Have a Cat Friendly Safe and Fun 4th of July
Having friends over for a backyard barbecue, some fireworks, and a rowdy celebration is a great way to celebrate the 4th of July. However, you must be aware that the 4th of July parties can threaten your cat. These tips will help you keep your cat safe this summer and during the 4th of July festivities.
Some BBQ Food Is Unsafe
You might be tempted to treat your cat with table scraps during a summer barbecue but that might not be a good idea. Your cat may become sick if she consumes sauces and seasonings on barbecued food. Salmonella poisoning can also result from eating raw beef or chicken and bones can cause choking and cause GI perforation or dangerous GI obstructions.
Cats can suffer serious health problems if they consume alcoholic beverages unattended, even in small amounts. Keep all food and drinks out of reach of your cat. Check out this post for more information about toxic human foods for cats. Also, keep a close eye on lighter fluid and matches while barbecuing; these can be toxic to cats.
Be sure to make the rules clear to guests.
Let your guests know not to let your cat out of the house if you are having a party. Party commotion can stress your cat, causing her to run and hide from the noise. To be safe it’s best if your cat does not have access to the outside. However, your feline friend could easily escape when a guest leaves the front door wide open during a party. If any entries in your home provide your cat with an exit, you might want to put a sign that says, “Please close the door, cat is an escape artist.”
Make sure your cat has a safe place to hide during fireworks.
It is best to confine your cat in a safe room at least an hour before the fireworks go off on the 4th of July. By doing so, you can ensure that she does not panic and run away. Your cat may feel calmer if she has a favorite toy, a scratching post or pad, and a cat bed. It is also possible to soothe the noise outside by playing classical music or leaving on the TV. Put a note on the door alerting people not to let your cat out if you keep your cat in a safe room and anticipate guests.
Indoors is the best place for outdoor cats.
Place your outdoor cat inside a room and always have a break-away collar with an attached ID tag that contains up-to-date information on her, just in case she panics and runs away during all the noise. Also, consider putting your cat in her carrier during your party, or at least while the fireworks go off if you think your cat might escape. The noise from the fireworks could be frightening to a cat outdoors.
Safely Store Home Fireworks
Even unlit fireworks within the home can be dangerous. Keep all fireworks out of reach of your cat in a safe place since fireworks contain chemicals that can be deadly to cats if consumed.
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