Well, I’ll be Darned!
Marley the cat.
Seven-month-old kitten, Marley, was taken to The Blue Cross animal hospital in Victoria when her concerned owners noticed she was coughing and felt something protruding from under the skin in her neck.
Blue Cross veterinary staff carried out x-rays to pin point the problem and were amazed to discover the long needle, which had pierced through the roof of the kitten’s mouth right through the back of her neck, narrowly missing her jugular vein and windpipe. Staff quickly operated to carefully pull out the needle under anaesthetic and Marley has now made a full recovery.
An x-ray showing the location of the needle.
Marley’s owner, Thomas Ward, said: “We were very surprised to see how big the needle was and we have no idea where she got it from. We’re so pleased that she’s doing fine now and she's back to her cheeky self."
Julia added: “Occasionally we see cases where cats have swallowed thread attached to needles, but not where a kitten has impaled itself with such a large needle in this way. Kittens can easily get themselves into mischief because they are naturally inquisitive and love to pounce on objects, so it’s always worth scouring your home to check for any hazards."
The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) is inviting applications from veterinary students to attend a one-week extramural studies (EMS) placement in July 2026.
