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My cat ate a toy bell. What symptoms to watch for? Will it pass?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 10 months and 5 days old

In the last few hours, cat might have eaten a small, about 1 cm, metallic (steel?) hollow ball (a little round bell that makes a sound) that was part of a cat toy. (I don't know if she has eaten it for sure. I can't find it.) She just ate a full meal and hasn't lost her appetite. What will be the symptoms in the next few hours if she has indeed eaten it? Is there any chance she'll be able to defecate the ball? How soon before I know if it's causing her any harm? No access to vet here. Thanks.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on February 1st, 2017

I certainly hope that Jolly didn't eat the ball! It can take up to a couple of days for signs to show that she may have eaten the ball. These signs include vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, lethargy, and constipation. Those indicate an obstruction, which can occur if the ball is too big to pass through the intestines. Because it is a small ball ,there is a chance Jolly can defecate it, and it can take up to 72 hours for that to happen. I would monitor her for the next 72 hours, and if you see any signs of obstruction that I mentioned above, then you need to find a vet to see her right away, even if it means traveling with her. That's because an obstruction is fatal without treatment. Hopefully though, it will pass without problem :-)

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    Answered By Sara Farmer, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    The first sign of obstruction is usually vomiting or a decrease in appetite. 1 cm is a little large but there is a chance that it could pass through without issues. It could take a day or two before you would see it in her stool. If you are able to make it to a veterinarian metal easily shows up on x-rays. If she makes it 7 days without any vomiting or diarrhea or bells in her stool then she probably didn't eat it.

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