TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Behavior › OK to play with plastic grocery bags?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

OK to play with plastic grocery bags?

post #1 of 36
9/1/10 at 4:52pm
Thread Starter 
Not sure if this belongs under "behavior" or not, but if not Mods, please move where it belongs.

Darko absolutely loves to play with plastic grocery bags, but I'm kind of afraid to let him have them, because I'm paranoid that he might suffocate! I've seen others post that their cats love these things too, and am wondering if it's ok to let them have them. So far, nothing untoward has happened when I let him have them, but I watch him like a hawk, when disturbs him a little, so he quits playing.

What happens is that I usually take one bag and then put all the others in the one, which forms a bag ball of bags, then I single knot the outer bag closed and put it on the stairs to take upstairs on my next trip up. Darko makes a dash for the "plastic bag ball" and off he goes, proudly exclaiming "look what I have", carrying it all around the house. Then he unties it and dives in, taking out all the other bags, but literally putting his head in it as it digs around to see what all in in there. Then he'll chew on the bags, roll around in them, lay on top of them, etc. I hate to deprive him of this fun, but need to make sure it's safe.

Opinions? Thanks!
Reply
post #2 of 36
9/1/10 at 5:22pm
not a great idea as chewing on plastic can mean swallowing plastic and that can lead to some major health issues and vet bills. I always cut the handles off my plastic bags and stuff them into a closet as I have one cat fixated on the darn things. I get them to the recycle bin as soon as possible-especially after Charlie had to have surgery some time ago because he got plastic lodged in his small intestine. Again not a good idea to let your cat play with such a dangerous object. I was glad to see that the grocery stores are starting to offer more paper than plastic bags- my cats love paper bags and once I tear off the handles, they are allowed to play with them all day long.
Reply
post #3 of 36
9/1/10 at 5:32pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks...that's what I thought. No more setting them on the steps. (I use them to collect the litter droppings in, that's why they go upstairs). From now on they will go directly upstairs and into the storage bin up there where no little kitty paws or teeth can reach them.
Reply
post #4 of 36
9/1/10 at 6:56pm
Lots of cats love crinkly stuff. A safe way to provide this is with crinkle caves, tubes, balls, and there are even little pillow toys with a bit of plastic or mylar in them to make them crinkle.
Reply
post #5 of 36
9/2/10 at 8:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens View Post
Thanks...that's what I thought. No more setting them on the steps. (I use them to collect the litter droppings in, that's why they go upstairs). From now on they will go directly upstairs and into the storage bin up there where no little kitty paws or teeth can reach them.
I use supermarket bags for used litter too but before I even get to collect them I have my plastic fanatic diving in. Once I lay the groceries in front of the fridge he's there licking and rumbling. He licks all packaging tapes too, so every time there is UPS/Fedex etc I have to be quick to cut tapes off or he is chewing. He is not as crazy about swallowing bag plastic but they need to be secured.

He has also managed to get his little body stuck in bag handle. The thing was yanked under his arm pits and squeezing him, and he was trying to make a panic run but as his back legs were in the bag I was able to catch him quick. After that he was a little hesitant for awhile, then forgot. I sometimes let him play a little, as the crinkling is just so enticing, then collect the bags. For some reason all my boys are afraid of the crinkle tunnel I got them...

