Gut blockage in cats – signs and what to do

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

See a vet now

This is an emergency – contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. A gut blockage is a serious blockage in a cat’s intestines.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet immediately
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see
Take a photo or short video to show the vet
Keep fresh water available
Let your cat rest somewhere calm

Don't

Do not pull a string hanging from your cat’s mouth
Do not try to make your cat sick at home
Do not give any human medicine

What it is

In cats, string, thread, hair bands, rubber bands and tinsel are the most common items to cause a gut blockage.^[1] An intestinal blockage is a very serious condition that can kill.^[1]

Signs

Vomiting
Pain, such as growling, hiding away or not wanting to be handled
Pooing less
Low energy
Little or no interest in food or drink
Weight loss
Drooling, lip smacking or swallowing
A string hanging from the mouth

Causes and risk factors

String
Thread
Hair bands
Rubber bands
Tinsel
Curiosity

How vets treat it

Surgery
Antibiotics
Pain relief
Fluids or a drip
Hospitalisation
Medication
A vet may try to bring an item back up with an injection to make your cat sick, but this is only possible before the item moves through the stomach and is not safe if it is sharp or could get caught in the guts

What the experts say

“Contact your vet immediately if you think your cat has eaten something silly - never wait to see what happens.”
— PDSA [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

What items commonly cause a gut blockage in cats?

String, thread, hair bands, rubber bands and tinsel are the most common items to cause a gut blockage in cats. [1]^[1]

What should I do if I see string hanging from my cat’s mouth?

Never pull it, and contact your vet immediately if you think your cat has eaten something it should not have. [1]^[1]

Can I make my cat sick at home?

Never try to make your cat sick at home. [1]^[1]

Sources

PDSA

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

The same page for dogs →