Kittens will eat Legos because:
Kittens can eat small parts of Legos, so keep them away from their reach. If your kitten has swallowed Legos, go to the vet immediately.
Small foreign objects may pass through your kitten’s digestive tract, and come out through its stool, but when they cause obstruction, it can be life-threatening.
We may not know why kittens tend to put whatever they find on their way into their mouths. Perhaps it’s out of curiosity. Your kitten enjoys playing, but there are dangerous toys that could be harmful to it. If you have kids who love to play with Legos, you might want to know how to safely store these, so your cat can’t chew, or even swallow them.
This article shows if your cat can eat Legos, how to store Legos toys out of its reach, and the best ways to entertain your kitten so they don’t eat Lego pieces instead.
I will also list other dangerous toys, or items to keep away from your cat.
Keep reading, to know the immediate action to take in case your kitten accidentally swallows Legos, plus other dangerous toys to avoid giving your kitten while unsupervised.
Your Kitten Can Swallow it and Choke
As a cat owner, you might have realized that sometimes, the objects we think could be toys for our felines aren’t the best toys. Lego might be enticing to your pet, but your curious kitten can easily swallow it, then the piece gets lodged in its throat, and causes choking.
If your children like to play with Legos, ensure you clear these immediately after play sessions out of your kitten’s sight. They might seem like harmless household objects or toys, but can be dangerous for your kitty.
Be careful not to leave your kitten with anything that has small chewable parts or beads to play with. Store the Legos in a plastic bag covered with a tight lid.
Go to the Vet Immediately if it has Eaten Legos
If you suspect that your kitten has swallowed a small piece of Lego, rush your kitty to the vet immediately. The sooner you do this, the better chances of your vet knowing how to deal with this emergency.
Your vet will perform a physical examination, and several views of specialized X-rays might be necessary. They might also suggest a blood and urine test to figure out if the foreign body can be surgically removed, or will just pass out through its poop.
Don’t forget to take a picture of the Legos on your phone, and show it to the vet. If the piece was very small, there are chances that your kitten might be able to pass it while pooping. If the vet determines that is the case, they might tell you to go home and keep a close eye on your cat.
Meanwhile, your vet will tell you to look out for any unusual behavior such as vomiting, refusal to eat, or avoiding its litterbox. Take your kitten back to the vet if any of these happens. If 24 to 36 hours pass, and your kitten has not yet passed the Legos in its stool, go back to the vet.
What Happens After your Cat Ingests a Foreign Body
Kittens are playful by nature, which can often lead them to trouble. Your kitty loves to investigate new smells and surroundings. As it plays, your kitten may ingest thread, wool, or small pieces of toys.
Fortunately, many of these foreign objects pass through their intestinal tract without a problem. Most cat owners have admitted that they found weird objects in their cat’s stool, or vomit.
This does not mean it’s ok to let your kitten eat all sorts of foreign objects. Some of these objects cannot pass their digestive tract without complications. The foreign object can cause body obstruction, which is a common life-threatening condition reported in veterinary practice.
If this occurs, surgical removal of the object is the only solution.
How to know if your cat has swallowed Legos, or any piece of toy:
- Vomiting.
- Abdominal pain or tenderness.
- Lack of appetite.
- Diarrhea.
- Aggressive when handled around the abdomen.
Keep Legos Out of Your Cat’s Reach
Most parents would agree that Legos left unattended on the floor can be a real nuisance. As you walk, heading to your favorite couch, you step on a small toy that causes an incredibly painful stabbing on your foot.
Besides Legos being a dangerous toy for your kitty, it can also hurt you if you step on it. So, proper storage will ensure you, and your feline friend enjoys safe surroundings.
Here are practical ways you can put those small bricks under control:
1. Store Legos in a bag
You can purchase a storage bag from online stores, or even make it one of your DIY projects. This storage bag comes with a drawstring at the top. It is designed to spread out as a mat, collecting all the Legos inside, and this ensures they don’t scatter all over the house.
Once your kids are done playing with the Legos, collect all of them in the bag, and fasten the strings on top. This is a nice way to ensure your kitten does not get a chance to play with these.
2. Put them away in a zip bag
A zip bag is a pouch to safely store your kids’ toys away from the reach of your feline friend. Purchase one that has enough storage room to fit plenty of bricks. Now you won’t have to worry about bricks sticking on your feet or the cat swallowing them, because they will be neatly zipped away.
3. Keep them in a plastic container
A plastic container with a lid can store away Legos when your kids are not playing with them. Keep the lid tightly closed at all times, because your kitty can become curious at night when everyone is asleep.
Give your Kitten Something Else to Chew on
One of the reasons why your kitten might decide to nibble on Legos is because it is teething. This is a normal part of a kitten’s growth. Some cats will outgrow this stage without you noticing it, while other cats might need your help.
Excessive chewing is one of the signs of kitten teething. Your little one might start chewing on everything in sight; toys, furniture, or blankets.
Teething toys could be just what your kitten needs to soothe this discomfort. These are toys made from soft plastic or rubber, and can be found in most pet shops. If teething is the problem, give your kitten these to chew on.
Dangerous Kitten Toys to Avoid
1. Yarns and strings
Back in the days, strings were the ideal toys for cats, but this should not be the case anymore. We may have noticed that our cats are so fascinated by strings, and this may lead us to believe that strings are harmless toys for our little ones.
Kittens often swallow yarns and strings, and it is the leading cause of emergency trips to the vets. When swallowed, yarns can cause intestinal blockages, or stick on your kitten’s intestinal wall.
2. Feather Toys
Most cat toys have feathers, but these may not be so safe for your little one. Kittens love to chew on anything as they learn mostly with their mouths. A feather is delicate and so small, so it may take a long time before you notice your kitten has been swallowing feathers.
3. Very tall cat trees
Cats like to climb high areas and claw on textured surfaces, but a tall cat tree might not be ideal for your kitten. Your little one is still not yet coordinated, and giving it a big cat tree that it can’t handle might result in accidental falls.
While your kitten might feel courageous enough to climb a very tall cat tree, it will have problems coming down. It is advisable to wait until your kitten is at least 4 months old before giving a large cat tree for its amusement.
You can still provide your kitten with a small-sized scratching post and cat trees. Once it is used to these, it will feel confident to climb taller objects once it grows.
4. Ropes
Even though your kitten loves to chase rope toys, be cautious because these can easily wrap around your kitten’s neck. In response, your kitten may try to untie itself, and in the process continue tightening the rope, cutting off blood circulation.
Ropes are good toys, but you should not leave your kitten playing with them alone. Supervise the play session to ensure your kitten is safe. Keep the rope far from your kitten’s reach after play.
Of course, I can’t list all the potentially dangerous toys for your kitten here. A general rule of thumb is that if an object is small enough to fit into your kitten’s mouth, it’s best to put it away.