Plastic bags def not a toy to be left around. Always under supervision only.
Reply
post #6 of 36
9/2/10 at 8:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Lots of cats love crinkly stuff. A safe way to provide this is with crinkle caves, tubes, balls, and there are even little pillow toys with a bit of plastic or mylar in them to make them crinkle.
Make a tent with an old newspaper. My cats love that.
Reply
post #7 of 36
9/2/10 at 8:46am
There are so many other different options, I vote no. It just has the potential to be too dangerous.
Reply
post #8 of 36
9/2/10 at 1:42pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, all. They have crinkle balls, no interest. paper bags without handles, very little interest unless I am right there tapping on the outside or something, they DO like very large ( and I mean large pieces of paper, like what comes in packing sometimes (I'm talking about pieces 10' x 4' or so) that I can form into good size tents, but they have no interest in crinkled or tented newspapers. I did put one of the plastic grocery bags inside a pair of DH's old socks and tied it off so he couldn't get it out, but it still makes that crinkle sound and he can cuddle it, now not much interest! I think unless HE discovers it (mightly hunter), he doesn't want it
Reply
post #9 of 36
9/2/10 at 1:48pm
Try this and be prepared for a mess! Take an old yellow pages and put it on the ground opened. Sprinkle a little bit of organic catnip in between the pages (that aren't opened up) and stand back and watch the fun. Or buy a section of tissue paper (not dyed) and tear a section into smaller pieces wad them up and let the cat have his fun. Ping pong balls are a big hit here.
Reply
post #10 of 36
9/2/10 at 2:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by hissy View Post
Try this and be prepared for a mess! Take an old yellow pages and put it on the ground opened. Sprinkle a little bit of organic catnip in between the pages (that aren't opened up) and stand back and watch the fun. Or buy a section of tissue paper (not dyed) and tear a section into smaller pieces wad them up and let the cat have his fun. Ping pong balls are a big hit here.
I just recycled my old phone books earlier this week! But I'll find something similar and work with that. Don't mind the mess, it'll clean up!

We used to have what I called a wiffle ball that was a fav toy for about an hour until it got lost. I have searched and searched, and one day it resurfaced out of nowhere, then promptly got lost again! Amazing how things go into hiding
Reply
post #11 of 36
9/2/10 at 5:30pm
Under the stove or refrigerator is my best guess.
Reply
post #12 of 36
9/2/10 at 6:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by strange_wings View Post
Lots of cats love crinkly stuff. A safe way to provide this is with crinkle caves, tubes, balls, and there are even little pillow toys with a bit of plastic or mylar in them to make them crinkle.


Quote:
Originally Posted by blueyedgirl5946 View Post
Make a tent with an old newspaper. My cats love that.
Newspaper tents are very popular in this house. Tolly calls them his Portable Tents, he can go all through the apartment hidden under his Newspaper Tent.

Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens View Post
What happens is that I usually take one bag and then put all the others in the one, which forms a bag ball of bags, then I single knot the outer bag closed and put it on the stairs to take upstairs on my next trip up. Darko makes a dash for the "plastic bag ball" and off he goes, proudly exclaiming "look what I have", carrying it all around the house. Then he unties it and dives in, taking out all the other bags, but literally putting his head in it as it digs around to see what all in in there. Then he'll chew on the bags, roll around in them, lay on top of them, etc. I hate to deprive him of this fun, but need to make sure it's safe.

Opinions? Thanks!
I would never let any of my cats do this. There are plenty of other safer ways to have fun. A tragedy waiting to happen, in my opinion.

Try paper bag balls instead, but no handles. Cut them.
Reply
post #13 of 36
9/2/10 at 6:17pm
I don't do newspaper tents in this house. Sherman and Tanna don't play in them and will shred them into hundreds of little pieces before any other cat gets a chance to play. I actually try to discourage the paper shredding because both of them will eat it. At least Tanna vomits the paper bits back up, Sherman doesn't.
Reply
post #14 of 36
9/3/10 at 4:35pm
The best toy I had for my kitties was the box my TV came in. It took them a good 6 months to totally demolish it. They would hide in it, scratch it, bite it and pounce on it like it was some giant piece of prey.
Reply
post #15 of 36
9/3/10 at 4:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by zohdee View Post
The best toy I had for my kitties was the box my TV came in. It took them a good 6 months to totally demolish it. They would hide in it, scratch it, bite it and pounce on it like it was some giant piece of prey.
Box Forts are indispensable around here too. Like yours with the TV box, my cats had a Giant Box Fort from my washing machine. They loved it, but after about 7 months it started to get a bit...gamy...smelling so I had to remove it. It wasn't quite demolished, they probably could have got another few months out of it, but I couldn't stand the smell.
Reply
post #16 of 36
9/5/10 at 3:05pm
Ripley is obsessed with plastic and will eat it so plastic bags are always safely stored away!
Newspaper is popular with Newt. I buy a broadsheet on a Sunday and Sunday playtime always involves scratting the paper and all the supplements into a heap!
I bought a cat crinkle bag as plastic bags are so popular with Ripley. Of course she ignored it. Guess it wasn't anywhere as good as the real thing.....
Reply
post #17 of 36
9/5/10 at 3:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chinacat View Post
Ripley is obsessed with plastic and will eat it so plastic bags are always safely stored away!
Newspaper is popular with Newt. I buy a broadsheet on a Sunday and Sunday playtime always involves scratting the paper and all the supplements into a heap!
I bought a cat crinkle bag as plastic bags are so popular with Ripley. Of course she ignored it. Guess it wasn't anywhere as good as the real thing.....
That's a nice story. I can just picture it! I'm glad you keep the plastic bags away from Ripley. Have you tried a paper bag for her? My cats love paper bags. When I put one out, I leave it out until it gives up the ghost.

