Glove Pulled From Philly Cat's Gut Prompts PPE Litter Warning

PHILADELPHIA — A cat died after having a plasctic glove surgically removed from its gut recently, prompting Philadelphia Animal Care and Control Team (ACCT) to warn residents of littering personal protective equipment amid the coronavirus pandemic.

According to ACCT, a cat named Foxxy was brought in to the ACCT's facility and was emaciated and dehydrated.

An ACCT veterinarian said they believed Foxxy had an obstruction in her body and surgery on Foxxy resulted in vets pulling a plastic glove from her intestine.

"She was young and we were hopeful that with surgery, she'd bounce back," the ACCT said. "While she made it through surgery, she sadly didn't bounce back as we had hoped and passed away. It's likely that she had had the glove in her for several weeks, leading to the poor body condition she was in."

The ACCT said Foxxy's story should be a harsh reminder for residents to properly dispose of all PPE, such as gloves, face masks, and more.

"Pets like Foxxy or wildlife may swallow them thinking that they are toys or food, and the very items meant to keep us safe, can be fatal to them if eaten," the ACCT said. "We hope that by sharing her story, we can prevent the death of other animals."

Foxxy's surgery was made possible through the Stella Fund.