What To Do If Your Cat Or Kitten Gets Their Foot Stuck In A Perforated Ball Toy
Perforated ball toys are one of the most popular toys for cats. They roll, they often jingle, and they have enticing holes in them that are designed to allow a cat to get a grip on the ball with their toes or claws. Unfortunately, not all of these toys are created equally, and some of them can be dangerous, especially if your cat has small paws. Here's what you need to know in the event that your cat ever gets their foot stuck in one of these things.
The Process
It's very important that pet owners pay attention to markings on toys when choosing them for their cats. Most of them will have a warning if they're not to be used by kittens of a certain age. The reasoning behind this is that the holes are designed so that an adult cat can't fit their foot into the toy—they can only scoop it up. However, the same isn't always true of kittens.
Kittens can get a toe stuck inside one of these holes. If they're unsuccessful shaking off the toy, the toe can begin to swell, cutting off circulation and definitely preventing the ball from shaking off. This is where real problems can start because if circulation is reduced for long enough, the tissues in the toe can start to die.
What To Not Do
It's often a first instinct for pet owners to see a situation like this and to want to just yank the ball off. Unfortunately, that could make matters worse.
If your kitten's toe is already swollen, pulling on the toy is more likely to hurt your kitty than it is to free them. You may end up tearing at their toe with the hard plastic on the edges of the hole of the ball. In addition, if the toe has already experienced tissue damage, allowing blood back into it and then having that blood circulate could be dangerous because it could spread toxic bacteria and gangrene elsewhere in the body.
Getting Help
If this ever happens to your kitty, you need to get them to a veterinarian's office right away. Put them in their cat carrier and provide them with some soft towels so that they can keep as much pressure off their foot as possible.
Your vet will examine the foot and look for signs of tissue damage. They may run some scans, like X-rays, as well. If no tissue damage is detected, your vet will likely anaesthetize your cat to prevent further pain and will cut away the ball. Wound care may be necessary if the toe was hurt while getting squeezed by the ball.
If there is tissue damage, the procedure will depend upon the condition of your cat's toe. In severe circumstances, amputation may be necessary. However, rest assured that most cats can recuperate from this type of procedure just fine and rarely show any signs that they're missing a digit.
Every kitten is different and grows at different rates, so even if you think that your kitty is old enough for this type of toy, this can still happen to them. Stick with rolling balls that have tiny holes in them and avoid the ones with bigger holes to keep your kitten's toe from getting stuck in the future.
For more information, contact an emergency pet hospital.