2022 Success Story Millie

Meet Millie, a 1-year-old purrfect kitty! Her mom has tried to keep Millie safe and healthy, spaying her when she was ready and vaccinating her at the appropriate times. But nothing can prepare you for a cat's curiosity, and that's what got the best of Millie.  

Cats are inquisitive pets who like playing with the oddest of objects. Millie recently found her mom's stash of rubber bands, and decided to play with them, and then decided to nibble on a few. Millie learned the hard way that rubber bands aren't all that easy to digest, or pass through the digestive tract, and wound up at the vet clinic when she wasn't feeling well. 

As most cat owners know, cats like to chase stringy, bouncy things… and they often like to eat them as well. While rubber bands and hair ties may appear harmless, if eaten, they can cause damage to your cat's digestive tract, requiring surgical removal. 

An intestinal blockage, like what Millie had, is a very serious condition in cats. This is often caused by your feline eating indigestible items such as rubber bands, tinsel, string from a roast, a ribbon or other small stringy objects; it’s rare but a blockage can occur from a lodged hairball. Signs of a intestinal blockage include:

• A partial item sticking out from the anus
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Drooling
• Lack of appetite or energy
• Uncharacteristic behavior or aggression
• Vomiting

Millie's mom is single and has a limited income. Emergency surgery to remove the rubber bands from Millie’s belly was not in her budget, so she applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help. Due to the support of generous donors in our community, we were able to help Millie and her mom!

We’re happy to report that Millie received the surgery to remove the rubber bands. While she's not a fan of the cone of shame, we're hoping she's learned her lesson that eating rubber bands aren’t very good for her. 

It’s important for cats to have toys to keep them entertained, but it’s equally as critical to keep an eye on your cat with toys, or items that may cause harm such as rubber/elastic bands, hair ties, strings, etc. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
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About Fur Kids Foundation
Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. Read more Success Stories.

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