Cats get attracted a lot by yarns and strings. Yarns fascinate cats because these unraveling balls of strings make them think of snakes they want to capture. Pet cats playing with yarn may look adorable but may pose a big risk for your pet’s health. Here are some indications that your cat may have eaten some yarn. Choking Biting on some yarn may be interesting for cats but can be quite dangerous. Chewing on yarn can cause your cat to choke by having a piece of yarn lodged at the back of its mouth. If a cat chokes on yarn, it should be removed immediately. Vomiting Your cat may eat yarn and items other than food. The problem in ingesting yarn is that it can end up in the gastrointestinal tract. Swallowing a foreign body such as a yarn can induce your cat to vomit. If your cat ingested a string, it might have difficulty swallowing. Cats who eat yarn may have it stuck under the tongue, which is very difficult to see. When you see your pet cat drooling or licking its lips more often than usual, it may have eaten string. Your cat may also exhibit a loss of appetite or lethargy if the yarn stays stuck to its tongue or in the gastrointestinal tract longer. Abdominal Infections Cats playing with string or yarn are bound to swallow some parts of it sooner or later. If a cat eats a long piece of thread, it can get looped around the tongue and get stretched out through the gastrointestinal tract. Swallowing a linear foreign body such as yarn or string can lead to gastrointestinal obstruction. Gastrointestinal obstruction can become a severe condition for your cat. If the string or yarn gets stuck anywhere in the cat’s intestines, its digestive system will have difficulty functioning. The cat will naturally want to expel this foreign object. But if the string is too long, it might just bunch and twist inside the digestive system. The yarn may also cut through intestinal walls, causing more severe problems such as abdominal infections. Entanglements Cats playing with yarn are prone to entanglements. Cats can be quite rowdy with strings, and their legs, feet, or tail can get entangled in knots of yarn. When your cat gets tangled up in yarn, blood may not be able to flow freely in that area of its body. If the yarn is not quickly removed, pain and swelling in constricted regions may lead to tissues dying.