Cat with something stuck up nostril - what to do

[noarguments]

We've been away for the weekend, with neighbours kindly feeding cats, and come back to find that one has a sharp blade of grass (not grass really, very thin and not as soft as grass) stuck up her nostril and sticking out a centimetre. I've tried pulling gently and she doesn't like it one bit. Not distressed generally though a bit subdued I think. So do I yank at it with soem tweezers? Give it time and see if it falls out by itself? Phone the vet (and take her in as that's the likely advice)?
Thanks for any advice.

I'm not clear what it could be from your description - I was originally thinking wild grass seed but I'm not sure.

Vet, I think. When something is stuck in such a place, I wouldn't take any chances.

Thanks, it could be that, cozie, what I can see is just a thin stem of whatever it is, but I don't know what's stuck inside.

If it was a grass seed then I would go to the vet directly because they can cause real problems once they've burrowed in. I still can't think what it might be other than a piece of something formerly growing that has gone the wrong way - say a grass stalk as opposed to a leaf. Maybe one of the vets posting recognizes the offending item.

Either way, you've tried pulling with no easy resolution. I'd have her up to the vet I think.

You were right, went to vets, they think its a grass seed, and are going to knock her out in the morning to remove it. Seems quite invasive for a tiny little thing - presumably it will cause damage if left??? It doesn't seem to be bothering her at all - the vet hurried me into sorting out the arrangements and didn't really go into why its really necessary. Anybody know?

Yes - it's probably necessary. They're nasty little things which can work their way in under skin/flesh and cause abscesses and other problems. Poor her - rotten luck.

Oh my old cat had that. Nothing visible but she was hacking and coughing and wheezing very alarmingly.

Vet pulled out a huge blade of long grass from down her throat under GA.

OK thanks all - she'd better be more careful in future!!

Luck of the draw, I'm afraid. If you manage to find a detail picture of one on the net, you'll see that they're like little pointy arrow heads - which means that they can work their way in and travel around but are difficult to get back out. The very devil if they get lodged.

Good luck to her in her procedure tomorrow.

It's usually the ornamental grass that has little hairs/barbs on it - it can go in one way and then gets stuck like velcro and won't come out.
I've removed amazingly long blades of grass from cat's noses and behind their palate.
I'm sure she'll feel much better for having it removed.

All done, was about 2 inches long, and quite thick at the end (considering the size of her nostril), though not barbed, thank goodness. She's as right as rain now, running about like a loon and eating like a horse. £75 quid though - blooming cats!
Thanks for your advice, I'm glad we got it sorted.

Glad she's fine.

PS - maybe now is the time to start thinking about insurance?

Poor little cat. I would really love that job of pulling grass seeds out of animals. Glad she's ok now.