Fourth of July Pet Safety for Maine Coon Cats: Calm Secure, & Firework-Free
Red, White, & BOOM? Not Fun for Cats.
While we love fireworks and cookouts, the Fourth of July can be one of the most stressful days of the year for our beloved pets, especially for kittens and sensitive cats. Loud bangs, flashing lights, open doors, and unfamiliar guests in the home can lead to panic, accidental escape attempts, and even injury in the calmest cats.
We’ve created a complete guide to Maine Coon safety this July 4th, whether you are staying at home or heading out to celebrate.
Fireworks & Noise: Managing Feline Anxiety
You may think that your cat is not scared of anything but, even calm cats can become terrified by fireworks. The booming sounds and flashing lights may cause;
- Hiding or trembling
- Scratching or clawing to escape
- Panting or pacing
- Accidental injury
You can help to keep your cat safe by keeping all of the windows and doors shut, this will help to ensure that the likely hood of an accidental escape is low. You may consider closing the curtains or blinds, this will block the visual stimulation. A kitten family recently asked and one of my recommendations was to turn on music or the TV to create a “noise buffer”. I highly recommend doing this, especially if your cat will be alone for the night. Be sure to start the calming environment before dark, before the fireworks begin.
Hosting Guests?ย Create a Safe Room
If you are having friends or family over, your cat or kitten will be safest in a quiet, secure space away from the crowd.
- Use a bedroom, office, or bathroom with the door closed
- Place a note on the door: “Cat Inside – Please Do Not Open”. To go a step further, you may consider locking the door to prevent entry
- Provide food, water, litter box, and their favorite toys & bed or blanket
- Add a hiding spot for them, this could be a cat cave, carrier, or perhaps a box
- You may consider using calming spray or catnip.
- Start the setup before the guests arrive so that your cat is settled
Never underestimate how quickly a scared kitten or cat can bolt. We
BBQ & Food Dangers: No Snacking Allowed
Human food can be harmful and potentially toxic to cats. Common Fourth of July treats like;
- Onions, garlic, chocolate, and alcohol can be deadly
- Bones or fatty meats can cause choking or pancreatitis
- Grapes, raisins, and corn cobs are highly dangerous
The best practices for this is to not allow your guests to share food with your pets. Be sure to keep all plates and garbage out of reach, and clean up immediately after eating.
Decoration Danger & Potential Fire Hazards
Cats are extremely curious as we all know. Party decorations = trouble. Be sure to watch out for;
- Streamers or ribbons, both can cause intestinal blockages if eaten
- Lit candles and fire pits, Maine Coons are highly flammable
- Glow sticks, toxic if chewed
If you’re like me, odds are you’ve probably switched all of your candles out for battery powered candles. Try to keep decor up high if you can and don’t leave flames unattended even for a minute.
Escape Prevention is Key!
Fireworks and open doors, a recipe for disaster. Indoor cats can and will bolt outside in fear. Please, if you do anything from this post, let it be this;
- Doors and windows are closed securely, locked
- All cats are microchipped and the information is up to date
- If your cat may go outside, be sure that it has a collar with identifying tags
- Guests know to close doors behind them
- Window screens are intact and can’t be pushed out
We’ve unfortunately experienced what happens when a cat is spooked. Patriot, a beautiful red kitten born on July 1st, was named along with his littermates after a patriotic theme. He went to a wonderful loving family, but during a move, he was placed in a room to stay safe. Unfortunately, the door was opened and Patriot darted out during the confusion. He escaped through the front door. He didn’t survive to see his first birthday.
More recently, another past kitten from our cattery clawed through a window screen. Thankfully he came back home after a few days, but it was a terrifying and potentially avoidable experience.
These stories aren’t meant to scare, they’re meant to protect. Your cat’s life may depend on the choices that you make this Fourth of July. The cats live through the consequences of their owner’s actions. Please be sure to prepare properly.
From Our Family to Yours, Happy 4th! Have Fun & Stay Safe
These safety steps are more than just advice, they’re the result of hard lessons learned. We’ll never forget Patriot and we’re grateful that Sampson made it home. Please take precautions this Fourth of July. It only takes one loud boom, one open door, or one weak screen for things to go wrong.
Your Maine Coon may be large and confident, but even gentle giants can be rattled by the chaos of the Fourth of July. Creating a quiet, cozy refuge with music, comfort, and boundaries will help your kitten or cat feel safe during the celebration. Keeping your Maine Coon safe ensures many more holidays together.
