Lucky cat saved after eating garden bunting

A cat who became seriously ill after scoffing some garden bunting was saved by vets in an emergency nighttime operation. 

Owner Samantha Hobbs and disabled ex-serviceman partner Adam found six-year-old Feliz limp and lifeless at their home in Cardiff and feared they were going to lose their vital constant companion. 

Even after a tricky five-hour operation at the Vets Now clinic in Newport to remove the cloth causing a lethal blockage, Feliz faced a touch-and-go few days. 

However, they were finally given the all-clear and Feliz is now fully back to health. 

“I’m a full-time carer for Adam who was left without the use of his arms in a motorbike accident, and we rely on Feliz so much,” said Samantha. “She’s like our baby and I couldn’t stop crying for days when this happened.” 

Feliz had been her normal boisterous self before being sick and then becoming floppy and lifeless. Samantha rushed her to their local vets who did scans that showed a lump in her stomach, which could either be a tumour, an intestinal problem or something Feliz had eaten. 

An emergency operation was the only possibility to save her, and Feliz was transferred to the Vets Now clinic in Newport. It’s one of more than 60 clinics and hospitals across the UK that are open seven days a week for out-of-hours pet emergencies. 

“They were so lovely and caring and explained what they would need to do if it was either a tumour or a foreign body,” said Samantha. “I couldn’t think what Feliz could possibly have eaten but having hunted everywhere later the only thing I could find were scraps of old garden bunting.  

“I was absolutely distraught and just wanted to make sure I saw her before I left, in case it was the last time.” 

Samantha got a call during the operation to say a 5cm by 1cm strip of cloth had been found and there were additional complications that made the procedure much more complicated and a happy outcome less certain. 

Vets Now’s head of telehealth Dave Leicester says: “While we might think dogs are most likely to swallow unsuitable items, cats are also prone to eating things they shouldn’t, like this cloth.  

“Some objects may be small enough to pass through their system without causing any problems, but in Feliz’s case the cloth got stuck and she became seriously ill quite quickly. 

“Thankfully, although it was quite a long and complex operation, our vet team were able to remove it.” 

Even when Feliz came through the extensive procedure, the next 48 hours were critical as to whether she survived. 

As she was too distressed to easily allow necessary post-op care at the clinic, Samantha picked her up to continue the medication and feeding at home. 

“It was still so worrying as I knew she wasn’t out of the woods,” said Samantha. “Even after the first few days when I felt I could relax a little, we didn’t leave the house for two weeks because she is so precious. 

“We’re so grateful and can’t thank Vets Now enough for everything they did. We thought we were going to lose her and were the happiest we’ve ever been that she has come through this.”