Question:
I was always curious about why my Lucy likes to lick the insides of plastic grocery bags. I read somewhere that there’s something coming from the plastic that tastes a little like fish oil. Glad your kitty’s ok! Rosemary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >he had gotten entangled in a small >shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space >for his head to fit through.
Response:
<< Mine too. Sugar nearly broke her neck running around the apartment in a total blind panic. I barely got her. She was a mess. NO MORE BAGS. Karen >> And mine, too. My Scottie got his head caught in one a few years ago and went tearing around the house slamming into things and peeing on himself. Finally he went under the bed and we were able to get him after he calmed down a little and get it off him. Now everytime we bring groceries in, he hides under the bed for about an hour until the evil bags are gone. Candace (take the litter out before replying by e-mail) See my cats: http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace
Response:
>That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of >my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally >freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around.
Sebbie got his head through a grocery plastic bag handle once, and he just about hit light speed trying to get away from the nasty plastic monster that just kept chasing him. I positioned myself on the stairs and grabbed as he went by. The bag tore off his neck, and a newly nude Sebbie tore down to the basement. It took him a while to recover and come back up. Previous to that, one of my former cats got something (don’t remember what) stuck to his tail with sticky tape and took off in a frenzied unwinnable escape dash. I had to grab and hold the struggling cat while I freed whatever it was from his tail. The thing is, I’m usually struggling myself with barely controllable laughter when I’m liberating the poor cusses. Priscilla — "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." – Albert Einstein
Response:
I thought only my cat was stupid enough to get himself caught in the handle of a large shopping bag. I brought home a huge plastic bag from Ikea and actually put it on the floor for the three cats to play with while I sat on the couch and supervised – I figured they’d be safe with me sitting right there watching them. So my 18lbs male sticks his head in the handle and proceeds to fly around the apartment faster than I’ve ever seen a cat move. He must have made 8 or so laps before he jumped for the couch and crashed into the end table. He was so scared he peed in the bag. My boyfriend went to remove the bag and my sweet little gentle 8lbs female kitty attacked him! We had blood all over the place. I guess she figured she was trying to save him. No more plastic bags for my kitties, even with supervision.
Response:
It never even occurred to me that this could happen. He has never gotten entangled in anything before. It will certainly never happen again. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Sometime >later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head >butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I >turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small >shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space >for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg >through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked >himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me >awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his >neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out >of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle >like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. > Smart cat — and lucky, too. This may be a good time to make a > suggestion to the group: my sister suggested several years ago that > everyone should cut the handles of these bags, even if they are to be > tossed in the trash. That way, our cats are protected and so is > wildlife. I have a friends who likes to use the large-size bags with > handles for her grandchildren at Christmas (she decorates the bags). > So, if they are the type of bags that I save for her, I hang them in the > closet looped around a clothes hanger. That way, Holly can’t reach > them. If I am going to throw them away, I follow my sister’s advice and > cut the handles first. > MaryL
Response:
Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation.
Smart cat — and lucky, too. This may be a good time to make a suggestion to the group: my sister suggested several years ago that everyone should cut the handles of these bags, even if they are to be tossed in the trash. That way, our cats are protected and so is wildlife. I have a friends who likes to use the large-size bags with handles for her grandchildren at Christmas (she decorates the bags). So, if they are the type of bags that I save for her, I hang them in the closet looped around a clothes hanger. That way, Holly can’t reach them. If I am going to throw them away, I follow my sister’s advice and cut the handles first. MaryL
Response:
I destroy everything I throw away. Cut plastic bag handles like you and also tear apart the bag. This is especially important for smaller bags like bread bags, cereal/ cracker-cookie box liners, etc. Also make sure I tear apart or spit open the empty boxes too and squeeze together the tops of all cans. I will never forget when a friend came home to find her 8 mth old puppy dead with his head stuck inside of a cereal box that he had pulled out of the kitchen garbage. According to his Vet that was not all that uncommon a type of accident. So sad…. 
