If you’re a cat lover, you know how much your feline friend loves thread, yarn — any string-like material that can be dragged, chewed or swatted.

But these so-called linear foreign bodies are dangerous if swallowed. The thread loops around a cat’s tongue as its free ends pass through the digestive tract — that is, until the anchored line runs out. At that point, digestive contractions against the taut string cause the intestines to bunch up like a drawstring pouch. The string can even start cutting into delicate tissues.

Affected kitties are lethargic, stop eating and start vomiting. The treatment is surgery to remove the string and repair the damaged tissues followed by a hospital stay until your kitty is back on her feet.

So a word of advice … don’t leave your cat’s health hanging by a thread.