8 Tips to Keep Your Cat Safe on the 4th of July | Lola The Rescued Cat
Saturday, July 2, 2016

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. 


fourth of july cats

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

Would you like to comment?

  1. My human is spending the Fourth with us because she is afraid of fires! She wants to be able to bundle us up and get us out of the house in case anyone does something stupid in our tinder-dry, drought-ridden neighborhood. I do have a therapy visit on Sunday morning, and there shouldn't be any noise at that hour in that area, but just in case, she is going to be extra careful about keeping me clipped into my sling when she is going between buildings or going from one floor to another.

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  2. Thanks for the tips... The mom also runs a Feliway hormonal therapy dispenser, which really helps too. -Purrz from Katie Kitty Too.

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  3. Those sure are some important tips. We sure hope all cats stay safe during the fireworks. So far we haven't had any fireworks around us and sure hope we don't have any this year either. Have a great Fourth.

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  4. Those are really good and important tips, pals! We're indoor only cats, and as long as Mom and Dad are here, we're pretty blasé about the boomies. Nothing like a snuggle pile on the sofa to make us feel safe.

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  5. Pawsum posty girls. Stay safe, keep cool and have fun.

    Luv ya'

    Dezi and Raena

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  6. Great tips guys!! Why anyone would even think of bringing a cat to a fireworks display is beyond me. That being said, if Cody hears them going off, it doesn't bother him at all. Dakota is a different story. catchatwithcarenandcody

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  7. We love the graphics ! Very good advice ! Purrs

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  8. Great tips! They've already started the celebrating around here...and it's the middle of the day!

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  9. Great tips and i love your outfits. Happy 4th! We are staying in with the kitties.

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  10. Tips tips and presented in a fun way. Score!

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  11. We appreciated your post. Even though we don't get outdoors, we know others do and your post is very thoughtful. We're going to include you and your graphic, Lola, in our Patrioti-Cats slideshow, coming the week after Independence Day! Check our blog in a few days and barring the unforeseen, you guys will see it!

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  12. Great tips! I can't remember Callie having any problems with the fireworks last year, but we were not at home.

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  13. Fireworks are downright scary and I wish there was something we could do for our ferals. Unfortunately the big firework stuff is right across the street from us on the lake, sigh. Great tips though! Happy Independence Day from all of us!

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  14. Hope all the celebrations were fun and not too noisy. It's raining here and the big booms are thankfully over for another year xo We use Feliway and reassure calmly by telling they are safe. Thanks for your BCTA campaign support xoxo

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  15. Hope all the celebrations were fun and not too noisy. It's raining here and the big booms are thankfully over for another year xo We use Feliway and reassure calmly by telling they are safe. Thanks for your BCTA campaign support xoxo

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  16. Great tips, Lexy! Hope you had a safe and wonderful 4th!

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  17. These tips help us to keep the cat safe on 4th of July. Thanks for sharing such a great tips. Pet Drivers License ID

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