Cappy ate a string

Our loveable little 3 year old black cat ate a piece of thread and today he pooped it - but it hung out of his butt. I noticed because I went downstairs and there were little 'accidents' all over near his litter, and Cappy NEVER has accidents. He is SO fastidious about his cleanliness. I saw this and came upstairs to where my husband was and asked if Cappy had been by with a poopy butt. (Sometimes happens.) Well, when my husband went to clean his butt, he ended up pulling this thread out. In hindsight (probably a bad pun there), we should have just cut it off, because he seemed in distress, and then went away and meowed for a bit. I know he must have been in pain. We felt so bad. 

He's okay now, but he usually poops once a day, and I'm hoping that he'll be ok tomorrow. Is there anything we should be looking for or doing in the mean time? Should I put some fish oil on his food tonight, or will that make it worse?  

His main diet is dry purina Pro Plan. (He won't eat ANYTHING else, we have tried.) He does drink lots of water. 

Lin

I would watch for blood.  How long was the section your husband pulled out?  If it was longer than a couple of inches, I would be afraid of it having made cuts in the colon where the colon makes a turn.

For anyone reading this, the OP was correct:  They should have cut off the thread and waited to see it the rest passed out normally.

I would watch this cat carefully.  I have read not to pull on anything that is hanging out a cat's behind.  Have you talked to your vet.

I am breathing a sigh of relief. The vet said to watch him. He was fine all day yesterday - ran around the house all day today, nothing out of the ordinary, no blood, nothing, but still we worried  - and tonight, finally, he pooped in the box! I have felt on pins and needles all day - wondering, should I take him in? Is there a blockage? Should I have him X-rayed? And then feeling so terrible. I will make sure I never leave thread lying around. 

Thank you,

lin

So the Vet said that was the key to look for...another poop?  (besides just how he acted in general, I'm guessing)

Anyway, SO GLAD he's doing ok.  Quite a scare!  And a lesson learned, to be sure...for ALL of us . 

aw, poor kitty. nice to hear he's doing better.

Nice to hear he is doing better. Never had my cats eat string or anything but I once had a dog eat a sock. I thought the dryer monster had gotten it until I found a nice surprise in the house.

I'm happy that he is going okay now!! My old roommate's kitty ate some ribbon around Christmas time last year, and she noticed it when there was a little gold ribbon peeking out of his behind. She cut it, and watched him closely, and he was fine.