My cat won't stop eating foreign objects....

When my cat was a year old, he ate a washer (I have no idea where it came from) and some string, which tangled up his intestines and needed surgery. I had the surgery performed, of course, and felt incredibly guilty. I became incredibly neurotic about what was left out and rid my place of all hair-ties but one, which I kept in a drawer. Unfortunately, a year later, he opened the drawer (I have no idea how) ate the hair-tie and needed the surgery again. I cut my hair off and rid my house of all hair-ties, rubber bands and string. Before this second surgery, my friends thought I was insane with how careful I was. I don’t want to ever have to see him in that much pain again. I am currently in lawschool, and every time this happens I have to dig around for the money I don’t have to put the down-payment needed before he can have the surgery, which of course I don’t mind because I would do anything to help him. I just don’t have that kind of money readily available because of school. And my parents have already helped financially, and I am afraid if it happens again I wont be able to find the money in time. And I can’t get pet insurance because of his history. Its been about a year since his last surgery, and I am getting very afraid again. I keep my place incredibly clean, I vacuum every day- but there is always a chance he will find something under the refrigerator or something. Does anyone have any advise on how to stop him from eating stuff off the ground? He will put anything in his mouth. And he always has a full bowl of food (he isn’t fat- he weighs about 11 pounds), and has plenty of toys (all of which I have cut any string or appendage off!). I feel crazy and am worried he will do this for his whole life.

 

:m23: I don't think you are paranoid or neurotic. I would do the same thing in your situation. What is your kitty's name and do you have pics? Your furbaby should be fine considering how careful you are. Just watch out for visitors and anthing they bring over to your place. Sounds like you've got one very smart alec cat! Make sure you keep coins out of reach and sealed up. They are toxic and can be fatal if swallowed. Maybe if you adopted another kitty it might keep him distracted and place his attention away from inanimate objects.

 

Thank you so much for your reply! My cat’s name is Franklin and he is certainly a brat! We got him when we were in college, so we had a lot of time to hang out with him when he was a kitten. Sometimes he will stay with my boyfriend’s parents, who have two cats and two dogs. And even though he is 3, he still plays like a kitten. I was thinking about adopting another cat to keep him occupied, but he doesn’t really get along with other cats and is territorial with us. I am not sure he wouldn’t be too happy with another cat. He loves dogs though, and I have read that cats do well when dogs enter into the household, because most dogs (especially puppies) will become submissive to the older cat. Right now isn’t the right time for us to get a dog, though. Besides the constant eating of things, he is a very happy cat- he isn’t needy, in terms of affection, and still wants to play all the time and still sleeps under my arm or on his teddy bear (which he kneads) every night. He never scratches the furniture or anything like that. And he has a birdfeeder on the window that keeps him occupied when we aren’t available. And although he isn’t in need of our affection, I feel like he would be very angry if another cat took some of it away (because both of us think he is the greatest thing ever). I am just afraid to change his situation when I know (or think i know) that he is happy now, you know? I just don’t understand why he has to eat things off the ground!

 

Franklin sounds like a sweetheart! I love cats how cuddle and knead.

I can relate somewhat to what you went through with the surgeries. My cat growing up swallowed a needle and thread. It cut through her intestines and cost $1000 to remove. It did teach us to put things away! Thankfully, Winnie learned her lesson after that one incident.

I assume you've tried using those child-safety devices on drawers and cabinets? Good luck with finding a playmate for him, if that's what you choose. I am in the same boat with Moe. She's an only child and the centre of our world, so I'm worried about brining home a playmate and making her feel second fiddle.

 

My cat Boris ate a foam earplug once. We went though a lot of time and money to save our cat. So, I can partially understand what you're going through.

It sounds like you're on the right track with keeping your cat safe. I think the child safety devices is a great idea if you haven't done it yet.

One of my other cats Zoe loves to eat fuzz off the ground. Unfortunatly, she has three siblings and still does it. She just likes to eat the fuzz. So, I don't know if you got another cat if it would help or not. I guess that would come down to guessing why your cat is doing this.

I did want to mention that I have introduced, on two seperate occasions, two kittens to two adult males. Things went very smoothly. So, your cat may enjoy the company even if he seems like a loner. If you look into another cat, you may want to consider researching what would be best for you (for example, getting a younger cat of the opposite sex... etc.)

But, the bottom line is, no matter how careful you are, that cat may find something to ingest that he should'nt. It's too bad that you have to constently worry about it, though. Cats have the uncanny ability to find things in your house that you never knew existed! I hope that whatever you do will cause you kitty to stay away from the operating table!

 

http://www.metrokc.gov/lars/animal/Educate/cassidy/Cat/cat5.htm

 

You are not crazy or over reacting the cats are our babies, they are our kids and if parents will do anything for thier human kids whats so wierd about us doing everything we can for our Cats!

Good job on protecting your kitty :m11:

 

My cats all have a penchant for plastic...mainly plastic bags..they lick them and try to eat them..god forbid i leave a bag of chips on the counter..or a grocery bag out..lol