Cat ate a hair tie – what to do next

Hair ties are a double-edge sword for cat owners. It’s great that cats love playing with something so simple but hair ties can also become a serious health hazard if a cat was to accidentally swallow it. Here’s what you should do next.

Induce vomiting

It might be possible to get the cat to throw up the hair tie if it has been less than two hours since the cat swallowed it. It’s important to have the vet do this given the consequences if things go wrong. Hair ties can easily cause an obstruction in the cat’s digestive tract. Surgery might be needed if the hair tie is stuck deep inside the cat’s body. This is why it’s important to act quickly as soon as you have found out the cat has eaten a hair tie.

Monitor your cat

Don’t let your cat wander around, especially if it’s an outdoor cat. Keep her in a space where you can monitor her behavior. There are a couple of things you want to watch out for. First, whether the cat is able to poop as normal. If the cat does poop, you need to check whether the hair tie passes in its poop.

The second behavior to look out for is the cat’s eating and drinking habit. Take the cat to the emergency vet straight away if the cat loses its appetite. Any other abnormal behaviors or signs of distress, such as lethargic movements, should also be an immediate red flag. Don’t wait too long. Some cats are good at hiding their discomfort and pain. Veterinary care costs are scary but it will only get more expensive if you wait until the last minute and realize your cat may need surgery to get the hair tie out of its body.