Tolly likes newspapers spread around too, but Mazy likes crackly brown packing paper. Sometimes I put out a big hunk for her and leave it until she has it completely demolished.

Sort of like this:

Reply
post #18 of 36
9/5/10 at 4:12pm
That is so funny! A scene of total devastation!
Reply
post #19 of 36
9/6/10 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post
Mazy likes crackly brown packing paper. Sometimes I put out a big hunk for her and leave it until she has it completely demolished.
Yes, yes, my boys like that too. Where do you get it? The only time I've had "big hunks" of it was when we had a new belt to our treadmill delivered. Otherwise, most packages that get delivered here have styrofoam packing, much to our dismay .
Reply
post #20 of 36
9/9/10 at 11:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens View Post
Not sure if this belongs under "behavior" or not, but if not Mods, please move where it belongs.

Darko absolutely loves to play with plastic grocery bags, but I'm kind of afraid to let him have them, because I'm paranoid that he might suffocate! I've seen others post that their cats love these things too, and am wondering if it's ok to let them have them. So far, nothing untoward has happened when I let him have them, but I watch him like a hawk, when disturbs him a little, so he quits playing.

What happens is that I usually take one bag and then put all the others in the one, which forms a bag ball of bags, then I single knot the outer bag closed and put it on the stairs to take upstairs on my next trip up. Darko makes a dash for the "plastic bag ball" and off he goes, proudly exclaiming "look what I have", carrying it all around the house. Then he unties it and dives in, taking out all the other bags, but literally putting his head in it as it digs around to see what all in in there. Then he'll chew on the bags, roll around in them, lay on top of them, etc. I hate to deprive him of this fun, but need to make sure it's safe.

Opinions? Thanks!
Like anything including PLASTIC cat toys which are routinely chewed to smithereens you have to keep an eye on it from time to time. Cats are not fragile stupid creatures.

All the cats I've had over all the years I have under my belt, all the chewing, no one has ever had a problem with plastic bags. Or paper bags. Or cloth bags. Or leather bags. Or cardboard banker boxes they have systematically chewed to scraps. Kitties chew everything, so you just have to watch them and not stress.

My theory is that its "owner's stress" is what actually makes them sick. They are so sensitive.
Reply
post #21 of 36
9/9/10 at 11:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrsgreenjeens View Post
Yes, yes, my boys like that too. Where do you get it? The only time I've had "big hunks" of it was when we had a new belt to our treadmill delivered. Otherwise, most packages that get delivered here have styrofoam packing, much to our dismay .
Usually from an office building I clean. When they get stuff in, they leave the boxes and brown packing paper for me to dispose of. I bring the paper home, and dole it out. Sometimes I keep a box too, if it has good Fort potential or good chewing potential.
Reply
post #22 of 36
9/9/10 at 12:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2furgirls View Post
Like anything including PLASTIC cat toys which are routinely chewed to smithereens you have to keep an eye on it from time to time. Cats are not fragile stupid creatures.

All the cats I've had over all the years I have under my belt, all the chewing, no one has ever had a problem with plastic bags. Or paper bags. Or cloth bags. Or leather bags. Or cardboard banker boxes they have systematically chewed to scraps. Kitties chew everything, so you just have to watch them and not stress.