I didn’t get the stats for cats but I’d bet this could be a danger for them too perhaps. Another freak accident I know of ( a little off topic but was another bummer…) is one of my co-worker’s cat got into a pan of brownies that were cooling off. She had ‘em up *high* on top of the microwave too ( not that that makes it access any more difficult imo but I understand her logic). Ate enough to kill him and it was a miserable drawn-out death, the Vet could not save him Glad Rocky is ok 
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Smart cat — and lucky, too. This may be a good time to make a > suggestion to the group: my sister suggested several years ago that > everyone should cut the handles of these bags, even if they are to be > tossed in the trash. That way, our cats are protected and so is > wildlife. I have a friends who likes to use the large-size bags with > handles for her grandchildren at Christmas (she decorates the bags). > So, if they are the type of bags that I save for her, I hang them in the > closet looped around a clothes hanger. That way, Holly can’t reach > them. If I am going to throw them away, I follow my sister’s advice and > cut the handles first. > MaryL > Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation.
Response:
> I destroy everything I throw away.
Yes, and let’s add one other item to destroy while we’re on the subject of safety … always cut the little plastic circles that are used to hold soft drinks and other liquids together. That is, cut through each one. Ducks and small wildlife sometimes become entangled in them. MaryL
Response:
>That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of >my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally >freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around.
Same thing happened to us with one of our cats–and if it had happened at night, I’m not sure she would have had the presence of mind to come to us for help. We still keep shopping bags around because she likes to play in them, but we just snip the handles so she can’t get stuck.
Response:
I buy small furry "mice" at the pet store. Before I give them to Tiger, I cut off the tails and remove the eyes (plastic on a small pin). Tiger doesn’t know the difference. -MIKE
Response:
> That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of > my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally > freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around. > Cathy > — > "Staccato signals of constant information…" > ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon
Mine too. Sugar nearly broke her neck running around the apartment in a total blind panic. I barely got her. She was a mess. NO MORE BAGS. Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have always thought that my 12 year old Rocky, is a smart cat, but he > proved it last night. At about 3 am, I was awakened by a crash in my > bedroom. I knew it was Rocky, racing around the house raising hell in > the middle of the night like he always does. I thought briefly that I > would have to clean up another mess, and went back to sleep. Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. I was > impressed that he was able to reason well enough to know that he had to > get me awake, and was calm enough to understand that he had to stay > still and wait for me to help him. No more shopping bags with handles > in my house.
Response:
That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around. Cathy — "Staccato signals of constant information…" ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have always thought that my 12 year old Rocky, is a smart cat, but he > proved it last night. At about 3 am, I was awakened by a crash in my > bedroom. I knew it was Rocky, racing around the house raising hell in > the middle of the night like he always does. I thought briefly that I > would have to clean up another mess, and went back to sleep. Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. I was > impressed that he was able to reason well enough to know that he had to > get me awake, and was calm enough to understand that he had to stay > still and wait for me to help him. No more shopping bags with handles > in my house.
Response:
I have always thought that my 12 year old Rocky, is a smart cat, but he proved it last night. At about 3 am, I was awakened by a crash in my bedroom. I knew it was Rocky, racing around the house raising hell in the middle of the night like he always does. I thought briefly that I would have to clean up another mess, and went back to sleep. Sometime later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. I was impressed that he was able to reason well enough to know that he had to get me awake, and was calm enough to understand that he had to stay still and wait for me to help him. No more shopping bags with handles in my house.
Response:
I was always curious about why my Lucy likes to lick the insides of plastic grocery bags. I read somewhere that there’s something coming from the plastic that tastes a little like fish oil. Glad your kitty’s ok! Rosemary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >he had gotten entangled in a small >shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space >for his head to fit through.
