Eclipse Safety For Cats

As a cat expert who has dedicated my career to caring for our feline friends, I feel I need to share some important last minute advice on the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024.

My cats Odin and Otto have been more squirrelly than usual. Otto lost his GPS collar on a nearby cliff he meanders down to visit neighbors. We had to scramble down thorny bushes to find it. Odin had been more needy, crawling under the covers which is unusual.

Needless to say animals are aware of geopathic changes and the #1 no-brainer tip is: Keep your pets indoors during the eclipse. More about that later.

While eclipses are fascinating natural phenomena, they require some special precautions when it comes to pets like our beloved and highly sensitive cats.

Beginning on the morning of April 8th, a total solar eclipse will be visible across a stretch of North America, including Mexico, the United States, and parts of eastern Canada.

The path of totality, where the moon fully covers the sun, will span from Mexico up through the central U.S. states of Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and into New England. Outside this totality path, a partial eclipse will be visible across the rest of North America.

NASA coverage will begin at 1p.m. EDT courtesy of space.com

Check your local weather for the exact times.

Where I live in Westchester County, NY. it will be a partial eclipse visible at its peak 3:25 pm. It’s an exciting event given that there hasn’t been a total solar eclipse in New York since 1925!

During this time of totality, the moon will completely cover the sun, causing daylight to temporarily disappear and making the sun’s corona visible for up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds maximum, depending on your location within the path.

Fortunately, cats do not typically stare directly at the sun the way humans might, so they do not require special eye protection.

Please take extra care

During an eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and Earth, gradually blocking out the sun’s light until totality, and then the light gradually returns.

This temporary dimming and fluctuation of sunlight can trigger some confusing behavior changes in cats, who are often quite routine-oriented.

As the light levels shift in an unsettling way, some cats may become frightened or disoriented by the unusual dimming and darkness.

Their feeding schedules and sleep patterns could also be temporarily disrupted.

• To help ease your cat through this unique eclipse period, I strongly recommend limiting their outdoor access and keeping them safely indoors, especially during the peak time of totality when daylight will completely disappear for up to 2 minutes and 40 seconds, depending on your location.
• Close the curtains or blinds on windows to minimize any startling darkness inside the home as well.
• Put out extra litter boxes in case they need to go more frequently when stressed.
• And make sure to provide a comfortable, secure space for them to hide if they feel frightened – perhaps their usual pet bed or carrier with familiar blankets and toys.

Our cats are always picking up on our energy so if you’re excited but stay grounded and calm, it will help your cats.

We have decided to stay close to home and enjoy the eclipse experience from our garden.

Will you be able to see it from your area?