My theory is that its "owner's stress" is what actually makes them sick. They are so sensitive.
Not worried about anything except PLASTIC bags! (Or jagged edges on other plastic stuff that could perforate intestines)
Reply
post #23 of 36
9/12/10 at 11:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post
Usually from an office building I clean. When they get stuff in, they leave the boxes and brown packing paper for me to dispose of. I bring the paper home, and dole it out. Sometimes I keep a box too, if it has good Fort potential or good chewing potential.
LOL, I envision you stepping in the door looking like some big, giant Santa Claus to your kitties.

I will have to try the paper bag idea. The more noise something makes, the better they like it.
Reply
post #24 of 36
9/13/10 at 6:42am
Billy LOVES plastic bags. We have to make sure we never leave any around. We kept corn in them on a low shelf, and he got up into the bag and was trying to play with the bag....he started to fall and got the bag stuck around his neck. I heard him struggling/cooing (cooing is his sign he needs something) so i ran in and got him free. Now we make sure we don't leave any bags with handles out that he, or any other cats can get into. They love paper bags, boxes, anything with bells....etc,
Reply
post #25 of 36
9/13/10 at 7:15am
We don't allow them to chew on or play with plastic bags. And we take our own bags to the grocery store and to PetSmart.

But every once in a while, I will request paper bags at the store. Why? Because it's so much fun to get the paper bag home and throw the open bag on the floor! They love playing with an open paper bag! And because it's not always available for them, it's truly a treat when there is a bag for them to play with.
Reply
post #26 of 36
9/14/10 at 5:25pm
My cats love them too. I have some cats who will sleep INSIDE plastic bags and one who likes to lick them. Because of this I have to empty all plastic bags as soon as they come in the house and put them away in a drawer. I don't let them play with it because it's too dangerous.
I also have to either cut or remove the handles on paper bags that come in, because they love to play in paper bags too and I've had cats get caught in the handles twice. Spot tried to go through one (he's a big cat) and got stuck, when I found him he was tangling it around his leg and neck as he twisted around trying to get loose. That's when I realized they were dangerous! Another time I brought home a paper bag from a pet store and the phone rang right when I got inside, so I put down the bag and went to answer it. Blaze apparently stuck his head through the handle to investigate while I was in the other room with the phone (there were cat toys inside.) He freaked out when he was stuck and tried to get away, but the paper bag was "chasing" him which scared him more so he started running through the house trying to get away from it...poor Blaze! Luckily I was there and able to "rescue" him from the scary bag.
Reply
post #27 of 36
9/14/10 at 5:44pm
Mulder has a plastic obsession too. It is a constant battle to keep him away from plastic things. Grocery bags, ziploc bags, any kind of wrapper, packaging tape, etc. I do not ALLOW them to play with any of these things but Mulder is an addict. He will steal them from the trash. He will chew on the trash bags if necessary. Its a full time position keeping it all away from him.
Reply
post #28 of 36
9/15/10 at 11:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by zohdee View Post
LOL, I envision you stepping in the door looking like some big, giant Santa Claus to your kitties.


Quote:
I will have to try the paper bag idea. The more noise something makes, the better they like it.
Paper bags are as good as the brown packing paper according to Tolly and Jennie. But Mazy just loves that brown paper.
Reply
post #29 of 36
9/16/10 at 9:15pm
My kitties love the plastic bags, too. Of course, the "safe" crinkle bags, tubes, and toys were all MAJOR fails at our place! But I agree that plastic is simply too dangerous, so the plastic bags go up immediately.
Reply
post #30 of 36
9/19/10 at 1:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by otto View Post




Paper bags are as good as the brown packing paper according to Tolly and Jennie. But Mazy just loves that brown paper.
Well, Baylen is sleeping inside the paper bag. She has claimed it as hers and hisses at the others when they come close.

Now I am going to have three bags and tons of scratched up boxes in my livingroom
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Behavior
TheCatSite.com › Forums › Our Feline Companions › Behavior › OK to play with plastic grocery bags?