# My Cat Swallowed a needle **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 21, 2020, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250 "2020-05-21T15:58:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![smokey78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@smokey78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smokey78)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/1 "2020-05-21T15:58:31Z")
We were making fabric masks and usually we keep it all boxed and keep an eye on the box and fabric stuff. We were talking and the cat jumped on the table and grabbed a headband (as we were cutting up the elastic headbands to make the mask straps). Forgot the headband he grabbed had a sewing needle attached to it. He started gulping and saw the end of the needle in his mouth and tried to pull it out and he swallowed it. Went to vet (thank goodness it was a weekday and still open) . Vet says the xrays said it is in his stomach but that she said the office was closing soon but her partner at another clinic could do it cuz they opened til evenings. So we take the cat to second clinic and he got his tummy open for vet to remove needle. Vet said it travelled into small intestine. Also to note she said the thread was still in the needle hole so it was easier to find/retrieve. So this was few days ago and we were instructed not to let him jump/climb stairs/run for next 7-10 days. He jumped on sofa and climbed stairs by second day and his appetite is coming back/drinkin water. Now he is under my bed since 2hrs ago, so no sure if he just wants peace and quiet or he’s in pain? They didn’t give us any meds, that that he was given antibiotics/painkillers post op. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/2 "2020-05-21T17:18:20Z")
If he starts panting heavily that’s a bad sign. Keep your eye on him. Goodluck. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/3 "2020-05-21T17:23:22Z")
If you reach out to him and he growls and tries to bite you, that’s another bad sign. Have the location of a 24-hour emergency vet at your fingertips. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/4 "2020-05-21T18:01:15Z")
Best wishes for the kitty. ---
**Author:** ![smokey78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@smokey78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smokey78)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/5 "2020-05-21T19:17:42Z")
He finally left the bed and came back to kitchen and ate his whole lunch. whew (he eats just mornings and evenings but didn’t eat this morning). He’s napping now on sofa. (no hissing or agitation, guess he’s just tired) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/6 "2020-05-21T19:35:36Z")
I bet he is! What’s his name? ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/7 "2020-05-21T19:45:29Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I bet he is! What’s his name? “Lucky” ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![gkster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gkster/32/14107_2.png) [@gkster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gkster)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/8 "2020-05-21T19:47:14Z")
Yikes! Glad to hear that he seems better! That sounds like something our cat would do, your story is a good reminder to keep needles away. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/9 "2020-05-21T20:42:47Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I bet he is! What’s his name? It a perfect world, he would have been named “Haystack.” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2020, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/10 "2020-05-21T20:47:49Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > “Lucky” > ~VOW > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > It a perfect world, he would have been named “Haystack.” You guys are good at this. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/11 "2020-05-22T00:03:32Z")
Hope the little “sew and sew” continues to improve. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/12 "2020-05-22T00:50:29Z")
What a ‘thread’! ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/13 "2020-05-22T00:54:19Z")
We get the point. I mean, Dopers are smart! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![smokey78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@smokey78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smokey78)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2020, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/14 "2020-05-22T22:40:10Z")
His name is Babe. He’s purring next to me. Today he leaped onto a desk and leaped off and then stretched so I figured he’s not in pain. The stitches are healing and he 's eating with his ecollar. We made a little 30 degree raised platform so he can eat off a flat plate. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/15 "2020-05-23T00:24:29Z")
[Styx] Babe, the needle I must put it away I laid it down right here… ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2020, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cat-swallowed-a-needle/854250/16 "2020-05-23T02:15:04Z")
> [@smokey78](#): > > His name is Babe. He’s purring next to me. Today he leaped onto a desk and leaped off and then stretched so I figured he’s not in pain. The stitches are healing and he 's eating with his ecollar. We made a little 30 degree raised platform so he can eat off a flat plate. C’mon, you know the rules for cat threads. Pictures are required!!!