How to tell if your cat has intestinal blockage

Cats enjoy playing with strings, ribbons, and rubber bands, but they occasionally get the urge to eat them, resulting in intestinal blockage surgery for cats, which is surprisingly common. Our Los Angeles veterinarians go over the pros and cons of intestinal blockage surgery for cats, as well as the cost and recovery time.

How do intestinal blockages happen in cats?

An intestinal blockage is a very serious condition in cats, often caused by your feline friend eating something indigestible such as the string from a roast, a ribbon, or other small objects. Further, your cat may also need intestinal blockage surgery if they have a hairball.

Foreign bodies are indigestible objects swallowed by pets, and when they completely or partially obstruct your cat's intestinal tract or bowel, they are not only painful but also potentially fatal.

There are 3 types of intestinal blockages that your cat could experience, complete, partial, and linear.

Complete Intestinal Blockage in Cats

When an obstruction blocks your cat's GI tract completely, this is known as a complete blockage. This type of blockage can occur anywhere along the GI tract, but it is most common where sphincters (muscles that control the flow of material through the GI tract) or narrow sections exist.

Signs of a complete intestinal blockage include:

• Uncharacteristic behavior or aggression
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Lack of energy
• Diarrhea
• Lack of appetite 
• Drooling
• The appearance of partial item from the anus

How can intestinal blockages in cats be prevented?

A completely blocked intestine is a medical emergency! If you suspect your cat has eaten something it shouldn't have, or if your cat is exhibiting any of the symptoms listed above, you should contact your veterinarian right away. A completely blocked intestine is a life-threatening condition.

Partial Intestinal Blockage

A partial intestinal blockage allows some materials to pass through your cat's intestines and can cause symptoms that are similar to a complete blockage. However, your cat may have a partial blockage with no symptoms, but there is a chance that damage to your cat's GI tract is occurring, such as open sores and tears, which could cause pain and infection. Sepsis, a serious medical condition that can quickly be fatal, can occur in some severe cases.

Linear Intestinal Blockage

If your cat eats long, thin objects like string, tinsel, or fishing line, it can cause linear blockages. In the early stages, these blockages can occur without causing any symptoms. However, as the object moves through your cat's GI tract over the next few days and weeks, bunching of the intestine or bowels may occur. The intestines may lose oxygen as a result, causing permanent and serious damage. There's also a chance that the foreign object will slash through the intestine's wall, causing leakage into the abdomen.

Does my cat need surgery to treat an intestinal obstruction?

If your cat swallows something, you should not rush them to the vet. Your veterinarian will be able to perform an ultrasound to confirm that the object has not yet passed through to the intestines and may be able to remove it via induction vomiting or endoscopy, which is less invasive than intestinal blockage surgery. Without veterinary supervision, never try to induce vomiting on your own.

Blockages in your cat's intestines can be fatal. If your veterinarian confirms that your cat has an intestinal blockage, emergency surgery will be required to remove the blockage and, in some cases, damaged tissue.

Will my cat be ok after intestinal blockage surgery?

The severity of the damage caused by the block will determine how well your cat recovers after surgery to remove the obstruction. Because there is a high risk of abdominal infection (peritonitis) after this surgery, your veterinarian may decide to keep your cat in the hospital until the infection risk has been reduced and your cat is eating normally again.

Your veterinarian will closely monitor your cat's recovery in the days following surgery for signs of infection and will treat it as soon as possible. Peritonitis is a life-threatening condition that must be treated as soon as possible.

How much does intestinal blockage surgery for cats cost?

This surgery can be expensive, however, if you have pet insurance a portion or all of the cost may be covered.

The cost of surgery varies greatly depending on your location and the severity of your pet's condition. Expect to pay anywhere between $800 and $6000 or more. When you meet with your veterinarian to discuss surgery, he or she will give you a more precise estimate.

How can I prevent my cat from developing an intestinal obstruction?

It's difficult to predict what your cat will find appealing at any given moment, so keep tempting items like elastic bands, small hair ties, and especially the strings off of cuts of meat and chicken out of your cat's reach. It's also a good idea to avoid using tinsel during the holidays, as these thin strands of glistening plastic can easily harm your cat's health if swallowed.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

Cats love to play with strings, ribbons and rubber bands but unfortunately, they sometimes get the urge to eat these items, making intestinal blockage surgery for cats surprisingly common. Our Berkeley vets explain more about intestinal blockage surgery for cats including cost and recovery.

