Severe temporary small intestinal ischaemia was induced in 15 cats by mesenteric embolization of degradable starch microspheres. After an observation period of 14 days, small intestinal histopathology and tissue blood flow were investigated. Intracellular starch fragments were found in tissue macrophages in ileal Peyer's patches in all animals, but no late adverse effects of starch microsphere embolization were observed.