Have you ever wondered why cats like cotton swabs? Cats love to play with used cotton swabs, but this behavior is a little mysterious from a human point of view.
What We'll Cover
- Why Cats Like To Play With Qtips?
- Is It Ok For A Cat To Play With A Cotton swab?
- Why Do Cats Eat Cotton Swabs?
- Do Cats Like The Taste Of Earwax?
- Is Human Earwax Bad For Cats?
- Alternatives For Cats Who Play With Cotton Swabs
- What Happens If Your Cat Eats A Qtip?
- What To Do If Your Cat Eats a Q-Tip
- How To Avoid Your Cat From Eating Q Tips/Cotton Swabs?
- Wrapping Up Why Cats Like Cotton Swabs
Cats love cotton swabs because of their taste and how easy they are to play with. Even though finding out what happens if your cat eats a QTIP can be dangerous, cats still enjoy playing with cotton swabs. You should do your best to ensure that your cat doesn’t have cotton swabs it can easily get access to.
Let’s find out why do cats like qtips and how you can stop your cat from playing with cotton swabs.
Why Cats Like To Play With Qtips?
In order to figure out why cats like cotton swabs, we need to think like a cat!
- Easy to play with
- Always available
- Interesting scents
- Very chewable
- Your cat sees you using one
Cats like playing with cotton swabs for some pretty interesting reasons. The most obvious reason is that cotton swabs are readily available around the house and very easy for cats to play with. They're soft, easy to chew on, and cats can bat around these lightweight swabs all day long.
Cats like playing with cotton swabs for some pretty interesting reasons. The most obvious reason is that cotton swabs are readily available around the house and very easy for cats to play with. They're soft, easy to chew on, and cats can bat around these lightweight swabs all day long.
Your cat also enjoys playing with a cotton swab because it's got some pretty interesting scents on it. Your cotton swab is going to smell like you and that's a scent that your cat finds very interesting.
Your cat also sees you using a cotton swab everyday. Cats are naturally inquisitive and they're going to pick up on this and want to see what all the fuss is about.
Is It Ok For A Cat To Play With A Cotton swab?
Now that we know the answer to why do cats like qtips, we can talk about whether or not it’s safe for cats to play with them.
Q-tips for cotton swabs are generally not safe toys for cats. Despite the fact that your cat might look like it loves playing with a cotton swab, this isn't necessarily the best toy for cats to play with.
Cotton swabs can be easily and accidently eaten by your cat. These can cause blockages in their digestive tract which need to be removed by a veterinarian and can require surgery.
Cotton swabs also have components that can be harmful to cats if swallowed. They're often made out of plastics and other materials that your cats shouldn't be eating. Even if you purchase natural, organic cotton swabs, they're still not safe for cats to eat.
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The good news is that there's plenty of alternatives including cat toys that are designed to look like cotton swabs.
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Why Do Cats Eat Cotton Swabs?
There's two major reasons why your cat would be eating a cotton swab. The first is that your cat mistakenly ate the cotton swab during play and the second reason is that your cat is missing out on key nutrition and is looking for food wherever it can get it.
It's most likely that your cat ate a cotton swab because it was playing and it got a little carried away. It's still going to need care from the veterinarian, but accidents do happen.
Your cat also might be suffering from an underlying medical condition. Your cat could be underfed, have intestinal parasites, or be suffering from another condition that's upsetting its nutrition. Cats sometimes eat cotton swabs because they're desperate to find additional nutrition and calories that they aren't getting from their regular diet.
If your cat is eating cotton swabs on a regular basis, it's time to head to the vet and find out what is going on.
You may also want to read: Here is What To Do If Your Cat is Not Eating
Do Cats Like The Taste Of Earwax?
There’s one pretty gross reason why cats like cotton swabs. They love the taste of earwax!
Earwax might be pretty gross to us humans, but to a cat it smells just like their favorite treats. Your earwax is full of plenty of the same proteins that cats love and their regular diet. From the point of view of your furry friend, earwax on a Q-tip looks just like a tasty snack on a stick.
Is Human Earwax Bad For Cats?