How do intestinal blockages happen in cats?

An intestinal blockage is a very serious condition in cats, often caused by your feline friend eating something indigestible such as the string from a roast, a ribbon or other small objects, although a blockage may also occur due to a lodged clump of fur or hairball.

Indigestible objects swallowed by pets are known as foreign bodies, and when they completely or partially obstruct your kitty's intestinal tract or bowel they are not only painful but can also be deadly. 

There are 3 types of intestinal blockages that your cat could experience, complete, partial and linear.

Complete Intestinal Blockage in Cats

A complete blockage occurs when there is an obstruction causing a total blockage of your cat's GI tract. This type of blockage can occur anywhere along the GI tract but is most often seen where there are sphincters (muscles that regulate the flow of material through the GI tract) or narrow sections.

Signs of a complete intestinal blockage include:

• Uncharacteristic behavior or aggression
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Lack of energy
• Diarrhea
• Lack of appetite 
• Drooling
• The appearance of partial item from the anus

How can intestinal blockages in cats be prevented?

A complete intestinal blockage is a medical emergency! If you believe that your cat has eaten something they shouldn't have, or if your cat is showing any of the symptoms above, it is essential to see your vet as soon as possible. A complete intestinal blockage is a life-threatening condition.

Partial Intestinal Blockage

A partial intestinal blockage will allow some materials to travel through your cat's intestines and may result in similar symptoms to those of a complete blockage. That said, your cat may have a partial blockage and show no symptoms at all, however, there is a risk that damage is occurring within your cat's GI tract such as open sores and tears that could lead to pain and infection. In some severe cases, sepsis can occur which is a serious medical condition that can quickly be fatal.

Linear Intestinal Blockage

Linear blockages can occur if your cat eats long thin objects such as string, tinsel or fishing line. These blockages can occur without any symptoms in the early stages. However, as your cat's GI tract struggles to move the object along over the coming days and weeks a bunching of the intestine or bowels can result. When this happens the intestines can lose oxygen causing permanent, serious damage. There is also a risk of the foreign item slicing through the wall of the intestine causing leakage into the abdomen.

Does my cat need surgery to treat an intestinal obstruction?

If your cat swallows an item they shouldn't take them to the vet immediately. Your vet will be able to do an ultrasound to confirm that the object has not passed through to the intestines yet and may be able to remove the object by inducing vomiting or using endoscopy, which is less invasive than intestinal blockage surgery. Never try to induce vomiting yourself without veterinary supervision.  

Intestinal blockages can be fatal for your cat. If your vet confirms that your cat has an intestinal blockage emergency surgery will be necessary to remove the blockage and in some cases tissue that has been damaged due to the blockage.

Will my cat be ok after intestinal blockage surgery?

Your cat's recovery after intestinal blockage surgery will depend upon the severity of the damage caused by the block. There is a relatively high risk of abdominal infection (peritonitis) following this surgery, so your vet may wish to keep your cat in hospital until the risk of infection is reduced and your cat is eating normally again.

In the days following your cat's surgery, your vet will monitor your cat's recovery closely for signs of infection and provide treatment right away. Peritonitis is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment. 

How much does intestinal blockage surgery for cats cost?

This surgery can be expensive, however, if you have pet insurance a portion or all of the cost may be covered.

Surgery costs vary widely based on your location and the severity of your pet's condition. You can expect to pay anywhere from $800 up to $6000 or more. Your vet will provide you with a more precise estimate when discussing surgery with you. 

How can I prevent my cat from developing an intestinal obstruction?

It can be difficult to predict what your cat may suddenly decide looks appetizing, so it's essential to keep tempting items such as elastic bands, small hair ties, and especially the strings off of cuts of meat and chicken, well out of your cat's reach. It's also a very good idea to avoid the use of tinsel at Christmas time as these thin strands of sparkling plastic can easily cause issues for your cat's health if swallowed.

Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.

If your cat is showing signs of an intestinal blockage contact our Berkeley vets right away to speak to one of our veterinary professionals and book an appointment for your feline friend.