Why Do Cats Like String So Much? Unraveling The Secrets!
It’s a scenario familiar to so many of us cat owners. Your kitty is creeping slowly and stealthily along, locked in and focused, eyes wide and pupils dilated, stalking with intensity behind a piece of string, then suddenly pouncing on it as if it were the most dangerous of prey.
Ever wondered why your feline friend takes such delight in the humble length of string? What could it possibly be about a seemingly simple piece of twine that makes it so appealing?
The answer may lie in the science of cat behavior and what makes our cats tick. Let’s take a closer look.
#1. Cats like string because it moves like prey
Cats are predators at heart and are renowned for their hunting prowess, a skill that has been crucial to their survival over the centuries (Cecchetti et al., 2020).
The domestic cat of today retains many of the instincts of his wild ancestors, so it’s hardly surprising that string can be such a source of fascination.
String provides an opportunity for your kitty to stalk and pounce. It’s hardwired behavior for him.
Hardwired hunting instincts
Like any other predator, cats have a strong instinct to hunt and share the same basic predatory chain of behavior, which is:
Track – Orient – Eye/Stalk – Chase – Grab – Bite – Kill – Dissect – Eat
Some animals, such as wolves, are known – in general – to exhibit the full sequence of behaviors.
Pet dogs, meanwhile, have been selectively bred to present a more exaggerated version of some of the behaviors in the chain (e.g. grabbing aka retrieving) but omitting others altogether (e.g. killing, dissecting, and eating) (Westlund, 2021).
Domestic cats, on the other hand, have not undergone the same kind of selective breeding as their domestic dog counterparts, so the motor pattern remains intact and they have retained the full chain of predatory behavior.
But he’s not even hungry!
As they have evolved, cats have adapted their hunting behavior to maximize their chances of survival.
As a result, they have become opportunistic hunters, changing their activity patterns depending on food availability. In other words, cats can’t afford to wait till they’re hungry before they go hunting in case nothing is around at the time, putting them at risk of starvation (International Cat Care, 2019).
This means even when they don’t feel hungry, cats will engage in predatory behavior in pursuit of food due to the effort involved in finding and catching prey and the potential lack of availability.
So even if your cat has just consumed a huge dish of yummy cat food, don’t be surprised if you see him stalking through the brush five minutes later. He may be full up – but he still has that instinct to go hunting.
Why do some cats hunt more than others?
A cat’s hunting behavior is shaped by several factors, including the availability of prey, the cat’s level of domestication, his early life history experiences, and individual personality traits.
I’ve always found that some cats will just enjoy the chase then give up. Others will just ‘grab’ and then let go, while others will go all in for the ‘kill.’ Some will even go the whole way and ‘dissect’ and ‘consume’ too.
Back in the day, our family cat Moonbeam used to regularly bring home mice she’d caught and killed, then sit on the patio while she dissected and consumed them.
Funnily enough, she’d always leave the gallbladder. Apparently, some cats do this because the gallbladder doesn’t taste very nice. While the rest of the poor little mouse is absolutely yummy, it would seem!
But string isn’t prey
While a piece of string is obviously not prey, cats still have the instinct to act out the predatory sequence if they see something that moves in the same way as potential prey.
And as our pet cats don’t typically get to hunt for real meals so often in our homes, playing with string gives them the chance to act out the same behavior chain – a kind of pretend hunting if you will – and practice their hunting skills.
By giving your cat a length of string to pursue, you’re effectively meeting his instinctual urge to hunt and stalk something and then letting him “catch” it by pouncing on the end of the string.
What could be more satisfying for him?!
#2. Cats like string because they are drawn to movement
Cats have an impressive range of vision and can see much better in the dark than we can. Their peripheral range is wider too.
Because cats have evolved as both predator and prey, the way their eyes are structured makes them perfect for hunting and seeking out potential danger, allowing them to recognize the slightest signs of movement from a significant distance with extraordinary precision.
This sensitivity to movement is another reason our feline friends are so attracted to “toys” like a ball of yarn, a laser pointer, a wand toy with feathers at the end – or any other object that moves erratically – in addition to those famous pieces of string.
And they’re not too fussy either. In my experience, cats get just as much satisfaction from chasing a piece of string along the ground, pouncing on it if you pull it along under a rug, or jumping at it if you wave it about just above the ground.
But I’ll talk more about play styles later.
#3. Cats like string because playing makes them feel good
Play is an essential part of a cat’s behavioral repertoire and has multiple benefits.
Certainly, playing with a piece of string is far more than just a frivolous game for your pet cat.
To start with, play can have far-reaching implications on a cat’s overall lifestyle – from building relationships and forming positive associations with specific locations, to developing social intelligence and building confidence.
Play is also highly beneficial when it comes to well-being.
