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A ruddy Abyssinian cat lies on the floor tangled in loops of cream yarn while an elderly couple knits behind it. 27 / 38

Ruth and Harold Were Busy Knitting. Nobody Was Watching the Cream Yarn.

AI imageabyssinianknittingyarn

Two knitting projects are underway on the couch, and one very large tangle is underway on the floor. Ruth, in a green cardigan, is working a mustard-yellow piece with long wooden needles, while Harold, in a navy sweater, concentrates on a smaller gray project. In front of them, Saffron has sprawled across the rug, wrapped in loop after loop of cream yarn, one paw firmly planted on a strand as if she's helping. She gazes off to the side with a look of complete innocence. A basket of colorful yarn balls, reading glasses, and potted plants fill the cozy room.

Yarn and cats look adorable together, but string can be genuinely dangerous if swallowed. Cats' tongues have tiny backward-facing barbs, which makes it hard for them to spit out thread, yarn, or ribbon once they start chewing. A swallowed strand can cause serious problems in the intestines and may need emergency care. If you knit or crochet with a cat in the house, keep your project bag closed when you're not working, supervise any play near yarn, and offer safer toys like wand toys with sturdy, short attachments. If you suspect your cat swallowed string, don't pull it out yourself; call your vet.

For now, the only casualty is a ball of cream yarn and maybe a few stitches. Ruth and Harold will untangle the mess soon enough, and Saffron will look as if she had nothing to do with it.

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An elderly couple sits in lawn chairs watching a backyard sunset while a ruddy Abyssinian cat sits on the man's lap.Two Lawn Chairs, One Sunset, and a Cat Who Didn't Want to Miss ItAn elderly couple scatters seed for ducks at the edge of a pond while a ruddy Abyssinian cat sits close in the foreground.Ruth Brought Seed for the Ducks. Saffron Brought Her Most Focused Stare.A ruddy Abyssinian cat sniffs fallen apples in an orchard as an elderly couple picks apples into a wicker basket behind it.Harold Was Picking Apples for Pie. Saffron Was Running Her Own Inspection.An elderly couple shares a sandwich on a green garden bench while a fluffy ruddy Abyssinian cat sits close, gazing at them.Harold Offered Ruth the First Bite. Saffron Thought It Should Be Hers.