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Old 04-28-2018, 09:20 AM   #1
Dedenne
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Default Is cotton string safe?

I was planning to crochet something for my hamster (since that's what I’m good at) and was wondering if I can use cooking string made of cotton? If I understood it correctly it is just cotton fluff that is bad since they can get stuck in it and not the material in itself that is dangerous. As it is made for food it should be safe if the hamster nobbles a bit.
If this would not work do you have any suggestions of what I can use?
It is pretty stiff and I was planning to make something similar to a hay tunnel/hideout.
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Old 04-28-2018, 09:25 AM   #2
SKB_Hamsters
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Default Re: Is cotton string safe?

No cotton string isn’t safe however natural untreated sisal string is safe if chewed and small part accidentally ingested can be digested. You could also use natural paper string too. Although I would still recommend removing the product if you Hamster excessively chews on your creation just to be on the safe side.
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Old 04-28-2018, 09:57 AM   #3
Dedenne
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Default Re: Is cotton string safe?

Okay, why is it not safe?
All I can find about cotton fluff being unsafe is that they can get stuck so can not really see why a hard string would be bad. Not that I do not trust you, I just likes to know the reason behind it so I learn. Makes me think about that pine shavings are bad but solid pine wood is considered ok by most people.
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Old 04-28-2018, 11:01 AM   #4
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Default Re: Is cotton string safe?

Cotton string is very heavily manufactured - the cotton fibres are wounds into smaller threads before being wound together to make string. As these fibres have been tightly wound these these fibres can get stuck round teeth or claws. Like with cotton bedding - cotton expands if it gets wet therefore if pieces of the string are chewed of and swallowed they can swell up causing an obstruction in your hamster digestive system - as cotton can’t be digested. My brothers hamster swallowed a piece of fabric made from cotton which became blocked inside him - his hamster stopped eating and starting losing weight rapidly and had to be taken to the vet luckily they could see he was in the process of trying to pass it therefore managed to remove the piece without surgery.

Whereas sisal string is made from small pieces of fibres from the Agave plant leaves which has been wound into the string. The fibres in sisal string are easier to be digested so can break down if accidentally swallowed. It best to make sure the sisal string is untreated to ensure it completely safe. Like all string it best to removed if becomes chewed.

Other material you could use to make your crotchet hideout is raffia string or paper string
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Last edited by SKB_Hamsters; 04-28-2018 at 11:21 AM.
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Old 04-28-2018, 11:40 AM   #5
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Smile Re: Is cotton string safe?

NO!!!!!!! Cotton bedding kills so many hamsters. It can get wrapped around their limbs and causes stress to the point where hamsters chew off their limbs. Also, if they eat it it can stop their digestive system working properly so just do not use fluffy and cotton bedding!
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Old 04-28-2018, 12:10 PM   #6
Dedenne
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Default Re: Is cotton string safe?

Okay, thank you. When reading about making string (yes, I have had some weird hobbies) I got the image that all string was made in similar matters depending on the structure/ twine of the string. The one I have here is “twisted” in the same matter as all my other yarns. I also thought that the “hardness” of the string would make it better since it would be harder to get stuck in it or untwine compare to cotton wool that is just a mess everywhere. I tried biting a bit on it to see what happens and I needed to bite on it for quite some time until I got a piece off and since it is made to use in cooking It is only made out of non harmful stuff.
When it comes to it being indigestible I have not heard about it until now, the only thing that they warn about is the hamster getting stuck in it due to the structure and not the fiber in it self and since it was a natural fiber I did not think more about it. My cat at home has a lot of cotton toys for example. Since it also untwined quite easy when a little piece is of I thought it would not be bad if I hamster ate it - in a similar manner as water soluble colour is the best to use for pets.
So I had thought of the things you mentioned but made some wrong conclusions and now I understand it a bit better, thank you.

I will try to find more stuff to read about this, I like to make well informed decisions. I will get some sissle string from my online pet shop instead in the meanwhile

I do not allow my hamster to chew on anything unless it is made to be chewed on - chew toys or natural wood - so do not worry about that.
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