Cat's lucky escape after swallowing item found in every home

When cat owner Milica noticed a drop of blood on her beloved 10-year-old feline Tubby's neck and blanket, she thought he might have scratched himself.

After realising he hadn't been himself for a couple of days, she decided to take him to the vet – a decision which likely saved his life.

But the mystery deepened further when concerned vets found a wound on his neck, which seemed to be attached to a long piece of string that was attached to something inside Tubby.

He underwent an X-ray, which revealed the string was attached to a sewing needle that Tubby had swallowed.

Tubby was rushed into surgery, where vets were able to safely remove the needle and thread, and clean and close the wound with stitches.

Tubby is now fully recovered following the terrifying incident last month.

But his relieved owner knows how close she came to losing her beloved pet, and wants to warn other cat owners about the dangers of leaving items around the house that pose a threat to pets.

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Milica recalled the first sign something was wrong.

"Normally he waits for me in the window, but he wasn't doing that," she said.

The next day when she came home from work he failed to greet her again, so she went to check on him.

"He was lying in his bed, and I saw blood on his blanket and neck. I thought he must have scratched himself."

Concerned, she rushed him to Lort Smith Animal Hospital in North Melbourne, where the veterinary team discovered the needle and thread.

Lort Smith veterinarian Dr James McGregor said Tubby was very lucky to have survived the ordeal and warned that without quick medical intervention, the outcome could have been very different.

''When a cat swallows a needle and thread, it creates an emergency that requires quick veterinary care," he said.

"The needle can puncture the digestive tract while the thread can bunch up intestines as the body tries to pass it."

He warned that internal damage could be occurring "even if your cat appears normal initially".

''Without quick treatment, these conditions can quickly become life-threatening," he said.

"Cats are naturally curious creatures and they never miss an opportunity to be mischievous, so it is best to store all sewing supplies in secure containers with latched lids.''

As for the needle, Milica was not sure when he swallowed it or how he got it.

"I had a sewing kit in the spare bedroom," she said.

"Tubby must have somehow found his way into it, or maybe the needle had been lost in the carpet.

"I've locked that room now; he's never going back in there."

Dr McGregor said it was not uncommon for pets to end up in emergency with foreign objects lodged in their bodies.

"Many curious cats have also landed on the operating table with various other objects, such as scrunchies, socks and even knitting yarn," he said.

He said failure to treat them promptly could result in death.

He suggests locking away items that could be dangerous to your pet before you leave them at home alone.

"We know how playful and curious our pets can be, but it is best that we make sure we are not leaving anything on the floor if you are going out and your pet is inside."

Lort Smith Animal Hospital launched its annual Christmas Toy and Treats Drive on November 20.

They are accepting donations of toys and treats that will be provided to animals who spend Christmas in its shelter.

Details can be found on its website.

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