Why is it safe?
Wool is not chemically toxic. The risk is behavioral: certain cats, particularly Siamese, Burmese, and related Oriental breeds, exhibit PICA, a compulsive behavior involving ingestion of non-food materials. Repeated wool ingestion can cause intestinal obstruction, but normal interaction (kneading, sleeping on wool) carries no risk.
Symptoms
Normal interaction: no symptoms. Compulsive ingestion: vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, abdominal pain, obstruction.
What To Do
Compulsive wool chewing warrants veterinary evaluation, it may indicate nutritional deficiency, anxiety, or neurological factors. Environmental enrichment, dietary fiber supplementation, and behavioral modification are commonly recommended.
Notes
PICA in cats is a recognized behavioral disorder. Other materials associated with feline PICA: cotton, rubber, plastic. Breeds predisposed: Siamese, Burmese, Tonkinese, and related hybrids. The behavior often begins in early adulthood and can escalate if not addressed.
Sources
→ International Cat Care — icatcare.org
→ Cornell Feline Health Center — vet.cornell.edu
→ Journal of Veterinary Behavior (PICA case studies)