Two days after Christmas, Mr. Bean, a 3-year-old male Domestic Longhair, presented to our clinic for vomiting, weight loss, and lethargy over a 2-day period. Mr. Bean had a normal body temperature and vital signs on physical examination. Abdomen was painful on palpation.

Radiographs revealed a gastric foreign body that appeared to be a Christmas bell ornament. Mr. Bean was prepped for surgery and a gastrotomy was performed the same day. A bell and a 6-inch ornament string were removed from the stomach. The cat recovered well from the surgery and was discharged 2 days later. The owner recognized the Christmas ornament and remembered the cat playing with it, but never knew it went missing.

Submitted by Stephanie N. Davies, LVT, Atlantic Veterinary Center, Middletown, DE