Cats don’t intentionally eat jewelry but can sometimes swallow jewelry by accident when playing with it. If your cats like to play with jewelry, you need to make sure all jewelry is off-limits. Cats cannot digest precious metals or similar stuff. If your cat tries to eat a piece of jewelry, it can have serious trouble.
No animal can digest jewelry, and cats are no exception. If your cat eats jewelry, either one of two scenarios can happen:
With any luck, the jewelry will go right through your cat. It may come out in one piece or several pieces. After a day or two, your cat will go to the litter box and your jewelry will be down there.
Worst-case scenario, the jewelry will end up stuck in your cat’s digestive system. If that happens, you need to go to the vet. Only emergency surgery will fix this problem – and leaving it unattended can cause serious trouble, including death.
Do cats eat rings?
Cats love to play with rings – but it’s highly unlikely that they’ll try to eat them. That’s not to say a cat won’t swallow a ring, though. Your cat could play around with a ring, carrying it in its mouth and end up swallowing it by mistake.
Before you assume your cat ate a ring, you need to make sure that’s what truly happened. It’s more likely that your cat hid your ring than anything else. Cats love to hide their toys – and your cat could think rings are toys of its own!
If you’re worried because you think your cat ate your ring, look for your cat’s favorite hiding spots. That’s where your ring probably is.
Do cats eat necklaces?
Depending on the type of necklace, your cat may or may not be able to swallow it. It’s rather hard for cats to eat most necklaces – but sometimes it happens. Especially if you have chains that can break down into tiny pieces. Remember, cats can only eat necklaces by mistake!
If you own one-piece necklaces, there’s nothing to worry about. You should keep it away from your cat so it won’t try to hide the necklace somewhere. Other than that, there’s not much to worry about.
Chains are a different problem, though. If your cat starts playing with a chain and it breaks into little pieces, there’s a high chance your cat will end up swallowing a piece or two. Chains should always be off-limits!
Do cats eat earrings?
Similar to rings, cats won’t try to eat earrings but they will definitely try to play with them. That could lead to a cat swallowing an earring, but it’s an uncommon situation. You shouldn’t risk any chance, though! Keep earrings hidden away from your cats.
If your cat is going out of its way to try to find your rings and earrings, your cat may be bored. And there’s only one way to fight against boredom: toys!
The best way to keep your cat away from your jewelry is to buy similarly-shaped toys. That way, your cat will be safe from any harm and still have some fun.
What should I do if my cat eats jewelry?
If you suspect your cat ate a piece of jewelry, go to the vet right away. There’s a high chance that that piece will cause an intestinal obstruction that can provoke vomiting, diarrhea, and even death. Your vet will know what to do next to keep your cat safe.
After you take your cat to the vet, you’ll probably have to get x-rays for your cat. That will show how bad the situation is.
There’s a chance nothing happens, though! Sometimes, cats simply eliminate jewelry as they do anything else they eat. Make sure you take no chances and go to the vet just to be sure!