10/10/2026
🐯 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗨𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗨𝗽 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 — 𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆
Billy came to us because he started vomiting. During his physical exam, Dr. Morphis carefully checked under his tongue—and there it was: a string!
This is a classic example of a 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲, something we see all too often in cats.
Cats love to play with (and sometimes swallow) string, yarn, thread, ribbon, dental floss, tinsel, or even hair ties. One end of the material can get caught under the tongue or in the stomach while the rest travels down the intestines. As the gut tries to move it along, the intestines bunch up like an accordion (called plication). The tight string can saw into the bowel, leading to severe damage, perforation, and a life-threatening infection in the abdomen.
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞:
• Repeated or persistent vomiting
• Not wanting to eat
• Lethargy, hiding, or seeming uncomfortable
• Abdominal pain or a hunched posture
• Drooling or pawing at the mouth
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭: If you ever see string hanging from your cat’s mouth or rear end, do not pull it. Pulling can tighten the material and cut into the intestines. Bring your cat in right away instead.
Billy’s radiographs showed the typical bunching of the intestines, and he went to surgery. The string was carefully removed, the intestines were inspected, and he is recovering well.
If your cat is vomiting and not acting normal, don’t wait it out. Early intervention gives the best chance for a smooth recovery—just like Billy’s.
He’s a great reminder that curious cats can get into trouble, but prompt care makes a big difference.
Billy used a life, survived the string, and lived to nap another day. ❤️