Response:
<< Mine too. Sugar nearly broke her neck running around the apartment in a total blind panic. I barely got her. She was a mess. NO MORE BAGS. Karen >> And mine, too. My Scottie got his head caught in one a few years ago and went tearing around the house slamming into things and peeing on himself. Finally he went under the bed and we were able to get him after he calmed down a little and get it off him. Now everytime we bring groceries in, he hides under the bed for about an hour until the evil bags are gone. Candace (take the litter out before replying by e-mail) See my cats: http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace
Response:
>That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of >my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally >freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around.
Sebbie got his head through a grocery plastic bag handle once, and he just about hit light speed trying to get away from the nasty plastic monster that just kept chasing him. I positioned myself on the stairs and grabbed as he went by. The bag tore off his neck, and a newly nude Sebbie tore down to the basement. It took him a while to recover and come back up. Previous to that, one of my former cats got something (don’t remember what) stuck to his tail with sticky tape and took off in a frenzied unwinnable escape dash. I had to grab and hold the struggling cat while I freed whatever it was from his tail. The thing is, I’m usually struggling myself with barely controllable laughter when I’m liberating the poor cusses. Priscilla — "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." – Albert Einstein
Response:
I thought only my cat was stupid enough to get himself caught in the handle of a large shopping bag. I brought home a huge plastic bag from Ikea and actually put it on the floor for the three cats to play with while I sat on the couch and supervised – I figured they’d be safe with me sitting right there watching them. So my 18lbs male sticks his head in the handle and proceeds to fly around the apartment faster than I’ve ever seen a cat move. He must have made 8 or so laps before he jumped for the couch and crashed into the end table. He was so scared he peed in the bag. My boyfriend went to remove the bag and my sweet little gentle 8lbs female kitty attacked him! We had blood all over the place. I guess she figured she was trying to save him. No more plastic bags for my kitties, even with supervision.
Response:
It never even occurred to me that this could happen. He has never gotten entangled in anything before. It will certainly never happen again. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Sometime >later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head >butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I >turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small >shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space >for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg >through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked >himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me >awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his >neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out >of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle >like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. > Smart cat — and lucky, too. This may be a good time to make a > suggestion to the group: my sister suggested several years ago that > everyone should cut the handles of these bags, even if they are to be > tossed in the trash. That way, our cats are protected and so is > wildlife. I have a friends who likes to use the large-size bags with > handles for her grandchildren at Christmas (she decorates the bags). > So, if they are the type of bags that I save for her, I hang them in the > closet looped around a clothes hanger. That way, Holly can’t reach > them. If I am going to throw them away, I follow my sister’s advice and > cut the handles first. > MaryL
Response:
Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation.
Smart cat — and lucky, too. This may be a good time to make a suggestion to the group: my sister suggested several years ago that everyone should cut the handles of these bags, even if they are to be tossed in the trash. That way, our cats are protected and so is wildlife. I have a friends who likes to use the large-size bags with handles for her grandchildren at Christmas (she decorates the bags). So, if they are the type of bags that I save for her, I hang them in the closet looped around a clothes hanger. That way, Holly can’t reach them. If I am going to throw them away, I follow my sister’s advice and cut the handles first. MaryL
Response:
I destroy everything I throw away. Cut plastic bag handles like you and also tear apart the bag. This is especially important for smaller bags like bread bags, cereal/ cracker-cookie box liners, etc. Also make sure I tear apart or spit open the empty boxes too and squeeze together the tops of all cans. I will never forget when a friend came home to find her 8 mth old puppy dead with his head stuck inside of a cereal box that he had pulled out of the kitchen garbage. According to his Vet that was not all that uncommon a type of accident. So sad…. I didn’t get the stats for cats but I’d bet this could be a danger for them too perhaps. Another freak accident I know of ( a little off topic but was another bummer…) is one of my co-worker’s cat got into a pan of brownies that were cooling off. She had ‘em up *high* on top of the microwave too ( not that that makes it access any more difficult imo but I understand her logic). Ate enough to kill him and it was a miserable drawn-out death, the Vet could not save him Glad Rocky is ok
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Smart cat — and lucky, too. This may be a good time to make a > suggestion to the group: my sister suggested several years ago that > everyone should cut the handles of these bags, even if they are to be > tossed in the trash. That way, our cats are protected and so is > wildlife. I have a friends who likes to use the large-size bags with > handles for her grandchildren at Christmas (she decorates the bags). > So, if they are the type of bags that I save for her, I hang them in the > closet looped around a clothes hanger. That way, Holly can’t reach > them. If I am going to throw them away, I follow my sister’s advice and > cut the handles first. > MaryL > Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation.
