Yarn Safety and Cats

We often see pictures of cats playing with balls of yarn. Cute, but deadly. Not only can it become a strangling hazard, but it can be deadly if they ingest it. For that reason, you should always guard your yarn around your cats. The toys you make should be supervised and if they start to unravel, immediately thrown away. While these toys have been “cat-tested” that doesn’t mean there isn’t some element of risk.

Don’t let your cats use the toys unsupervised until you are sure he or she isn’t going to rip it apart or eat it. Inspect the toys regularly and toss out any that show wear or signs of unraveling.

Also be careful with any of the toys that have long ends like the door hangers. There’s always a risk of the cat get entangled and strangling themselves. These are good toys to take out when you are home but put away when the cat is unsupervised. Not only will that protect your cat, but it will make the toy that more special.

Keep your yarn in a safe and secure place when not in use. (Actually, you’ll probably have to guard it while in use as well. My cats are way more interested in the yarn I’m using than any toy I create with it.) If you suspect your cat has eaten any yarn, contact your vet immediately. If you find yarn in your cats mouth, you can try to GENTLY pull it out, but stop if you run into any resistance. If you don’t, you could cause damage to your cat’s internal organs.

Even if you feel you’ve removed the yarn, you should contact your vet for further instructions and advice.