⚠️ IMPORTANT WARNING ABOUT PET TOYS

Today, a breeder from one of our fellow catteries shared heartbreaking news with me. A beautiful young kitten she had recently purchased for her breeding program was playing with a new set of toys, choked on one of them, and tragically died.

I asked her to send me a photo. She marked the little teddy bear toy that her kitten choked on and died from.

When buying toys for your kittens, remember that responsibility for their safety lies with you, not the manufacturer. Manufacturers and sellers are focused on selling their products, but that doesn't mean every toy is safe.

Small toys and detachable parts present choking hazards.

Another type of toy I strongly dislike is crinkly plastic balls. Cats love playing with and chewing them. The sharp plastic edges cut their gums and palate, causing wounds, inflammation, and gingivitis and oral infections.

Plastic bags, wrappers, and other plastic materials also injure oral tissues when chewed and present risks of choking and intestinal obstruction if swallowed.

If you have dogs, remember that even toys intended for cats may be small enough for a dog to swallow.