Response:
> I destroy everything I throw away.
Yes, and let’s add one other item to destroy while we’re on the subject of safety … always cut the little plastic circles that are used to hold soft drinks and other liquids together. That is, cut through each one. Ducks and small wildlife sometimes become entangled in them. MaryL
Response:
>That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of >my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally >freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around.
Same thing happened to us with one of our cats–and if it had happened at night, I’m not sure she would have had the presence of mind to come to us for help. We still keep shopping bags around because she likes to play in them, but we just snip the handles so she can’t get stuck.
Response:
I buy small furry "mice" at the pet store. Before I give them to Tiger, I cut off the tails and remove the eyes (plastic on a small pin). Tiger doesn’t know the difference. -MIKE
Response:
> That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of > my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally > freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around. > Cathy > — > "Staccato signals of constant information…" > ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon
Mine too. Sugar nearly broke her neck running around the apartment in a total blind panic. I barely got her. She was a mess. NO MORE BAGS. Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have always thought that my 12 year old Rocky, is a smart cat, but he > proved it last night. At about 3 am, I was awakened by a crash in my > bedroom. I knew it was Rocky, racing around the house raising hell in > the middle of the night like he always does. I thought briefly that I > would have to clean up another mess, and went back to sleep. Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. I was > impressed that he was able to reason well enough to know that he had to > get me awake, and was calm enough to understand that he had to stay > still and wait for me to help him. No more shopping bags with handles > in my house.
Response:
That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around. Cathy — "Staccato signals of constant information…" ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have always thought that my 12 year old Rocky, is a smart cat, but he > proved it last night. At about 3 am, I was awakened by a crash in my > bedroom. I knew it was Rocky, racing around the house raising hell in > the middle of the night like he always does. I thought briefly that I > would have to clean up another mess, and went back to sleep. Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. I was > impressed that he was able to reason well enough to know that he had to > get me awake, and was calm enough to understand that he had to stay > still and wait for me to help him. No more shopping bags with handles > in my house.
Response:
I have always thought that my 12 year old Rocky, is a smart cat, but he proved it last night. At about 3 am, I was awakened by a crash in my bedroom. I knew it was Rocky, racing around the house raising hell in the middle of the night like he always does. I thought briefly that I would have to clean up another mess, and went back to sleep. Sometime later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. I was impressed that he was able to reason well enough to know that he had to get me awake, and was calm enough to understand that he had to stay still and wait for me to help him. No more shopping bags with handles in my house.
Response:
I was always curious about why my Lucy likes to lick the insides of plastic grocery bags. I read somewhere that there’s something coming from the plastic that tastes a little like fish oil. Glad your kitty’s ok! Rosemary – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >he had gotten entangled in a small >shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space >for his head to fit through.
Response:
<< Mine too. Sugar nearly broke her neck running around the apartment in a total blind panic. I barely got her. She was a mess. NO MORE BAGS. Karen >> And mine, too. My Scottie got his head caught in one a few years ago and went tearing around the house slamming into things and peeing on himself. Finally he went under the bed and we were able to get him after he calmed down a little and get it off him. Now everytime we bring groceries in, he hides under the bed for about an hour until the evil bags are gone. Candace (take the litter out before replying by e-mail) See my cats: http://photos.yahoo.com/maccandace
Response:
>That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of >my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally >freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around.
