To answer what is inevitably everyone's first question: "Are you SURE she ate it??"...well, I can't imagine what else could have happened to it.
I know there was a long thread wrapped around the spool. And I know there was a needle on the thread. I also know that Brisa is a gluttonous pig! I would doubt my hypothesis, since she's acting normal, except for the fact that my husband and I BOTH saw her sitting by the spool gagging and spitting up, which means I can't have been hallucinating! So I panicked (wouldn't you if there was a sharp needle inside your favorite cat??). Of course, the vet's office isn't open on Sunday night, and who wants to pay emergency room bills for a cat (though I love her dearly) if it's not completely necessary? So I googled "cat swallowed sewing needle" and guess what? Apparently, it happens all the time! They seem to have a habit of swallowing dangerous things. Some people said their cat "passed" it during their next trip to the litter box, and some said "Go to the vet immediately! It's going to cost you a hundred million dollars! Your cat is a goner!"
Okay, they weren't really that harsh. But that's all I could think of as these people were calmly telling me that my options were to either pay hundreds of dollars to have the needle removed, or have her put down. Ugh.
So I called the vet's office, "pressed 1 for a medical emergency", and attempted to sound calm as I discussed with the vet how to keep my cat from being stabbed to death from the inside, out.
I relaxed as he explained that she should be fine, I just needed to convince her to eat some bread soaked in tuna juice (as if that took a lot of convincing!), then, supposedly, the needle and thread would bind to the food and hitch a ride to the litter box on the next train.
Then he said the needle isn't even usually the thing to worry about...it's the thread! Apparently, needles are usually blunt enough that they don't cause any damage, but if the thread gets wrapped around anything...well, bad things happen.
As of now, Brisa is sleeping on her favorite chair, she is acting normal, showing no signs of pain or discomfort, and still no sign of the needle. I have even begun to think it was some sort trick the Crispies worked out to get themselves a can of tuna (I was guilted into giving Bella half the can...) So, I get to spend my day at home waiting (and watching, yuck!). At the very least, this should teach me not to leave my sewing supplies laying around. I'm sure I will be grateful for this lesson someday when I have children (who, I've heard, also have a habit of eating dangerous things).
Hopefully, it will show up soon so I can stop worrying and give my dumb cat a good beating.
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| St. Francis, Patron Saint of animals, watch over her. |