Please click here to view the latest information on how to access our services.

Beware of cats and hairballs hairbands!

It is relatively well known that cats can be partial to eating their owner's used ear plugs (maybe something to do with the taste of ear wax). However, binge eating hairbands is a new one to us.

Max's owners bought him to our Edison Park Clinic & Hospital as they were concerned that he may have picked up a nasty bug. He had been sick over a period of 2-3 days and, unusually for him, he was not interested in his food. Vet Will examined Max and quickly admitted him for an ultrasound scan.

Vet Richard scanned Max and also felt a ‘string-like’ ball in his abdomen and promptly prepped Max for surgery. Two hours after admission, Max was recovering from surgery where a total of 24 hairbands were removed from his stomach. Amazingly, without his stomach full of elastic, Max felt well enough to eat that evening and returned home the following day.

Curiously, another cat was reported to have done the same thing in Swindon the week afterwards and another on ITV's The Yorkshire Vet.

Some cat owners are reporting that their cats are drawn to elastic bands and hairbands and so, just as we would advise owners to keep any earplugs away from their cats, we must now advise that they do the same with hairbands and elastic bands.

if you are concerned that your cat may have eaten hairbands, elastic bands, or similar, please do not hesitate to contact us for advice.

Cat hairbands surgically removed

Cat after hairbands removed surgically

Max recovered from hairband removal surgery

Eastcott Vets footer-paw

Eastcott Vets

Edison Park Clinic & Hospital, Hindle Way, Dorcan Way, Swindon, SN3 3FR

(You may need to use SN3 3RB for sat nav)

Tel: 01793 528341

View Practice

Eastcott Vets

Bath Road Clinic, 59 Bath Road, Old Town, Swindon, SN1 4AU

Tel: 01793 528341

View Practice

Eastcott Vets

Cricklade Road Clinic, 6 Clive Parade, Swindon, SN2 1AJ

Tel: 01793 528341

View Practice