Sebbie got his head through a grocery plastic bag handle once, and he just about hit light speed trying to get away from the nasty plastic monster that just kept chasing him. I positioned myself on the stairs and grabbed as he went by. The bag tore off his neck, and a newly nude Sebbie tore down to the basement. It took him a while to recover and come back up. Previous to that, one of my former cats got something (don’t remember what) stuck to his tail with sticky tape and took off in a frenzied unwinnable escape dash. I had to grab and hold the struggling cat while I freed whatever it was from his tail. The thing is, I’m usually struggling myself with barely controllable laughter when I’m liberating the poor cusses. Priscilla — "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new." – Albert Einstein
Response:
I thought only my cat was stupid enough to get himself caught in the handle of a large shopping bag. I brought home a huge plastic bag from Ikea and actually put it on the floor for the three cats to play with while I sat on the couch and supervised – I figured they’d be safe with me sitting right there watching them. So my 18lbs male sticks his head in the handle and proceeds to fly around the apartment faster than I’ve ever seen a cat move. He must have made 8 or so laps before he jumped for the couch and crashed into the end table. He was so scared he peed in the bag. My boyfriend went to remove the bag and my sweet little gentle 8lbs female kitty attacked him! We had blood all over the place. I guess she figured she was trying to save him. No more plastic bags for my kitties, even with supervision.
Response:
It never even occurred to me that this could happen. He has never gotten entangled in anything before. It will certainly never happen again. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Sometime >later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head >butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I >turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small >shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space >for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg >through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked >himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me >awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his >neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out >of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle >like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. > Smart cat — and lucky, too. This may be a good time to make a > suggestion to the group: my sister suggested several years ago that > everyone should cut the handles of these bags, even if they are to be > tossed in the trash. That way, our cats are protected and so is > wildlife. I have a friends who likes to use the large-size bags with > handles for her grandchildren at Christmas (she decorates the bags). > So, if they are the type of bags that I save for her, I hang them in the > closet looped around a clothes hanger. That way, Holly can’t reach > them. If I am going to throw them away, I follow my sister’s advice and > cut the handles first. > MaryL
Response:
Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation.
Smart cat — and lucky, too. This may be a good time to make a suggestion to the group: my sister suggested several years ago that everyone should cut the handles of these bags, even if they are to be tossed in the trash. That way, our cats are protected and so is wildlife. I have a friends who likes to use the large-size bags with handles for her grandchildren at Christmas (she decorates the bags). So, if they are the type of bags that I save for her, I hang them in the closet looped around a clothes hanger. That way, Holly can’t reach them. If I am going to throw them away, I follow my sister’s advice and cut the handles first. MaryL
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I destroy everything I throw away. Cut plastic bag handles like you and also tear apart the bag. This is especially important for smaller bags like bread bags, cereal/ cracker-cookie box liners, etc. Also make sure I tear apart or spit open the empty boxes too and squeeze together the tops of all cans. I will never forget when a friend came home to find her 8 mth old puppy dead with his head stuck inside of a cereal box that he had pulled out of the kitchen garbage. According to his Vet that was not all that uncommon a type of accident. So sad…. I didn’t get the stats for cats but I’d bet this could be a danger for them too perhaps. Another freak accident I know of ( a little off topic but was another bummer…) is one of my co-worker’s cat got into a pan of brownies that were cooling off. She had ‘em up *high* on top of the microwave too ( not that that makes it access any more difficult imo but I understand her logic). Ate enough to kill him and it was a miserable drawn-out death, the Vet could not save him Glad Rocky is ok
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Smart cat — and lucky, too. This may be a good time to make a > suggestion to the group: my sister suggested several years ago that > everyone should cut the handles of these bags, even if they are to be > tossed in the trash. That way, our cats are protected and so is > wildlife. I have a friends who likes to use the large-size bags with > handles for her grandchildren at Christmas (she decorates the bags). > So, if they are the type of bags that I save for her, I hang them in the > closet looped around a clothes hanger. That way, Holly can’t reach > them. If I am going to throw them away, I follow my sister’s advice and > cut the handles first. > MaryL > Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation.
