Thursday, March 28, 2024
animal welfarecatsDaily FeatureFridayhealth and safety

Independence Day Hazards for Pets

sketch of two cats under table.
“Sugar and Spice under the table”, ink on paper, 6″ x 8″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

Fireworks aren’t the only thing that can make your pets uncomfortable on Independence Day, and they aren’t the only noise that can frighten them enough to make them run as fast as they can away from that noise any day of the year, but they are the biggest danger to our pets in many ways. And it’s not just one fireworks display, but the prevalence of fireworks aournd the day that build up stress over time. Being near fireworks can be uncomfortable for us humans, but even at a distance they take their toll on our pets’ highly sensitive ears and can leave them highly stressed, confused and irritable, and even a pet who has shown no interest in the outdoors might just take off into the night to try to get as far away from that horrible noise as possible. The holiday has many other real dangers aside from fireworks too, like foods and decorations and open doors from people spending more time outside. Don’t forget about your pets when preparing for any home event.

Fireworks

My community hosts its 4th of July celebration on July 3, so that adds an extra day to the fireworks noise, and then my neighbors extend the celebration beginning with Memorial Day. I don’t have air conditioning and all the windows are open all summer long unless I absolutely need to close them, but even when they are closed the fireworks from Carnegie Park are close enough to clearly see and hear in our house.

I live six miles from downtown Pittsburgh and when the Pittsburgh Pirates play ball they nearly always seem to shoot off fireworks over the river, and there are fireworks on the river for other events. Fireworks over the river with the city as a backdrop is breathtaking, but they are still close enough that the deep concussion of the sound, even at that distance, has all the cats wondering if they should run to the basement, under the bed, or just stand still with big eyes and one paw lifted and hope for the best. At 2:00 a.m. someone in the neighborhood saw fit to try out some pyrotechnics a few streets away, and the sharp “crack” practically lifted all the cats off the bed. Not only the former ferals here have been growing more frantic as the frightening noises have escalated. One firecracker can start a stampede of cats running in all directions and even managing to hurt themselves in the process.

They are all more and more stressed by these startling and unexplained noises day and night, leading up to the big day, and it all adds up for them. This is when we need to be extra careful with our animal companions, who will often act completely out of character as a result of stress from this constant barrage of noise on their sensitive ears, noise they can’t see or identify. Even a cat who has shown no interest in the outdoors might feel that being trapped inside and unable to get away from the noise may start to feel unsafe. A sudden loud noise can be startling, and a startled pet will often look for protection by trying to hide or running as far and as fast as it can from the source of the noise, often running away or into more danger if outdoors, or injuring itself in its haste indoors.

Check your doors, check your screens, check for frightened pets before you open a door.

Also, take caution when handling a frightened or traumatized cat. Even the most socialized cat, startled by a loud noise very near and feeling the need to run and hide, might struggle in being held and even scratch and bite. Approach your pet in a way that respects their condition and try not to make it worse.

And let’s hope that our resident wildlife can find a safe place to hide from the noise as well, especially when many fireworks celebrations are set off in parks, which are homes for many of our most familiar species.

Other holiday dangers

In addition to loud unexpected noises, also keep your pets protected from:

  • hot grills
  • matches and lighter fluid
  • alcoholic drinks
  • sunscreen
  • insect repellent not intended for pets
  • citronella liquid or candles
  • fire pits and anything else that has flames
  • the contents of firecrackers, fireworks and most other pyrotechnics—and don’t forget to clean up the residue from anywhere your pets might encounter it
  • glow sticks—the contents are toxic and the plastic can be easily chewed
  • balloons, garlands and ribbon

Take a look around for any part of the holiday we take for granted but which may put your pet in the path of danger. Keep your pets away from your own holiday fun, especially at night outdoors when it’s hard to see what they are up to.

Preparing for the holiday

  1. In part, preparing your pet for this holiday is not unlike preparing for an emergency just in case your pet really does get frightened and run off. Make sure your pet has ID, such as a collar with tags and a microchip, so they are quickly and easily identifiable. Take a good photo of your pet just in case you need to make lost pet signs.
  2. Consider giving your pet, especially cats, a safe room with places to hide in, like under the bed or in a closet. On the night of the 4th while fireworks are blasting all around you, the safe room can be dark and closed off to the outside with soft music or comforting sounds to cushion the noise. You can even add calming pheromones and some fun food or treats to help them feel more comfortable.
  3. Watch for changes in behavior such as lack of appetite, excessive vocalizing, pacing or aggressiveness, and don’t discipline them when they act out of fear.
  4. Before your celebration, or before you leave for your celebration, have your pet in its safe room and play with them to help ease their stress, turning on their noise cushion. If you have guests, let them know your pet should not be able to go outdoors or that your pet should stay in the safe room.

And remember other animals

Just take a moment to think about the wildlife that may be in your vicinity, wild parents with their young who may also be frightened by loud noises. It’s not July 4, but one First Night celebration at midnight on New Year’s Eve the city shot fireworks from one of the bridges and hundreds of pigeons came flying out from underneath in falling snow and frozen temperatures in the middle of the night, disoriented by the noise and lights. I don’t want to think of what probably happened to many of them.

Download a guidesheet

Download a guidesheet with tips to help your pets during this summer holiday season.

PDF to print and save to your computer.

JPG for mobile devices.

 

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Reference sites:

Top Ten Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips from PetMD.

Fourth of July Safety Tips from the ASPCA is a comprehensive list of all the material dangers your pet can encounter on a picnic or cookout or even in the house.

4th of July Cat Safety Tips by Pam Johnson Bennett, CABC, on Cat Behavior Associates, LLC is very cat -specific, giving tips on how to keep kitty safe, indoors, and even confined if necessary.

7 Simple Tips to Keep Your Cat Safe on Independence Day

. . . . . . .

Other Related Articles

Your Indoor-only Cat Got Out the Door! Feline-specific information and tips on recovering your cat, focused on indoor-only cats but the information works for outdoor cats as well.

Cats may intentionally escape through a loose our faulty screen trying to get away from the noise of fireworks as well: Windows, Screens and Cats

And don’t forget about giving your pets, yourself and other animals Water for Pets, Wildlife—and People—in Summer’s Heat.


Read more articles in the category Health and Welfare

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AfterDinnerNap-Etsy~~~

Feline Artwork from Portraits of Animals!
ink and watercolor sketch of cat
“Stanley With Geraniums”, ink and watercolor, 9″ x 12″ © Bernadette E. Kazmarski

This painting is one I’ve wanted to do for years—since the very moment it depicts, in fact, on July 30, 2006, in fact, when Stanley and I enjoyed a Sunday morning on the deck. This was Stanley’s last summer with us, he’d been with me for 21 years and at my best guess was 25 years old, and he and I spent every possible moment together, especially out on the deck. Read more, and purchase.



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4 thoughts on “Independence Day Hazards for Pets

  • 15andmeowing

    Great post. There are so many dangers to be aware of.

    Reply
    • Yes, and people who don’t even think about them really make me mad when I have to help them find their cats!

      Reply

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