet assistant since it was the weekend and they asked me to keep an eye out for any obstruction - vomitting, lethargy, not eating etc. and to take him in in that case. But otherwise to check his poop and lo and behold, in a couple of days it was in his poop. Also I was warned to not try to pull out the string if it was hanging out from either end and to rush to the hospital then since things could be tangled inside. Also have him eat fiber - I guess the stuff that you give for hairball should help (pumpkin, metamusil and even vaseline for lubrication).
Here's my post about Calvin:
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=226956

Thanks for the info! It's been about 24 hrs now and nothing has passed! No vomiting or other problems! The Vet wanted her on "wet food" which she seems to like but hasn't eaten a lot! Vet did not want us to give "cat lax"! We're watching her closely, hopefully all will "come out" ok!

Good News! Well it took2 1/2 days and a lot of "soft cat food" but Mittens finally passed the string with her bowel movement this morning! Otherwise, it was off to the vet hospital for possible surgery to remove the blockage!

Yay - no surgery