My cat ate tinsel, ribbon or string – what should I do?

Updated 2026-09-30 · 2 sources

Based on: US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine, Pet Poison Helpline

Call a vet now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Tinsel, ribbon and string can cause serious stomach and intestinal damage.

What to do now

What to do right now

Call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.
Note what was eaten, how much and when.
Bring the packaging.
Keep your cat calm.
Remove what is left.

Don't

Do not make your cat vomit unless a vet tells you to.
Do not give any human medicine.

Why it can be dangerous

Tinsel, ribbon and string can cause serious stomach and intestinal damage.^[1] Zinc-coated tinsel may contain zinc, a toxic element when consumed by pets.^[2]

Signs to watch for

Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lack of appetite
Decreased activity

Signs may take a few hours or several days to appear.

What the experts say

“Your cat or dog may find these decorations irresistible because they look like easy-to-catch, sparkly, and wiggly prey. In fact, they can cause serious stomach and intestinal damage.”
— US FDA – Center for Veterinary Medicine [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

How much is dangerous?

The provided facts do not state a safe amount; call your vet or the nearest emergency vet.

What signs should I watch for?

Signs can include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite and decreased activity.^[1]

How soon can signs start?

Signs may take a few hours or several days to appear.^[1]

Sources

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages