What to do if your cat ate styrofoam and you’re panicking? Scared of the possible long-term effects of eating styrofoam?Read the blog below to understand clearly about cats and styrofoam.
Some cats adore eating non-food stuff like Styrofoam! It is on the list, along with plastics, rubber bands, and strings. The material’s scent and texture can stimulate the cat’s senses. A creative cat may employ little bits of floating Styrofoam—typically the tiny spheres or peanut-shaped pieces used as packaging—as prey. Even the most self-controlled cat might not resist the desire to consume styrofoam boxes used to store food and drinks since they still taste and smell like the food they formerly held.
Styrofoam Is Dangerous For Choking
The first probable nightmare when a cat consumes Styrofoam is choking. Because of their tendency to stick to the tissues of the mouth and throat when taken in large enough amounts, microscopic pieces of this material may constrict the airway. So, if you notice your cat chewing on any Styrofoam, take it out of its mouth right away. If you arrived too late and she had already eaten some, the next step depends on how much you think she swallowed. If there are only a few little parts, you can adopt a wait-and-see approach provided you are continually on hand to keep an eye on your cat and check her litter box after each time she uses it. Never try to make a pet throw up at home without your veterinarian’s consent and direction.
Foam Blocks the Stomach
Foreign body blockage in the gastrointestinal system, or gut, is a significant issue if a cat eats styrofoam. When your cat consumes a considerable amount of Styrofoam, this might occur. Take action if you witnessed your cat eating a lot of Styrofoam or merely suspected that she could have done so.
Take her right away to the vet! Diarrhoea (partially blocked) or constipation are symptoms of a blocked stomach (complete blockage). In addition, she will be uncomfortable to touch when her tummy is in motion and lose interest in food, drink, and play. Food can get rotten inside the gut when it is obstructed from passing through the intestines by a large piece of styrofoam. Due to this, dangerous bacteria found in the intestines grow and eventually lead to the death of certain stomach or intestinal cells. This causes these organs to burst or allows harmful microorganisms to enter the circulation.
These two significant illnesses both pose a substantial risk of death. Your cat will need to undergo surgical surgery to remove the polystyrene from within the stomach after your veterinarian has examined your cat physically and performed any necessary testing, such as x-rays and blood work.
Styrofoam & Cats
The good thing is that Styrofoam does not contain poisonous cats. Nevertheless, your cat might become unwell as a result.
The likelihood is that your cat will be fine if she consumes a minimal amount of crushed Styrofoam. It would help if you kept an eye out for any of the signs and symptoms described in the section below.
However, if your cat ate anything like packing peanuts, it might cause an issue known as an intestinal obstruction. If left untreated, this illness is dangerous and can even be fatal.
You can also refer to Cat Judo, to learn more about cat’s problems.