Common Child’s Toy Could Threaten Your Cat’s Life

I met Honey, a cute orange tabby kitten, when he was four months old. His owner brought him to see me because he’d been vomiting for two days, and hadn’t been able to keep anything down in 24 hours.

I wondered if something was blocking Honey’s system. I felt his belly but couldn’t detect anything. Even so, I knew he was a playful kitten, and I suspected that he may have swallowed a foreign body. When I shared my suspicions with Honey’s owner, she worried that she might have a clue.

She had seen Honey playing with a foam nerf bullet a few days ago.

We took an x-ray, and could see a bubble of built-up gas in Honey’s abdomen. That’s a common sign that something is blocking the intestines. To locate where the blockage was, we gave Honey liquid barium and took a series of x-rays 30 minutes apart, waiting to see where the dye would stop. When it did, I could make out the clear outline of a mushroom shape.

The x-ray showed us that something was blocking Honey’s intestine. Photo: BCVS

After talking with Honey’s owner, we decided to go to surgery. Sure enough, she had been right. Under anesthetic, I located the blockage in Honey’s intestines and pulled out the plastic end of the offending nerf bullet.

Nerf bullets are fun for kids, but bad news for cats

These bullets are a classic temptation for cats. They’re a common toy, they’re often found lying on the ground, and they’re fun for cats to play with. Unfortunately, the bullets are also the perfect size to choke your pet or block their intestines.

If you have nerf guns in your home, make sure to account for the bullets and keep them out of your pets’ reach. A little tidy-up is a good way to ensure you don’t face a scary ordeal.

Too common to ignore!

Honey recovered well from his surgery. A few days after the surgery, we called to check in and his owner reported that he was doing great.

But just a few days later, I met another kitten who had landed herself in the same situation! She also recovered, but it took several days of care to get her back on her feet.

These little foam toys are cheap, but emergency care and hospitalization for your pets can get very expensive. To keep everyone happy and healthy, do a sweep of your home, and make sure it’s clear of enticing objects that could cause your pets harm.   

This little piece of plastic resulted in a lot of trouble for Honey. Photo: BCVS

IT’S WORTH MENTIONING: Neither of these kittens had been vaccinated when they came to us, and they each had to be hospitalized for multiple days. Spending time in the clinic risks exposure to bacteria and viruses. To keep them safe, make sure your pets are immunized starting at 8 weeks. 

Written by Doctor Alana Watt