Research suggests that regular engagement in playful activities helps protect animals (and people!) against stress while boosting brain development (Westlund, 2021).
And that’s not all – given what we know about how important care is during the early life stages, play may even help kittens recover if they don’t receive sufficient nurturing in the early stages of life.
Last but not least – when your cat plays with a piece of string, it releases endorphins, making him feel happy and content.
So when cats initiate play behavior, it increases levels of dopamine and opioids in the brain, making it a pleasant emotional state to be in.
Fearful cats
If your cat is fearful, play can help to alleviate those negative feelings.
How? Because it can make him feel more in control of his environment and empowered to make his own decisions.
Even if you have a scaredy cat who watches the piece of string at a distance from his safe perch, your cat’s predatory instincts are still being engaged.
You’ll probably see him in a heightened state of awareness, muscles taut and ready to spring into action, with pupils dilated to enable him to see better and track the movement more efficiently.
This will still give him a dopamine surge and make him feel pretty good – as well as less fearful. It’s a win-win.
It’s been found that play-deprived animals are often more irritable, aggressive, or, indeed, fearful.
The power of play cannot be underestimated.
Interactive play
Natural hunters such as cats often show a desire for object play so, ideally, when you play with your cat, your games will be interactive.
For example, you’ll be maneuvering the cat toy to mimic the way a prey animal (e.g. a mouse, snake, or bird) would move.
Think about which style of play your cat prefers. For sure he’ll have his own individual preferences.
When you pull a piece of string along the ground for your cat to stalk and chase, he’ll most likely be in “seeking”* mode.
What does this mean? Cats, as with other animals, will act on their instinct to find and acquire something they want.
This instinct is known in psychological terms as “seeking” and refers to an individual animal’s urge to learn about his environment.
And it’s more than just chasing string.
Cats, like all animals, have a strong propensity for seeking behavior. This helps them investigate their habitat and anticipate resources or danger, both crucial for survival.
Seeking behavior also plays a huge role in how animals explore their world, forage and search for food, and map their territory.
“If you ask a human who is getting his SEEKING system activated, he’ll mention feeling expectant, as if on the border of some great discovery,” says Dr. Westlund.
The “seeking” response is driven by dopamine, which acts as its primary neurotransmitter.
As we saw earlier, a surge of dopamine can make your cat feel on top of the world.
#4. Cats like string because it provides physical and mental stimulation
Chasing a simple length of string can present your cat with an exciting challenge because he has to work out his strategy for trying to “catch” it.
Not to mention, all that running and jumping gives him a great physical workout and tests his agility.
All this carries with it the excitement of the hunt, igniting your cat’s curiosity and bringing out his inner predator.
Imagine his anticipation -will he catch it or won’t he? How? When? Imagine his satisfaction when he makes that final pounce!
Predatory sequence
Which brings me to an important point. Remember the predatory sequence?
Let your cat catch the string every now and again so he can continue the “grab/bite/kill” part of the motor sequence and not be forever stuck at the “chase” part.
If he can’t complete the sequence, he’ll start to feel frustrated and all those positive feelings will be dispelled.
It’s the same concept if you use laser toys. Make sure you allow your cat to “catch” something (e.g. a toy furry mouse) so he can complete the behavior chain and doesn’t end up feeling frustrated.
#5. Cats like string because it stimulates their senses
Chasing a piece of string can stimulate a cat’s other senses too.
I’ve already mentioned the importance of the cat’s sharp eyesight when hunting, but a lot of cats will also get a kick out of the sound of a piece of string swishing around – just as they might hear their prey rustling through the brush.
There’s also that tactile sensation when they finally pounce on the string, grabbing at it with their sharp claws.
Cats often like a rope or sisal-type texture or any other string-like material for their scratch posts and string has that same feel.
Is it safe to let my cat play with string?
It’s important to be mindful of the potential dangers associated with string as it can cause serious damage if not used properly.
To start with, your cat should always be supervised when playing with string in case he tries to consume it.
There’s the risk that it could become stuck in your cat’s mouth or throat, causing him to choke. It could also get wrapped around the base of the tongue, causing blood flow problems.
According to PetMD, ingestion of any type of yarn, string or ribbon can prove to be extremely hazardous – and even life-threatening – because it can get wrapped around the cat’s intestine or cause a blockage in the gastrointestinal tract.
“This is what is known as a linear foreign body, making string possibly one of the most dangerous objects your cat can eat,” explains Dr. Joanna Woodnutt.
“It requires immediate veterinary treatment and surgery to remove the offending string as if left it can cause sepsis. On rare occasions, the string will pass through your cat’s digestive system without causing any problems at all, but you should never assume this will be the case.”
So please take the necessary precautions when letting your cat play with string.
