July 4th is the busiest night of the year for animal shelters. The fireworks cause pets to run in fear, and many of these furbabies end up lost. The common thought is that dogs are the only animals to bolt during the explosive sounds from the holiday, but the truth is that cats run too.

Cats are independent and generally stay to themselves, but they are curious, quiet, and quite sneaky. They can find ways to get into things you would never think about, so it is important to take some time to prepare them for the Fourth of July. The last thing you want to do is assume your cat is fine all day and leave the house without a second thought.

Fourth of July Cat Safety

Exercise Your Cat

Play active games with your cat starting the morning of the Fourth. Continue to play off and on until the fireworks are ready to start or until you leave for the evening. If your cat spends a lot of their energy playing, they’ll have less energy to devote to anxiety and anxious behaviors. They may even sleep through events if they feel tired enough!

CBD Oil

Instead of sedatives that can have lasting side effects, consider giving your cat CBD oil to ease his anxiety. This is a natural, non-harmful way to calm the nerves and help your furbaby relax.

Keep the House Normal

If your cat does become anxious during the noise and excitement while you are gone, he may take his anxiety out on items in the house. You want everything to feel completely normal -no crazy, colorful decorations hanging everywhere that may increase the instincts to bat, or destroy.

Clean Up Food

If you are having people over, make sure you put all of the party foods away before you head outside for the fireworks. The same treats that we indulge in can potentially sicken your furbaby. If you leave the food accessible, your cat will certainly take it as a sign that his dinner has been served!

Close All Escape Routes

Make sure to close all windows, lock pet doors, and check any doors that lead outside before you leave the house. If you are having people over, consider keeping your feline friend in a specific room so he doesn’t get out with the shuffling of guests.

Create a Calm Space

Set the air conditioner a bit lower to keep the house cool. If you aren’t going to crate your cat, give him a room to himself while you are gone. Keep a TV on to muffle any fireworks, too. Leave plenty of food and water (and the litter box), of course. Cats love to curl up and hide, so a space that provides this options is always a plus!