Why is it risky?
Hair ties are one of the most commonly ingested small objects in cats, surgery and ultrasound findings consistently document them. They are small enough to swallow, frequently left on floors and bathroom surfaces, and their elastic texture mimics prey-like resistance during play. When ingested, they cause intestinal obstruction requiring surgical intervention. Cats often swallow them incrementally during play, unnoticed.
Affected Systems
Digestive
Symptoms
Vomiting after meals, loss of appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, inability to defecate, progressive deterioration from obstruction.
What To Do
Witnessed ingestion: contact vet. Suspected ingestion with symptoms: emergency vet. Do NOT induce vomiting. Imaging may be needed to locate the object.
Notes
Store all hair ties in drawers or closed containers without exception. The same risk applies to: elastic rubber bands, orthodontic rubber bands, silicone wristbands, and spiral hair coils. This is one of the most common preventable GI foreign body emergencies in cats.
Sources
→ VCA Animal Hospitals — vcahospitals.com
→ ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — aspca.org