Cocoa's Pet Gives Advice

Cocoa would like to turn his blog over to his pet for today’s entry. 

I, Cocoa’s pet, would like to welcome all of his readers and offer a few words of advice to all pets (humans) everywhere.  Cats are just about THE most curious animal there is.  The reason they say cats have 9 lives is because they get into the most awful predicaments while being curious, and then miraculously find their way to safety.  (Don’t you wish you could do that?).  The other thing cats just love to do is play.  They will play with just about anything there is including fire, poisonous products, dangerous items like chicken bones (they can splinter in their throat and cause choking) and even strings.  STRINGS?  How can they possibly be in danger from playing with strings?  (I hear ya). 

However, strings can be very dangerous for cats.  First, cats’ tongues are layered with spiky cells that grab onto things and catch so that the cat has no choice but to swallow the item (which is how they drink and eat).  If they get string, tinsel, thread (possibly with a needle attached), hair, yarn, or those plastic grasses for Easter Baskets (to name a few) then they are forced to swallow them.  This would seem like it is not a danger because they just pass it, right?  Well, that is probable in about 80% of the situations; however in the remaining 20% the cat can’t pass the string and it becomes entangled in their intestines causing a major blockage (which could cause death).  If the string has something attached to it, like a needle and thread, the needle will inevitably get stuck and can cause ruptures to the intestines and/or other organs.  When dangling string for your cat to play with, be sure it is thick enough not to break and secure enough not to allow them to pull it down and swallow it.   Keep other stringy-type items well out of reach of cats. 's 

Feel free to print or cut and paste this chart for your own information.