Earwax might be gross, but there's nothing in your earwax that's inherently harmful for cats. Your earwax is mostly dead skin cells which won't be doing any harm to your cat if they accidentally digest some earwax.
The big problem comes if your cat accidentally swallows a Q-tip. This is why you should discourage your cat from eating your earwax. You don't want to accidentally encourage your cats to have a behavior that could have it accidentally eat a Q-tip.
Alternatives For Cats Who Play With Cotton Swabs
If your cat loves playing with Q-tips, we've got some alternatives for you that they're going to enjoy playing with just as much. Keep in mind that you need to be active with your cat during playtime. Your cat might be stealing your cotton swabs as a way to try and get your attention when it comes time to play.
Check out these four alternatives to cotton swabs and your cat is sure to have a great time.
One of the reasons that cats love cotton swabs is that they bounce around and are easy to knock all over your house. You can pick up an assortment of spring toys that will satisfy that same urge to chase something that keeps springing around.
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Q-tips also have a certain tactile feel that cats love chewing on. You can pick up some crinkle balls that make a great alternative to cats who enjoy chewing on Q-tips.
Helps you build a strong bond with your furry BFF, all while helping to relieve boredom.
Delivers a satisfying crinkle sounds with every bat, pounce and roll.
Shiny mylar textured toy is easy to sp...
If you're looking for another alternative that's a little more organic, you can pick up these catnip infused chewing sticks that are made out of woven fibers. These look and feel a lot like Q-tips which can satisfy some of the same urges that have your cat stealing all of your cotton swabs!
2 packs are enough to play for half a year, 2 cat chew sticks, 99% of cats love to play, ] Good quality to make your pet have a great day, natural wild, raw, 100% organic and silvervine. No additiv...
Your cat might also be stealing Q-tips to try and get your attention. One of the best things you can do is to divert your cat's attention towards other types of play. A classic feather teaser toy is a great way to play with your cat and get interactive while tiring them out.
Wand teaser cat toy is sure to get your kitty leaping, batting and pouncing.
Enticing combination of textures from feathers and rope encourage cats to engage in play.
Infused with catnip for a boos...
What Happens If Your Cat Eats A Qtip?
Cats should never be allowed to eat cotton swabs. Q-tips pose a serious health risk for cats if they accidentally eat one. Here are just a few of the things that can happen if your cat eats a Q-tip.
One of the most dangerous things that can happen if your cat tries to swallow a Q-tip is that it could choke. It should go without saying that cats simply aren't built to eat Q-tips and these can pose serious risks for their airways.
If your cat manages to swallow a cotton swab, it's going to have some pretty harsh digestive problems. Your cat will likely be vomiting, experiencing diarrhea, and very unhappy. Your cat may also hide in a closet or underneath the bed as if it were sick.
You can't might also experience a change in personality. While your cat is suffering from these symptoms, it might be much less friendly than it usually is.
What To Do If Your Cat Eats a Q-Tip
What happens if your cat eats a QTIP? Well, you’re going to want to take your cat to the vet right away!
Only a veterinarian is going to be able to properly treat your cat if it accidentally ate a Q-tip. The veterinarian is going to be able to treat the symptoms of eating a Q-tip as well as remove the cotton swab from your cat’s digestive system.
How To Avoid Your Cat From Eating Q Tips/Cotton Swabs?
There's a few things that you can do to prevent your cat from accidentally eating a Q-tip or cotton swab.
The first thing that you can do is prevent your cat from having access to Q-tips. We’re used to throwing away Q-tips in bathroom garbage cans, but these are pretty low to the ground. Cats can easily gain access to these garbage cans and the Q-tips that are inside.
Try throwing away your Q-tips in the kitchen garbage can that cats have much harder time getting into.
You can also try to modify your cat's behavior. Playing with your cat using different toys can let your cat know that there are ways to have a little fun that don't involve Q-tips.
Wrapping Up Why Cats Like Cotton Swabs
So, why do cats like qtips? They love how easy it is to play with them, how they taste, and they can even enjoy the “play time” they get when you try to wrestle the cotton swab away from them.
Remember, it’s never a good idea to let your cat play with a cotton swab. Q-tips can pose a serious health risk for your cat if they accidentally swallow one.
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