Cat 'lucky to survive' after swallowing toy Nerf dart
Foam from the bullet was found inside seven-month-old Milo's intestines
A Sussex charity says a kitten narrowly escaped certain death after swallowing a toy Nerf dart.
Staff at Cats Protection's National Rehoming Centre at Chelwood Gate, near Haywards Heath, was forced to perform emergency surgery on Milo after bits of foam and plastic were found in his intestines.
The seven-month-old had been handed into the charity from a family in East Grinstead after his owners owners became overwhelmed living with an energetic and playful kitten in a flat and with a young child and another on the way.
The centre has said the difficult decision to relinquish Milo probably saved his young life, after he was spotted vomiting up sizeable pieces of sponge.
Danielle Draper, the centre's manager, said vets had to act quickly after finding the blockage:
“The kitten was only small but the obstruction was so obvious that the vets didn’t even need to do X-rays.
"Urgency was paramount if we were to save Milo, so he was prepared for an operation as soon as practical.”
The operation was successful and, when the regurgitated bits were put together with the plastic removed from his stomach, the team was shocked to realise that the cat had swallowed an entire plastic bullet, like those used in a Nerf gun.
The chewed up projectile had broken down and spread throughout the kitten’s stomach and intestines.
Danielle added:
"We removed the plastic top of the bullet that had become stuck in his intestines. Thankfully, the rest of the toy had already come up in his vomit. If it had been left he would have most certainly died."
Milo is now on the road to recovery and is looking to find a new home.
Danielle hopes Milo’s story is a warning to parents to take care over small toys left lying around where their curious pets might find them.
“This kitten was lucky, others might not be. We were able to move quickly when we realised Milo had swallowed something potentially so dangerous, which probably saved his life.
“Children’s toys can be small, plastic and attractive to inquisitive minds.
"Many have loose parts, which can be dangerous to cats and especially to kittens who see everything as a plaything. Milo’s story should be a cautionary warning to keep toys out of the way of pets, especially plastic darts such as the one Milo chewed and ingested."