Problem Solving & Advice by Pam Johnson-Bennett Cat Behavior Expert & Best-selling Author
Summer days are winding down and we’re beginning the Labor Day weekend. This is the weekend when most people close out summer by having cook-outs. Even though many areas may no longer be seeing the hottest summer weather anymore, this holiday weekend can pose some risks for pets.
Pet Safety Reminders
Prevent escapes. Make sure your indoor cat doesn’t escape outside if you’re entertaining and company will be moving back and forth between indoors and outdoors. It’s easy to not notice a fast little cat or dog sneaking out while you’re busy carrying a tray of food or drinks.
Watch the hot grill. Make sure your pet doesn’t go near the hot grill. Keep the grill lid closed when you aren’t there to supervise. For dogs especially, the aroma from the grill or the sight of a piece of steak sitting on the edge can be too tempting.
Out of Reach. Many foods are too rich (and some are extremely dangerous) for pets so if you have a food-stealing pet, make sure dishes are kept out of reach. That goes for the trash cans as well. Make sure all trash cans have secure lids or are located where pets can’t access.
Photo by Pam Menegakis on Unsplash
Dangerous foods. Even seemingly innocent foods such as chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, and anything that contains the sweetener xylitol, are dangerous, so keep these foods away from pets. Pick up anything that falls to the ground. Pets are incredibly fast when they spot a morsel hit the patio so make sure food is cleaned up immediately.
No tablescraps. Instruct guests not to feed tablescraps to your pet. Some guests may be used to feeding their own pets from the table so make sure it’s understood that your pets are not fed that way. If your pet has a tendency to beg, then the best option might be to keep him indoors until the meal is finished. Don’t let anyone offer bones to your pet. Bones can lead to choking, may cause perforation, or obstruction.
Supervise children. Watch how visiting children interact with your pet. If your pet isn’t used to children, put your cat or dog in a separate room. Even if your pet is typically great with kids, if the children who are visiting are rough or too frantic, then the safest place for your pet would be to be kept in a safe location.
Watch the stress level. If your pet is stressed by company, keep him in a separate room and instruct your guests not to go in there. Provide your pet with something to occupy time such as a puzzle feeder. To buffer some of the noise of the company you can play some soft music in the room for your pet. Pheromone therapy may help as well by using plug-in diffusers.
Fireworks. Some people set off fireworks during Labor Day so make sure your pet is away from any fireworks danger.
Food prep. During food preparation, if you have an indoor cat who is a counter cruiser, make sure all food left on the counter is covered. For a dog, make sure food isn’t close to the edge of the counter where he could reach up and pull something down.
Temperature comfort. Outdoor pets need access to shade and fresh water. Depending on the temperature, keep close tabs on your pets to make sure they aren’t getting too hot. Be aware of your pet’s comfort level. If you’re too hot, then there’s a good chance your pet is too hot.
Parasite prevention. All outdoor pets need flea/tick protection.
Pool safety. Be aware of your pet’s safety if you go in the pool. Make sure any pool gates are closed or ladders are removed when you aren’t near the pool.
Photo by Raphaël Biscaldi on Unsplash
Unfamiliar pets. If guests ask to bring their own dog to your house, be aware of your own pet’s comfort level. For a cat, it may be very stressful to have an unfamiliar dog in the home. If you have a dog, make sure he is comfortable around other dogs. Always supervise.
Access to the street. With company coming and going, make sure any gates, garage doors and front doors are kept closed to prevent escapes from the property.
Identification. All pets should have ID and are hopefully microchipped as well.
Alcohol. Keep alcoholic beverages out of your pet’s reach. It’s NOT cute or funny to offer beer to your dog or cat.
Need More Information?
For more information on cat behavior and training, refer to the books by best-selling author, Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available at bookstores and online. We’ve included links to Amazon here on our website.
