Distraught animal lover says $5 cat toy she bought from Target killed her kitty

Daily Mail​

4 days ago

A heartbroken pet owner revealed that a cheap cat toy she bought from Target tragically killed her beloved kitty.
Mazie Kayee, known as @mazie.kayee on TikTok, shared a video last week warning about Target's $4.39 'Fish Trio Wand Cat Toy,' which she had purchased for her one-and-a-half-year-old cat, Blue.
She said that the colorful tassels hanging from the tails of the three plush fish became lodged in the cat's stomach and wrapped around his intestines, causing his death.
'These toys are supposed to be safe. What we buy off shelves is supposed to be safe,' she told the Daily Dot.
'But it's not - and pet safety, pet care, and product accountability need to be talked about way more than they are. Animals deserve better.'
On June 26, Blue began vomiting continued to through the night. Kayee grew increasingly alarmed when the color and smell of the vomit became 'indescribable,' she said in a TikTok clip.
Kayee went to the animal hospital, where veterinarians confirmed through X-rays that something was stuck in Blue's stomach.
Initially, veterinarians told her they could perform surgery remove the object, but it came too late and Blue passed away.
Veterinarians explained that the tassels had clumped together inside Blue's stomach, with some strands wrapping around his intestines - leading to a severe infection that caused sepsis.
'I feel like I failed as a fur parent,' Kayee said. 'This is something I didn't read reviews on because it was a $4 toy.'
She eventually reached out to Target's corporate office, where the representative she spoke with was reportedly at a loss for how to respond to such a tragic situation.
Kayee was then referred to the company's insurance provider, which she said seemed unsurprised - leaving her to wonder how many other animals may have suffered the same fate.
Her desperate pleas on TikTok and outspoken response caught widespread attention, leading Target to pledge changes to the toy - a redesign their team is now actively working on.
'Target said they're going to redesign the toy,' Kayee said in a follow-up video. 'After hearing my story and then reading the reviews, they just said, "No more."'
She told the Daily Dot that reps from the retail giant personally called her to inform her of the redesign.
'The insurance company has sent a letter to the manufacturer stating that they are legally obligated to give us compensation,' she explained.
'The lady I talked to through Target said she greatly appreciated me reaching out because they don't know if no one speaks up.'
As of now, the cat toy has been removed from Target's website. Kayee posted another video showing its absence from the app, stating, 'Target is taking this very seriously, and that's all they can do now.'
Her story resonated widely on social media, with her videos surpassing a million views and earning thanks from fellow cat owners.
'You probably saved my cats lives. Thank you for sharing your story! I'm so sorry for your loss,' one viewer wrote.
'This is terrifying, I just got this exact toy for my cat. It's going right in the trash,' another commented.
'I'm sorry for your loss but thank you. You've saved a lot of cats, including mine,'a third added.
Kayee urged others to read product reviews carefully, especially when buying items for their pets.
Pets are not just aesthetic fur balls,' she told Daily Dot. 'They're living, feeling members of the family.'