As you know, most cats, being both playful
and predatory in nature, love to play with
string. Although this can be a fun way for
us to interact with them, string can be quite
dangerous for cats if it is ingested. Linear
foreign bodies can be difficult for the
veterinarian to diagnose and a delayed
diagnosis can have a poor outcome in
this situation.

Routine x-rays often are inconclusive and exploratory surgery is generally required to save the cat’s life. String will usually not pass through a cat’s digestive tract and, if not surgically removed, bowel penetration or peritonitis can result. So please, if your cat plays with any linear string objects, make sure it is supervised play.