i can definitely think of a danger with using feathers instead of rice. when my little boy, opie, was just a kit we had a fishing pole cat toy that had feathers on it, well sure enough those feathers came off and he almost swallowed one. i say almost because it was caught right in his throat. i had to put him in a sleeper hold (scruff him) to get it out. holly [Posted in FML issue 2881]