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> I destroy everything I throw away.
Yes, and let’s add one other item to destroy while we’re on the subject of safety … always cut the little plastic circles that are used to hold soft drinks and other liquids together. That is, cut through each one. Ducks and small wildlife sometimes become entangled in them. MaryL
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>That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of >my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally >freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around.
Same thing happened to us with one of our cats–and if it had happened at night, I’m not sure she would have had the presence of mind to come to us for help. We still keep shopping bags around because she likes to play in them, but we just snip the handles so she can’t get stuck.
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I buy small furry "mice" at the pet store. Before I give them to Tiger, I cut off the tails and remove the eyes (plastic on a small pin). Tiger doesn’t know the difference. -MIKE
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> That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of > my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally > freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around. > Cathy > — > "Staccato signals of constant information…" > ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon
Mine too. Sugar nearly broke her neck running around the apartment in a total blind panic. I barely got her. She was a mess. NO MORE BAGS. Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have always thought that my 12 year old Rocky, is a smart cat, but he > proved it last night. At about 3 am, I was awakened by a crash in my > bedroom. I knew it was Rocky, racing around the house raising hell in > the middle of the night like he always does. I thought briefly that I > would have to clean up another mess, and went back to sleep. Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. I was > impressed that he was able to reason well enough to know that he had to > get me awake, and was calm enough to understand that he had to stay > still and wait for me to help him. No more shopping bags with handles > in my house.
Response:
That *was* smart of him, & I’m also amazed he was so calm about it. One of my cats got her head stuck in a grocery bag’s handle years ago & it totally freaked her out. Since then, I’ve never left handled shopping bags around. Cathy — "Staccato signals of constant information…" ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have always thought that my 12 year old Rocky, is a smart cat, but he > proved it last night. At about 3 am, I was awakened by a crash in my > bedroom. I knew it was Rocky, racing around the house raising hell in > the middle of the night like he always does. I thought briefly that I > would have to clean up another mess, and went back to sleep. Sometime > later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head > butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I > turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small > shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space > for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg > through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked > himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me > awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his > neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out > of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle > like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. I was > impressed that he was able to reason well enough to know that he had to > get me awake, and was calm enough to understand that he had to stay > still and wait for me to help him. No more shopping bags with handles > in my house.
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I have always thought that my 12 year old Rocky, is a smart cat, but he proved it last night. At about 3 am, I was awakened by a crash in my bedroom. I knew it was Rocky, racing around the house raising hell in the middle of the night like he always does. I thought briefly that I would have to clean up another mess, and went back to sleep. Sometime later, Rocky awakened me out of a sound sleep with some fierce head butts. I opened my eyes and saw him crouched right next to me. When I turned on the light, I saw that he had gotten entangled in a small shopping bag. It had thick plastic handles that left just enough space for his head to fit through. He had gotten his head and his right leg through one of the loops, and everytime he put his leg down, he choked himself. He had the presence of mind to get in the bed and head butt me awake for help. I could not tear the plastic handle from around his neck because it was too thick. I had to go get a knife and cut him out of his predicament. He lay there quietly and did not panic or struggle like I would expect any animal to do in the same situation. I was impressed that he was able to reason well enough to know that he had to get me awake, and was calm enough to understand that he had to stay still and wait for me to help him. No more shopping bags with handles in my house.
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Best Mike N 
))) UM MOM Susan 
> Ok so its tea. I thought it was a spice of some sort! And I am not joking! > UM MOM Susan > > We call them black currants!!! And, LOL, I have some black current tea > bags > > right in the kitchen so I will go have a cup for Susan! > > Rebecca 