My cat Sophia recently swallowed a piece of string, and it turned into a life-threatening emergency. Swallowing string is extremely dangerous for cats because it can cause what’s called a linear foreign body obstruction. This happens when the string gets stuck in the stomach or intestines, causing the intestines to bunch up and potentially tear, which can lead to internal bleeding, infection, and even death if not treated. Sophia has to undergo emergency surgery to remove the string, and the cost is $8,000.