Why is it safe?
Cotton fabric is not toxic. The risk is purely physical: some cats with PICA chew and swallow cotton fabric, and cotton string or thread is particularly dangerous due to the risk of linear foreign body obstruction, one of the most serious ingestion emergencies in cats.
Affected Systems
Digestive
Symptoms
Normal fabric contact: no symptoms. Ingestion of string or thread: vomiting after meals, anorexia, abdominal pain, lethargy, signs of peritonitis if intestinal perforation occurs.
What To Do
Cotton thread, string, or rope ingestion: emergency vet. Do NOT pull on any string visible from the mouth or anus, this can cause severe intestinal damage. Normal fabric interaction: monitor only.
Notes
Linear foreign bodies (thread, string, yarn, tinsel, ribbon) are among the most dangerous ingestion hazards for cats. The intestine bunches around the string like a gathered curtain (intestinal plication), causing necrosis and perforation. This applies to cotton string, yarn, sewing thread, and similar items.
Sources
→ VCA Animal Hospitals (linear foreign body guidelines) — vcahospitals.com
→ Cornell Feline Health Center — vet.cornell.edu