Thanks BMC. Lucy update: last night, a shoelace appeared from her behind; called vet who said it should now be safe to gently pull it out as her system was emptied; out came an approximate 15" long shoelace. Yes, little Lucy ate a shoelace sometime last week and this caused all her problems. Today, she is once again our food fiend kitty, running all over the house and looking for more things to put in her mouth.