For about a year, Louie, a cat in otherwise good health and with normal eating habits, occasionally vomited after his meals. His owner, Anne, initially assumed he had a sensitive stomach, a common issue among cats. However, the vomiting soon became daily, and then multiple times a day, and Louie began to appear tired and weak. Concerned, Anne rushed him to the veterinarian for an examination. A radiograph of Louie’s abdomen revealed a large mass that was taking up a significant portion of his stomach. This discovery meant immediate surgery was necessary to investigate and remove the mass. During the operation, the veterinarians discovered that the mass was made up of 35 hair elastics—small, plastic hair ties commonly used to secure hair in a ponytail or braid. It turned out that Louie had been secretly chewing on these elastics for a long time, likely out of curiosity or habit. Anne shared her surprise with The Dodo, explaining that Louie had always been fond of playing with elastics as a kitten. Over the years, she had taken precautions to keep them out of reach, even switching to hair clips, but Louie always found a way to get to them. After the surgery, Louie is recovering well and is expected to return to his usual energetic self soon. In the wake of the incident, Anne has conducted a thorough inspection of her home to ensure that no elastics are left anywhere. While the situation was alarming, it also highlights the importance of being aware of small household items that can pose risks to pets, especially curious cats like Louie.