Warning about dangle toys attached to scratching posts

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

MaryL - 30 Jul 2005 17:00 GMT

This is a duplicate of a message I just posted to health+behav. The message
in h+b was written in response to another message, but I feel very strongly
about the dangers of those cute "dangle toys" that are often attached to cat
trees and scratching posts.

Please be *very* careful with those dangle toys that are often attached to
cat trees and scratching posts. In my opinion, all of them should be
removed. Years ago, I had a scratching post with one of those toys attached
to the top. I thought it would be completely safe because Amber would be
positioned securely on the ground, and the attachment for the toy was a
*very* short spring with a short cord attached. Amber loved it, but I was
absolutely wrong in thinking that it was safe!! One day, I heard an
excruciating scream from her -- one of those screams when I knew that
something was terribly wrong. I ran into the room and found her lying on her
back with her right side pressed hard against the post. Her right leg was
extended up in the air and she was literally *hanging* by her leg from the
scratching post. She had apparently hit the toy with such force that it came
back, hit her leg, and then wrapped tightly around it. She then probably
fell over backward either in play or in an attempt to free her leg. She was
now in such a position that it was impossible for her to stand up or free
herself. If I had not been there, she undoubtedly would have lost her leg
(and possibly her life). Ever since then, I have removed *everything* that
is attached by a string or cord or elastic from *every* object. I do have
several cat toys with cords (such as "fishing poles" with toys on the end),
but I keep them in the garage and they come out *only* when I will be
attached to the other end!! The new cat tree looks great, but please
consider removing all of those attachments.

MaryL

My cats --
Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf
Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o
Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e

Reply to this Message

Monique Y. Mudama - 30 Jul 2005 17:43 GMT

> Ever since then, I have removed *everything* that is attached by a
> string or cord or elastic from *every* object. I do have several cat
> toys with cords (such as "fishing poles" with toys on the end), but I
> keep them in the garage and they come out *only* when I will be
> attached to the other end!! The new cat tree looks great, but please
> consider removing all of those attachments.

Aside from the risk of entrapment, some cats (like mine) think that
all string is to be eaten. I tried putting a mouse on a (very short)
string on Oscar's new scratching post, but she showed far more
interest in the string than in the mouse. I had to remove it before
she inevitably swallowed the string.

Signature

monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully

pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca

Reply to this Message

Lesley - 01 Aug 2005 10:04 GMT

tried putting a mouse on a (very short)
string on Oscar's new scratching post, but she showed far more
interest in the string than in the mouse. I had to remove it before
she inevitably swallowed the string.

Same problem with Redunzel who likes to try and eat anything she isn't
supposed to, (bootlaces, metal pan scourers, loose change, cigarette
ends) we were given a mousie on a plastic string that was designed so
you could hang it from a door and it would bounce back when thwacked or
whatever. Redunzel promptly tried to eat the plastic so we had to cut
it off and add it to the other mousies.

Lesley

Slave of the Fabulous Furballs

Reply to this Message

Karen - 30 Jul 2005 19:23 GMT

> This is a duplicate of a message I just posted to health+behav. The message
> in h+b was written in response to another message, but I feel very strongly
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o
> Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e

I've always cut those off. No stories, but they seemed rife with possibility
of danger to me.

Reply to this Message

Steve Touchstone - 03 Aug 2005 06:22 GMT

>I've always cut those off. No stories, but they seemed rife with possibility
>of danger to me.

same here, never had anyone hurt by them. I'd always heard that
string toys could be dangerous, so I remove them first thing.

Signature

Steve Touchstone,
faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Spot
with loving memories of Rocky (RB)

stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email]
Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html
Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html

Reply to this Message

Wayne Mitchell - 30 Jul 2005 19:32 GMT

>Please be *very* careful with those dangle toys that are often attached to
>cat trees and scratching posts. In my opinion, all of them should be
>removed.

I've got just one. It's attached via a break-away snap. Anyone
have an opinion about how well those work? (For my two, the
question is moot. They completely ignore the toy.)

Signature

Wayne M.

Reply to this Message

sriddles@aol.com - 30 Jul 2005 19:34 GMT

> This is a duplicate of a message I just posted to health+behav. The message
> in h+b was written in response to another message, but I feel very strongly
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
>
> MaryL

That's a good warning, MaryL. Just wanted to butt in, thought it was a
good time to chant my old mantra about miniblind cords. Ya'll have
heard it before. Frank would have died if I hadn't been in the room.

Sherry

Reply to this Message

mlbriggs - 30 Jul 2005 20:06 GMT

> This is a duplicate of a message I just posted to health+behav. The
> message in h+b was written in response to another message, but I feel very
[quoted text clipped - 30 lines]
> Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o
> Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e

I only had one but just removed it. Best wishes. MLB

Reply to this Message