How cute is this: a big, tough tom cat curled up on your favorite sweater. He kneads the soft material with his paws, and even sucks on the wool like a kitten.
My parent’s dog Becca has a similar behavior — she loves to chew on soft, knitted afghans. You can tell that she’s blissfully chomping away on a blanket because her teeth make little squeaky noises on the fabric.
Wool sucking, or whatever you want to call it, isn’t usually harmful for pets. It can be harmful to your clothes and belongings! A dog or cat’s sharp teeth can leave snags and holes in your clothes… not to mention slobber and hair. Believe me, a dog or cat can demolish a sweater or blanket at lightning speed.
Veterinarians suspect that wool sucking is more common in animals that were weaned too young. Adopting a pet that is at least ten weeks old can help avoid the problem, as weaning begins at around five weeks and the transition should be complete by ten weeks.
Removing temptation can help save your favorite clothes and possessions. Don’t leave your drawers open for your cat to climb in and start sucking away at your sweaters. Make sure that anything you want to keep safe and whole is put away in closed drawers or closets. Anything you leave out is fair game for your wool sucker or blanket gnawer. If you have plenty of toys and treats available, it may help keep your pets away from clothes, blankets, towels, and other things that are off-limits for chewing.
Wool sucking may be satisfying a need for more fiber in the diet. In general, crunchy food has more fiber than wet food. The act of crunching down on some kibbles may help satisfy the chewing urge. Your pet may also be interested in a crunchy piece of lettuce, apple slices, or baby carrots.
The only real danger in wool sucking is if loose strings get swallowed. They can cause intestinal problems that require a vet’s attention. Do not ever pull on a string that is coming out the other end; it may be wrapped around internal organs. Pulling can cause serious internal damage.