UPDATE at bottom.
Animals make such a difference in our lives! At least they have in mine. I barely remember a time when I haven't had a pet: from my first pooch, Susie, a cranky little "part" Chihuahua I begged my grandpa to buy me, to the two kittens (they're 3 now) I have. I've never had a purebred anything. All my four-legged pals have always been "any-ones guess" types.
Missy and Madi are sisters. Their mother was killed when they were a few weeks ago. They, and their two 
orange brothers, had to be bottle fed from there on out, until they could eat on their own. And these two girls are different as day and night.
Missy, the Calico, is independent (as most cats are), always causing mischief and makes it clear that IF she wants to be held, it WILL be HER idea. Madi, the "Torti" is sweet as sugar. She is good at opening drawers and cupboards, has scratched a few pieces of furniture and, unlike Missy, is willing to be held anytime, anywhere, anyway. She is a lover.
The other day Missy got into my sewing box. I had taken it out of my closet before heading to the office, looking for a safety pin. I DIDN'T put it back. When I came home, I found an empty spool of thread. EMPTY? I thought. There was a piece of green thread on the carpet, so I wondered if maybe the spool was near empty spool in the first place.
One and a half days later, Missy was NOT her typical self. She wasn't running around and scaling furniture, or starring at her water dish until I refilled it with FRESH water, or batting me with her paw through the slats on my Mission style recliner. NOPE, something was indeed wrong.
I called her vet, Dr. Becker, of Rim Forest Hospital and told the receptionist what I suspected and I was told to bring her in NOW.
...24 hours later she is resting (left pic) in a large crate at the vet hospital recovering from surgery. An x-ray showed her intestines were "bunched" up. NO wonder she wasn't running around like her fool self! The vet 
had REMOVED the thread (pic below) but, THANKFULLY, did not have to remove any intestine...just two holes in two different areas, in which she removed one small green thread and ONE BIG HUNK of green thread.
On my last visit to see Missy, Dr. Becker reminded me: PUT ALL STRING, THREAD AND YARN in a vault!
Yes, Ma'am!
Missy has eight lives left and I'll be extra careful that she keeps them ALL as long as possible.
PET PLACES, VETS, SHOPS AND MORE...in and around Lake Arrowhead.
UPDATE: Missy came home two days ago, still tired BUT loving being back here. Madi is still hissing at her, I guess because she isn't crazy about the vet smells on her sister... or she's just uphappy that she is no longer #1.
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Kat,
I found your post very interesting --- I, too,love animals. I have presently 3 lab puppies -- one is 6 months old and the other 2 or 2 months old.
Liz Loadholt
AgentOwned Realty
Kat, So glad to hear that Missy is going to be alright. What a scare for you though! I hate hearing stories like yours - they are so frightening! Take good care of her - I know you will!
I wonder if this cat used one of its lives to get a drink.
Liz: We're waiting for the right time to bring a pooch into the family....maybe next spring. I MISS having a dog. I LOVE all pets, though. Thanks for stopping by.
SANDY.... Oh I will. I told her vet I was taking this pic' to remind her later is she decides to sew again...
Brad and Angela: LOL.... Missy actually gets UP on the top of the shower door ledge.... like that cat.
I love all animals but I'm partial to my two Jack Russell Terriers. I have five 'grandcats' and one of them had a very similar experience with the string and yarn. I'm glad yours is OK and that you learned a lesson. I think our pets are the best example we have of unconditional love.
Good luck and God Bless you.
Kat - I am so glad that your cat is going to be ok. There is nothing worse when our animals get into stuff. When my dog Patrick was a puppy, he ate a bag of Christmas ornaments (Christmas tree hooks and all). Fortunately, he did not need surgery and "passed them". He doesn't eat stuff like that now . . . because he is older now!!!
Marian: Isn't it true (the unconditional love) about our pets! Oh, I've learned a lesson, for sure. Even though I NEVER leave out my sewing box, the ONE time I do and look what happens? Thanks for your kind words.
Sharon: Christmas ornaments??? My gosh! That dog has an iron tummy!
Kitties do have a habit of finding ways to get themselves into trouble. My two rescues are now 11 and 14 so they don't get into to much trouble anymore. Give them a little sniff of catnip and they do get up and do the happy dance before curling up in the sun.
Kat,
Cindy: Oh yeah, the catnip really gets their blood flowing. My daughter-in-law brought some toys over recently--with catnip in them--and my already crazy cats, wents nuts! LOL
Oh dear, the things we do for our loved ones, I bet that cost a pretty penny...
But worth every bit
Kelly... Oh, yeah, I bet the BILL would buy me a lot of thread!!! Man, we really do go through a lot for our pets--but they are so darn loving and loyal, what else can we do? Hey, I like your signature!!!
Kat - I'm glad Missy is on the mend! She really is a beautiful calico cat!
Myrl: Thank you so much!!! I'm hoping she gets to come home tomorrow.
Glad to hear the little baby is ok...those crazy cats...I just had one of mine in for head surgery because his brother scratched him...I think that cats are amazing...and I only wish I could recover as quickly as they do...I might jump motorscycles or something...if only I knew I could heal like the cats.
Midori: LOL about jumping motorcycles. Yes, cat's do recover quickly. I tell you, this has been one nutty event. AND expensive. I now call that spool of thread, my $900 spool! Ouch!