The rubber band which may or may not have been eaten (long)

[Kath2003]

So I got a parcel. There was an elastic band with the parcel. My kitten - 3.5 months old - loved it. I took the band away from him. I put it on a shelf.

That was two days ago. I THOUGHT I saw my bigger kitten (10 months) playing with it tonight. I went to put something away, then a few moments I returned. No band.

I can't remember if I even saw the darn band.
I can't remember if I threw it away.
I can't see how they would have gotten hold of it off the shelf but hey, they're smart.
I don't know if kitty had the band.
I don't know if kitty ate the band.
I don't know if the tiny kitten ate the band either.

I rang the vet. They asked how long it'd been since I thought I may have possibly perhaps or maybe not seen the kitty with the band. They said it was too late to bring him in to make him throw up.

Now I have to spend 48 hours worrying about a band that either of my kittens may or may not have gotten hold of from a 5' high shelf, may or may not have been playing with and may or may not have eaten it.



It's late here. The vets were in surgery. I do know what to look for and rest assured, if kitty so much as looks disgruntled in the next 72 hours (48 + 24 to put my own mind at ease), he will be whisked off to the vet. No outside fun for big kitten, and checking of the poop too...

Good job school doesn't start back for another week because I'm not going to sleep a wink through worrying about this.

 

[jwhtewolfd]

Ug. What a nightmare! I don't keep ANY rubberbands in my house, and if a hairband is not in my hair, it's locked in a cabinet. We have rubberbands at work (a cat hospital) as necessary office supplies, but everyone is very diligent about them. It sounds like you know what to look for and are prepared for action. Good luck in the interim and I hope everything turns out ok.

 

[Kath2003]

Ug. What a nightmare! I don't keep ANY rubberbands in my house, and if a hairband is not in my hair, it's locked in a cabinet. We have rubberbands at work (a cat hospital) as necessary office supplies, but everyone is very diligent about them. It sounds like you know what to look for and are prepared for action. Good luck in the interim and I hope everything turns out ok.

Thanks. I don't keep them in the house normally and things like hair ties, string etc. are all properly locked away. I don't even know if he HAD the darn band, I thought I saw it but I didn't look properly. It's literally nowhere to be found, we have searched our (very small) house.

I suppose we could have taken him up for an xray but we're not even sure he had it, or that if he did he ate it (Tiny Kitten hides things) or that if it was eaten that HE ate it (Tiny Kitten likes to chew things too). I don't know if a rubber band would show up on an xray. It's $200 for the vet to even open the door to him at this time of night, let alone the cost of an xray. Plus we don't know that it was Big Kitty so we'd end up xraying Tiny Kitten too.

I gave them both a tiny treat a few minutes ago and they were totally up for that so I'm hoping I either imagined it (perfectly possible ), that it was something else and not a rubber band or that he passes it.

Poor baby. I know everyone thinks this but he means everything to me. I've had a rough year and he really has been a joy and kept me smiling I would never want anything to happen to him; he's such a lovely cat.

 

[Beastlover]

uuugh, I know what you are going through!

We have a now 4 month old yellow lab/golden retreiver pup. Charlie is his name, eating is his game. The vets office called yellow labs "bottom feeders" because they eat anything.

Well, I left my sterling silver necklace with cross pendant, and a pair of earrings on the coffee table when I left for 2 hours. I figured they were safe. Nope. The earrings were in 2 separate places, the cross pendant was mangled, but recoverable. No chain. Gone.

I called the vet. This was a new vet for me, but the vet that has seen him since he was born. Loved them!! They had me bring him in asap. X-Rays showed the chain in his stomach. They took him away for a "cocktail". 20 mins later they came back...he was fine...and a napkin. Inside the napkin: a couple of foreign pieces of plastic...a RUBBERBAND...and my silver chain (in 3 pieces)

Im not sure what my point is, maybe a little humor to lighten you up a little...It looks like you are watching your kitty, and both of them will be fine. Have you asked your vet about perhaps a little stool softener? Maybe to help it pass? I dont know...let us know how it goes!

 

[XYSRUS]

My cat is famous at the vets...23...yes 23 q-tips surgically removed...he even saved them for me to see...'nuff said.

 

[Kath2003]

Im not sure what my point is, maybe a little humor to lighten you up a little...It looks like you are watching your kitty, and both of them will be fine. Have you asked your vet about perhaps a little stool softener? Maybe to help it pass? I dont know...let us know how it goes!

I will ring the vet in the morning; they were in surgery when we called (at midnight!) so we only got to speak to the nurse who went in briefly to pass our concerns on. They basically said that it'd been too long to make him throw it up and that we should keep a close eye on them.

Luckily I'm only out for 2-3 hours tomorrow and Wednesday.

Glad your puppy was okay; I would never get a dog for the whole chewing reason! And evidently after this I should never, ever have children!

Ironically you've never seen a house as clean and tidy as mine is right now. We have next to no belongings and everything is in its place. We run this place like a military cat-camp because of the little kitten and yet they STILL manage to put me through this!

 

[Kath2003]

My cat is famous at the vets...23...yes 23 q-tips surgically removed...he even saved them for me to see...'nuff said.

You wouldn't think cats would eat them?! I mean q-tips?!

This was a BIG rubber band. It was about 3" long when folded over and about a quarter inch wide. I can't actually believe he's possibly eaten it...I can't be sure if I even saw him with it now

 

[jwhtewolfd]

I suppose we could have taken him up for an xray but we're not even sure he had it, or that if he did he ate it (Tiny Kitten hides things) or that if it was eaten that HE ate it (Tiny Kitten likes to chew things too). I don't know if a rubber band would show up on an xray. It's $200 for the vet to even open the door to him at this time of night, let alone the cost of an xray. Plus we don't know that it was Big Kitty so we'd end up xraying Tiny Kitten too.

I gave them both a tiny treat a few minutes ago and they were totally up for that so I'm hoping I either imagined it (perfectly possible ), that it was something else and not a rubber band or that he passes it.

Unfortunately a rubberband most likely won't show up on x-ray. At best, if there was an obstruction, they could look for the blockage, or where things seemed to be "backing up." Willingness to eat is a good sign. Watch for any vomiting, and of course keep checking stools. I'd keep food in both of their stomachs. If it is going to pass, it's better for it to be moving through with a food mass than all willy nilly to get caught up somewhere. Best of luck.

 

[Kath2003]

Unfortunately a rubberband most likely won't show up on x-ray. At best, if there was an obstruction, they could look for the blockage, or where things seemed to be "backing up." Willingness to eat is a good sign. Watch for any vomiting, and of course keep checking stools. I'd keep food in both of their stomachs. If it is going to pass, it's better for it to be moving through with a food mass than all willy nilly to get caught up somewhere. Best of luck.

Thank you. Ironically we've put Big Kitty on a bit of a diet because he's getting too greedy (he is a BIG cat, 11lb at 10 months!) so I'm sure he'll be thrilled at the prospect of extra nom.

 

[XYSRUS]

If kitty isn't feeling well, he'll let you know. The you know it's time for a doctor visit.