Cat Lucky To Be Alive After Swallowing Sewing Needle

PORTLAND, Ore. Kevin the cat snuck into a child’s room to play with a sewing kit. While he was there, he tried to eat a sewing needle. This turned out to be not such a good idea. After trying to eat the needle, he tried to regurgitate it back out, but the needle then got stuck in his throat.

Kevin’s family found him in the room in an agitated state. They didn’t realise it was a needle that was causing him distress. When he started vomiting and having trouble swallowing, they took him to the DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital.

Needle stuck in cat's mouth — Photo: Kevin the cat | DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital

At the hospital, the emergency team gave Kevin a sedated oral exam to determine the source of his discomfort. Of immediate concern was the blood-tinged saliva they saw around his mouth.

A full-body CT scan was done, and when the scan was produced on the screen, they were amazed to find that a large needle was embedded in Kevin’s mouth. It had got impaled through Kevin’s hard palate and extended into his nasal cavity. Needless to say, this caused Kevin extreme discomfort and put his life in danger.

Screenshot 2024 06 22 104932 — Photo: DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital

Kevin was taken into surgery. While his mouth was held open by surgical staff, the surgeon carefully removed the needle using tweezers. The needle came out successfully with no further issues.

“Kevin’s case is an important reminder of how quickly a seemingly minor incident can turn into a critical situation,” said DoveLewis’s Dr. Hannah Marshall. “We’re so glad Kevin’s family trusted us with his care, and we’re thrilled to see how quickly he recovered.”

After the operation, the family took Kevin home to recover. Several days later after checking in, Franci Forman, a veterinarian at DoveLewis, was able to report that Kevin “is doing well and recovering smoothly at home, and back to some of his typical antics.”