Why do cats like balls of yarn?
For some cats, the unraveling strands of a ball of yarn may be reminiscent of the tail movements of small animals like mice or snakes.
Both of these are real prey for cats in the wild, making the humble ball of yarn simply irresistible to your feline friend (PetMD).
Not to mention, cats can really sink their sharp claws into a ball of yarn, ball of wool, or ball of string, and you may well find your feline lying on his back shredding the offending item to pieces with those formidable hind legs.
Remember how I mentioned texture? This is another example.
Why do cats like wires?
Cats like wires largely for the same reason they like string and other string-like objects: because they sometimes move in the same way string does, or they’re simply irresistible when they’re hanging there, just asking to be stalked and pounced on.
Have you ever tried to plug in your phone charger when your cat’s grabbing at the wire thinking it’s a fun game? Had your laptop knocked to the floor because your kitty thought jumping on the cable was the best thing ever?
Wires also often have interesting textures that cats enjoy sinking their teeth and claws into. I have one pair of headphones that never recovered from a cat bite, sadly.
PetMD points out that electrical cords can be dangerous for cats and that, if a cat chews wires, he may be at risk of choking and electrocution.
So if your feline’s favorite pastime is wire hunting, PetMD recommends unplugging appliances when they’re not in use to prevent electrocution.
When they are in use, it’s best to cover the wires so your cat can’t get to them.
Be wary too of rubber bands, hair ties, dental floss, and other stringy things that your cat might see as providing endless hours of fun but, in reality, could be dangerous and cause life-threatening health problems.
Why do cats eat string?
The urge to suck on or eat nonfood items is known as pica. Pica can be surprisingly common in cats, especially the Oriental breeds (WebMD, 2012).
Cats who are predisposed to pica will often nurse on wool but this can generalize to other fabrics, both natural and synthetic.
Some cats tend to favor a certain texture over others, such as the great texture of string or the rope/sisal you have on your scratch posts.
Aside from genetics, it’s thought pica may be linked with early weaning with kittens looking for a substitute for nursing if taken away from their mothers too quickly (WebMD, 2012).
Our cat Jeffrey, who we rescued as an orphaned kitten from a parking lot in very poor shape, had a propensity for cashmere jumpers and woolly socks. Thankfully, with the appropriate nutrition, it’s a habit he grew out of.
If your cat is trying to eat string – or any other nonfood item for that matter – it’s important to see your vet right away.
What is a good alternative to string?
I mentioned earlier that individual cats have preferences for different styles of play.
“It is assumed this is because of what they have seen their mothers/siblings/other cats do,” explains feline behavior expert Jane Ehrlich of Cattitude Feline Behavior.
“One of my cats, for example, could not care less about flying toys like Da Bird but goes happily crazed if she sees snakes slithering or mice scrabbling type movements. Another watches skittering bugs on the floor but only for a few seconds. However, a fly gets her going. Cats tell you what they like.”
Indeed they will. So try out a few different options and see what your cat prefers.
Does he prefer to swat at something flying through the air, chase something that’s wiggling along the ground, or pounce on something slithering under a rug?
Once you’ve figured out his preferred play style (and he may have more than one), you can select his cat toys and what types of interactive games you play with him based on that.
Consider texture too – some cats may prefer furry mice while others will enjoy feathers or string toys.
Final thoughts
The next time you’re playing with your cat, pulling a simple piece of string along the ground or waving it in the air and he is pawing at it or trying to catch it with his teeth and claws, just know he is getting an amazing brain workout, a lovely boost of dopamine to make him feel great, and an essential outlet for that all-important predatory drive. But don’t forget to keep a close eye on him to make sure he doesn’t ingest anything.
Who knew there could be so much to say about cats and string?
*SEEKING belongs to the seven “core emotional feelings” or “brain systems” as described by neuroscientist and psychobiologist Jaak Panksepp. The other six are LUST, GRIEF, FEAR, PLAY, RAGE, and CARE. Panksepp capitalized them to differentiate them from the regular use of the same words.
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Resources
- 5 Cat Toy Alternatives to Dangerous Things Your Cat Wants to Play With – PetMD
- Cats Being Cats – Jane Ehrlich
- Drivers and facilitators of hunting behaviour in domestic cats and options for management – Martina Cecchetti, Sarah L. Crowley, Robbie A. McDonald
- SEEKING – Animal Emotions/Module 6 [Educational Course] – Dr. Karolina Westlund/Illis Animal Behaviour Courses
- Pica in Cats – International Cat Care
- Understanding the hunting behaviour of pet cats: an introduction – International Cat Care
- Why Do Cats Love String? – Dr. Joanna Woodnutt
- Why Is My Cat Eating That? – Fetch by WebMD
