Many cats enjoy playing with rubber bands, which can be a lot of fun for them. Unfortunately, some cats develop an unhealthy habit of eating the bands, leading to health problems.
What led to the cat eating the rubber band?
There are many possible causes of cats eating rubber bands, but some of the most common include curiosity, boredom, stress, anxiety, and hunger.
Curiosity
One most possible cause of a cat eating a rubber band is curiosity. Cats are natural predators, and if they’re not provided with appropriate prey options, they may turn to whatever is available.
Rubber bands can be a suitable substitute for other prey items, such as birds or small rodents.
Boredom
Cats are naturally active and playful creatures, but if they’re left alone too much, they may start to get bored. This can lead to them chewing on things (including rubber bands) to relieve their boredom.
Stress
Stress is another common cause of cats eating rubber bands. When a cat is stressed, they may become more anxious and aggressive. This can lead to them becoming over eaters or even hoarders as they try to find ways to calm down.
In some cases, a cat may eat objects to concentrate on something else or relieve their stress.
Anxiety
Anxiety can cause cats to eat things that are not normally eaten, such as rubber bands. Cats may become anxious when they feel threatened or insecure. This can lead to a variety of behaviors, including eating habits.
Hunger
Another possibility is that the cats are scavenging for food. Rubber bands make great prey because they are soft and have no teeth or claws.
If left unchecked, this behavior could lead to the cat becoming overweight or developing health problems from eating too much soft food.
The health risks of rubber bands for cat
Rubber bands are a common household item but can also be dangerous for cats. If your cat loves to play with rubber bands, be aware of their health risks.
- Rubber bands can cause cuts and abrasions on the skin and stitches in delicate areas if caught on fur or claws.
- Cats can get entangled in the band and suffer from strangulation or asphyxiation. In addition, if the band is swallowed, it can block the intestines and lead to death.
- When cats chew on rubber bands, they can get stuck in their teeth and can choke. Rubber bands can also cause cuts and abrasions when they are chewed on.
- Rubber bands can damage the hair follicles on a cat’s skin, leading to balding or other hair loss.
What could happen if your cat ate a rubber band?
If your cat ate a rubber band, there is a small chance that the band could become lodged in their intestine. If this happens, the rubber band can cause severe constipation and even block the flow of intestinal gas.
Cats can also become seriously ill if they eat large amounts of rubber bands. In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the object from their intestines.
What to do if your cat ate rubber band?
If your cat ate a rubber band, you could do a few things to help resolve the situation. First, try to determine where the rubber band came from.
If you don’t know where it came from, you may need to take your cat to the veterinarian for an examination.
If you know where it came from, remove any other objects that could be dangerous if ingested and wait until your cat has had a chance to vomit or have diarrhea before trying to remove the rubber band.
If your cat is not having any adverse effects and seems otherwise unhurt, try gently squeezing the band out of its mouth using dental floss or thread.
If this doesn’t work, you may need to take your cat to a veterinarian for assistance.
How to prevent your cat from eating rubber band
Rubber band eaten by cats is a common problem and one that can be difficult to prevent. Here are some tips to help keep your cat from eating rubber bands:
- Keep rubber bands out of reach of your cat. If they can get a rubber band, they may try to eat it.
- If you accidentally leave a rubber band, put it away quickly so your cat won’t get it. If your cat does manage to get a hold of a rubber band, take it away as quickly as possible and provide another toy instead.
- Dispose of old rubber bands properly. Don’t leave them lying around where your cat could find them – put them in the trash or a recycling bin where they can’t get to them.
- Make sure they have something else to play with besides rubber bands. Provide them with toys that can be played with using their mouths, such as plush toys and balls.
- If you notice that your cat is eating a lot of rubber bands, it may be because they are bored and looking for something to do. Try providing them with more interactive toys, such as hide-and-seek games or tossing a ball around. Here some cat interactive toys you can condiser four your feline:
Feature:
- 【INTERACTIVE CAT TOYS】360-degree rotating butterfly will inspire the cat's nature to scratch and hunt. The butterflies will glowly in the dark, which can greatly attract your kitten, letting them enjoy dancing with the butterfly.
- 【EASY TO USE】With just a gentle push to operate, work with 3 AA batteries(Not included). The base is broad and heavy to stop it from sliding around, even during lively attacks on the flying prey.
- 【KEEP CATS HEALTHY】If you keep interacting with your cat with this cat toys frequently, it will help the cats to get exercise to avoid obesity, also enhance the dependence and emotional connection between you.
- 【2 BUTTERFLIES REFILLS】Automatic cat toys provide 2 replacement butterflies that can resistant to scratching and biting to prevent cat scratching or accidental damage.
- 【ONE-YEAR WARRANTY】Your purchased are backed by our 100% satisfaction service in Flurff. Any issues, please feel free to contact us, if the toys are broken, please contact us to get a new one.
Feature:
- PRODUCT UPDATE: Catstages recently updated the Tower of Tracks product to include six 1.5"-balls (38mm) instead of 3 at no extra cost to you. Due to available stock at Amazon's warehouses, customers may receive the 3-ball version of Tower of Tracks. MENTALLY ENGAGING TRACKS TOY: This interactive cat toy is designed with 3 levels of tracks and 6 brightly colored moving balls to attract kitty’s attention! Your cat will adore batting, swatting, and pouncing the bright colored balls as they engage their natural instincts to hunt.
- GREAT FOR SINGLE & MULTIPLE CAT HOUSEHOLDS: Whether you have one cat or more, the Tower of Tracks will keep your furry friends enticed with bright colors and spinning balls.
- UNIQUE SAFETY BAR DESIGN: A small safety bar across the top central opening keeps overly curious kitties from getting stuck while playing with this track toy.
- STURDY CONSTRUCTION & NON-SLIP BASE: Durable plastic and a non-slip base hold the Tower of Tracks in place during vigorous play.
- PLAY IT SAFE: No toy is indestructible. Do not leave toys with unsupervised pets. Remove and replace toy if damaged.
Feature:
- 【 ELECTRIC CAT TEASER】：A cunning mouse plays hide and seek to captivate your pet's attention, simulating a real movement. This interesting way satisfies the needs of hunting instincts, physical exercise and stress reduction.
- 【MULTIPLE LEVELS OF PLAY】: Automatic cat toy with Two different speed settings for choices - Fast and Slow mode, this pop and play cat toy keeps your pet entertained & engaged, perfectly fit for indoor cats.
- 【AUTOMATIC CAT TOYS 】: 3 AA batteries operated (Batteries not included). Just turn on the button, set both your pet and your hand free. The mice toy will start to rotate irregularly. You can imagine your cat hunting, stalking and swooping when it sees the running mice. What a funny time for your cat and you! Cat will go crazy about it!
- 【 SAFE MATERIAL 】：CE and RoHS certified. Cats, kittens, kitty or cat teams could play this peekaboo cat toys for long times, for all age cats. All materials are safety and cats friendly. Innovating shallow visible holes with smooth edges are safe to cat's paws.
- 【FUNNY MATE OF CATS】：Automatic peekaboo cat toys is also an excellent gift for cat owners, it helps pet lovers lead a colorful interactive pet life and build up lovely relationship with kitty, and we believe you and your cats will love our kitten toy.
Conclusions
Knowing that a cat eating a rubber band can be dangerous is important. If your cat is interested in chewing on or eating something unusual, take steps to determine if it is safe for them to ingest. If it is not, seek veterinary attention immediately.