Cat ate a plastic bag – what to do next

Plastic bags of all types, whether that be Ziploc bags or shopping bags, are dangerous to cats when they are accidentally ingested. While veterinary services aren’t cheap, it will be much more cost-effective to have your cat checked sooner than later. The vet will be able to gauge whether the amount of plastic bag the cat ate is small enough to pass through without causing too much of a hitch in the cat’s digestive system.

Plastic bags are not digestible so large pieces could get stuck somewhere along the digestive tract such as the intestines. This can eventually become a life-threatening situation, especially if the blockage manifests itself into bloat. If you can guarantee it was a tiny, tiny piece of plastic bag and the cat is acting normally (eating, pooping, and moving around as normal) then it might be safe to assume your cat will be okay. In such situations, you should still limit the cat’s movement and keep it in a place where you can keep a close eye.

If your cat is lucky, the tiny pieces of plastic bag may pass in a day or two and eventually appear in the cat’s poop. Any signs of symptoms, such as lethargy and vomiting, should have you call the vet immediately. Keep in mind that the deeper the plastic bag gets stuck in the cat’s body, the more unsafe it becomes and the more expensive it becomes to treat the cat. Surgery might be needed to extract the plastic bag out of the cat’s intestines.