Cat rushed to surgery after swallowing piece of cotton with NEEDLE attached

By Charlotte Penketh-King via SWNS

A terrified pet owner had to fork out £5,000 ($6,675) in vet bills for emergency surgery after her beloved cat swallowed a piece of cotton - with a NEEDLE attached.

Madison Hartery, 25, had laid out her sewing supplies to fix one of her dresses when she left the room momentarily.

But when she returned she found her cat Birdie with a piece of cotton in her mouth - and a needle missing.

Birdie the cat post surgery. (Madison Hartery via SWNS)

« ‹ of 5 › »

She ripped apart her kitchen searching for the sharp object before realizing that it had been on the end of the piece of thread her pet had been munching on.

In floods of tears, Madison rushed Birdie to her local vet for emergency surgery to remove the needle.

Thankfully, the cat survived the terrifying ordeal and is at home recovering with a shaven belly.

But Madison is now urging other sewers to keep their supplies far away from curious cats.

The general practice surveyor, who lives in Bristol with Birdie and her other cat Bea, said: "I was absolutely terrified.

"She’s my baby and I couldn’t even comprehend the thought of losing her. I’m always so careful with string as I know she loves to try and eat it.

"I made up a needle and thread and went to grab my dress from the other room.

"I could hear her messing about with a button and it clicked that I’d left the bowl out with my sewing supplies.

"I came back in and she was munching on a piece of cotton which I managed to remove but I then realized that I couldn’t find the cotton with the needle attached anywhere.

"I ripped my kitchen apart, still unable to find it. I think I knew deep down in my gut that she had eaten it, since she is so obsessed with cotton.

"She showed no signs of distress, I think the needle must have gone down her throat straight. I just took my chances - a £1,000 X-ray is nothing when her life was at risk."