{"id":17876,"date":"2017-07-03T00:10:18","date_gmt":"2017-07-03T04:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/?p=17876"},"modified":"2017-07-02T09:59:59","modified_gmt":"2017-07-02T13:59:59","slug":"tips-to-manage-4th-of-july-stress-with-your-cat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/tips-to-manage-4th-of-july-stress-with-your-cat\/","title":{"rendered":"Tips to Manage 4th of July Stress With Your Cat"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"

We have a lot of people in our neighborhood who let off noisy fireworks – Zoey feels safest under a blanket during all the commotion.<\/p><\/div>\n

4th of July is a time of celebration \u2013 America\u2019s birthday, our freedoms acknowledged and appreciated, cookouts with friends and family, time off from work, great shopping deals and more. But for our cats who are reactive to the slightest of change in their environment, a day and night like the 4th of July – something out of their typical norm can be especially stressful, traumatic and dangerous to them. We can\u2019t stop fireworks and celebrating from happening, but with some planning and basic understanding of cat behavior, we can make the holiday more manageable for them.<\/p>\n

First and foremost, even in the best of circumstances, it\u2019s safer for a cat to be indoors. On a day like this, it\u2019s especially important. If your cat is an indoor\/outdoor cat, try to keep him indoors a few days before and after the 4th, as people tend to let off fireworks for days at a time to prolong the holiday. Fireworks can be dangerous to an unsuspecting cat and there are even some ill-intentioned people who purposely try to harm an outdoor cat with fireworks.<\/p>\n

\"\"

We make sure our doors are tightly locked so no cats can get outside.<\/p><\/div>\n

Strange company unexpectedly showing up for a cookout or hearing unusual noises outside – this can cause even the boldest of kitties to vanish into thin air, looking for a safe spot to hide. If you\u2019re having an outside cookout, be careful as you go in and out the door, as your cat might be lurking nearby and try to escape. Double check that doors are securely latched and that window screens don\u2019t have any tears. And even if you always keep your cat indoors, make sure her identification is current and that you have a picture of her. It\u2019s easy for kitty to slip out the door while in a panicky state and end up lost, injured, or worse.<\/p>\n

You should also set up a sanctuary room for your cat that includes safe hiding places and food, litter, etc. prior to nightfall. Some cat parents have success using pheromone therapy to de-stress their cat (using a product like Feliway<\/a> spray), and playing music or having a television on to diffuse noises also helps. If these suggestions don\u2019t work and your cat is unable to remain calm, don\u2019t leave him alone if you plan on watching fireworks. Notwithstanding my Jazmine who actually enjoys watching the fireworks from the comfort of our guest bedroom window, not all cats are that brave. Hire a pet sitter if need be, or ask a neighbor to stay while you go out.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Most cats don’t like the noise of the fireworks – Jazmine is a rare exception and likes to look at them from the guest bedroom window.<\/p><\/div>\n

Remember as well that picnic foods and alcohol are NOT appropriate for kitty and can cause problems ranging from mild stomach upset to extreme toxicity. Glowsticks that kids use outdoors at night can cause irritation if chewed and don\u2019t give your cat any calming medication unless you\u2019ve been instructed to do so by your veterinarian. You don\u2019t know what side effects may occur or how your cat may react to a particular medication the first time it\u2019s administered.<\/p>\n

And don’t forget to make adjustments to your cat’s\u00a0feeding schedule if need be. Some cats are given a small meal or snack before bedtime and the loud noises that intensify after dark can cause even the hungriest of cats to run for cover. Lastly, if your cat does hide, be patient in finding him. I know from experience how difficult it can be to coax a cat who\u2019s been spooked out of hiding. Typically they will come out on their own when they feel the coast is clear \u2013 not during the celebrations. Once the noises and activities subside, you\u2019ll have better luck finding your feline friend.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Rolz is our Houdini cat and can vanish for hours when he’s stressed. He’ll magically reappear when he feels it’s safe to come out, but you can see by his ears that he’s still on full alert.<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

4th of July is a time of celebration \u2013 America\u2019s birthday, our freedoms acknowledged and appreciated, cookouts with friends and family, time off from work, great shopping deals and more. But for our cats who are reactive to the slightest of change in their environment, a day and night like the 4th of July – […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17877,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1124,1098,1096],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cat-events","category-cat-behavior","category-general-cat-care-and-health"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t