What do I do if my cat is actually eating the toys...?

Question

This is one of the reasons why I don't play with my cat sometimes, besides the fact that he's not very playful.

When I play with him he actually tries to eat the toys or at least it really looks like it. I've had this problem for sometime. Like just now, I was play with him with a ball of yarn and he started to chew on the thread once he caught it. I took it from him and the whole thing was covered in spit, and he may have swallowed just a few threads. What am I supposed to do about this/ what are some good alternatives please.

I really like the interactive play where you are the one dragging something and they catch it, so I dont want to get rid of this. Also he never chases a mouse when i throw it.

any suggestions would be helpful thanks.

Answer 1

Some cats don't play as often as others. Cats have unique personalities. As for the yarn, it's good you got it away from him before he swallowed much of it. Still, the fact that he swallowed a few threads means he needs to go to the vet and get examined, in order to make sure he doesn't develop a blockage. Cats can get a blockage even if they swallow string, which is thinner than yarn.

Answer 2

Thread, string and yarn should never be unsupervised with a cat for this very reason, they try to eat it and it can be expensive to get it out of them.

Use something safer like small paper balls you roll yourself, or the milk rings off the milk bottle (IF he won't try to chew those up, mine does). Or try laying a paper bag on it's side and tossing paper balls into it.

If you play with a string type toy with him, put it away in a drawer when you're done.

Answer 3

Try an expensive toy called a Cat Dancer. Most pet shops have it. It is a piece of stiff piano wire with a few pieces of cardboard on one and and a base you can stick onto things on the other. The cardboard "bug" swoops and jumps like it's alive. Cats love it.

Many cats also enjoy chasing the red dot of a laser pointer. When I'm finished playing with my cats, I run the red dot into the fireplace and turn the pointer off. My cats think the dot lives in there and I often see them waiting in front of the hearth, ready to catch it if it appears,

You're wise to worry about your cat eating his toys. My daughter's cat has been in the hospital for a week..he swallowed a foam rubber toy.

Answer 4

Keep away from stringy things bad idea. But there is a toy out there that is kind of like a feather duster and it has a long poll thing attached to it. Even the lazyest can't love playing with it because it reminds them of a bird. One of my cats we have had for over 13 years she is 25 lbs and does nothing but sleep eat and use the litter. She see's it and goes nuts! It's the hunter inside of them. My kitten gizmo plays fetch with it.

Answer 5

Buy a pair of baby socks from a garage sale or thrift shop. Stuff one inside the other and stuff it full of good fresh dried catnip. The best comes from herbalist shops not Hartz.Sew an overhand stitch across the inner sock and then the outer sock and let kitty have at it. Mine was three years old before I tossed it for being gross and made a new one. Kitty can chew and sog this out all he wants.

Answer 6

My scared of some toys. We had a thread with tiny feathers attached to a stick. One morning I woke uo and the small cat was choking. I took the stick from him mouth and pull all that thread from his stomach ... no more toys. Only the laser pointer

Answer 7

Just to agree with another answer- no yarn, string or tinsel on the tree at Christmas. Years ago, I had Molly and she would eat plastic bags-something called pika or pica but my vet never really explained it to me-she almost died, as it got balled up in her intestines-Good luck!!! Also, maybe you could give the cat some butter or hairball remedy to help it to pass thru his system.

Answer 8

never let your cat play with string or yard. there are many good and safe toys for him to play with. ask your vet for some suggestions.

Answer 9

ask a vet