A Cautionary Yarn About Cats

Did you hear about the cat who swallowed a ball of wool? She had mittens.

No, it’s not about me, but it’s still cute, right? As a kitten, I can tell you playing with yarn is a ball, but sometimes cats arent’ smart enough to resist eating the yarn, or the string or the thread with the needle.

Swallowing a lot of wool, string or thread can be very dangerous for us.  It can cause a blockage of our intestinal tract, and if there’s a needle in there too, it can perforate and require surgery. So if you see yarn, string or thread hanging out of your cat’s mouth, check it out immediately.

Here’s How!

If your cat has swallowed thread, string, or yarn, use the following cat care tips from HowStuffWorks.com:

Step 1: Approach the cat carefully. If your cat is nervous or anxious, restrain the cat if necessary.

Step 2: If nothing is visible, proceed to Step 3. If thread, string, or yarn is hanging out of the cat’s mouth or rectum:

Step 2a: Pull on the material lightly. If you feel resistance, stop. Do not continue to pull the material.

Step 2b: Cut off the material as short as possible and proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: Give the cat one tablespoon of white petroleum jelly. Using a small amount each time, rub the jelly on the cat’s mouth and paws. The cat will lick it off. Do not give the cat mineral oil.

Step 4: If vomiting occurs or the cat stops eating, transport to the veterinarian immediately.

Be Ready to Pounce!

And speaking of pet emergencies, an online service called Pet Summary allows you to organize, access, and share your pet’s important information with anyone, anywhere, at any time for a small, one-time fee. Whether preparing a pet sitter, getting ready for a trip, or rushing to the emergency room, PetSummary.com makes it easy to have the right information at your fingertips. If you need to pull up your pet’s authentic vaccine record, it’s available from any online connection. Find them online at http://PetSummary.com.

That’s it for now. I’m going to see if Max wants to dig in the dirt around some potted plants. Always great fun!