8 Tips to Keep Your Cat Safe on the 4th of July

Hello everyone! This is Lexy checking in with a very important PSA.  I have eight tips for humans to follow to keep their cats safe this Fourth of July. 

July 4th is a great day for our nation because it’s the day we celebrate our independence and freedom.  Celebrations often include back yard parties, barbeques, and what cats consider to be the dreaded fireworks and firecrackers.  Many cats are very frightened of all of the commotion, but if you follow my tips kitty can be very comfortable. 


1. Keep your cat indoors! Please, do not let us out because there are many dangers lurking on this day.  We are much safer indoors. Even if we’re on a harness and leash, the noises could terrify us enough to break free and run. 

2. Be mindful of alcoholic drinks, which are poisonous to us! You know how us cats sometimes like to stick our heads into our human’s glass to taste what they’re drinking? Please keep all drinks off limits to kitty safely out of our reach. 

3. Please, please, please… do not take us to a fireworks display! Even if kitty is harness and leash trained, it can be too scary! (See number one!) And if you have a dog, please do NOT take them and leave them in the car. It’s much too hot. (And don’t leave us in the car for that matter, either.)

4. Make sure we have appropriate identification. Just in case we do get loose, you want someone to be able to identify us so we can be reunited with you. Lola and I have ID tags on our collars with our name, Mother’s name, and her phone number. It’s also a good idea to have a recent photo of us on hand (if you’re like Mother, you have a ton on your phone), and if your cat is microchipped make sure your contact information is current in the data base. 

5. Set up our own private comfort zone in an area off limits to guests. It should include our favorite things such as our toys, blankets and bed to make us feel comfortable. Please don’t forget our food and plenty of water – and a litter box! You could also play a bird TV DVD to keep us distracted and try calming treats or a pheromone plug in to help calm us if we appear agitated or frightened. Interactive play time is also a great thing. 

6. Don’t forget, some table scraps can be dangerous for us (such as onions, chocolate and fatty and fried foods.) Please make sure your guests know we shouldn’t eat anything except cat food! 

7. This one is important… check the screens on your windows to make sure they are secure! A scared cat can claw or push their way through a screen.  You may want to consider closing windows altogether until the fireworks are over. 

8. If your cat is scared, give her lots of love, attention and reassurance.  (This can include treats. Treats always make me feel better.)

Following these tips will help kitty have a safe and Happy 4th of July.  Lola and I aren’t afraid of fireworks, interestingly enough.  Sometimes when we hear firecrackers we run to the window to see what’s going on and Mother has to shoo us away.  

Do you have any other tips to help your cat stay safe on the 4th of July? 
Lexy

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Sources: Pet MD, Cat Behavior Associates, AVMA
Image Credits: Deposit Photos/ndemidchick, lekuwka, Angel_a, adogslifephoto