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Treatment
 

Initial diagnosis and treatment will be inpatient. Treatment most likely will consist of surgery to remove the obstructing body, as well as any necessary treatment to address secondary effects, such as administration of IV fluids to avoid dehydration. The sooner the condition is diagnosed and resolved, the better.

Living and Management

After initial treatment, symptoms and progress should be monitored. It is important to replenish lost fluids (due to excessive vomiting or diarrhea, for example) to avoid dehydration. Activity should be restricted, and diet should consist of bland foods for one to two days, followed by a gradual return to normal diet. Note that no foods should be given orally until the obstruction has been removed and vomiting has ended.

Prevention

If your cat has a tendency to ingest foreign bodies it may become a repeat offender, so being aware of this and taking precautions will be an important part of avoiding repeat incidents of gastrointestinal obstruction. For example, do not leave garbage bins open to access for your cat.