Will the Solar Eclipse Affect Your Cat? Interesting Facts & FAQ

With an upcoming eclipse, it’s only natural to wonder how the pets in your home will react to them. The good news is that most of the time you don’t need to worry about how your cat will respond to an eclipse, as usually, they don’t even know it’s happening!

But while most cats won’t react, some might, and it’s important to know what you can do if that happens. Keep reading and we’ll break it all down for you.

Do Solar Eclipses Affect Cats?

Typically, solar eclipses have little to no effect on cats. Sometimes, your cat will notice a difference in the amount of light they see, but this is usually the only thing a cat might notice about a solar eclipse.

But most of the time, a cat won’t even notice this, and since they generally don’t look up at the sun, they surely won’t be affected by the moon obstructing it. However, if there’s a significant dip in the amount of light coming from the sun, your cat might notice, which can lead to a bit of anxiety.

Partial vs. Total Solar Eclipses

One crucial factor that will play a big role in how your pet reacts to a solar eclipse is whether it’s a partial or a total solar eclipse. Total solar eclipses happen over a much smaller area, but it’s also far more noticeable for your cat.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon completely blocks out the sun, while a partial solar eclipse only blocks out a portion of the sun. Totality during a total solar eclipse only lasts a few minutes, but if your cat sees it, there’s a good chance it could worry them a bit. Meanwhile, most of the time, a partial solar eclipse isn’t even something they’ll pay attention to.

The 5 Safeguards for Your Cat During a Solar Eclipse

While you usually don’t need to do anything to prepare your cat for a solar eclipse, you can do a few things to reduce the likelihood of your cat experiencing any anxiety.

1. Keep Them Indoors

If your cat is an indoor cat, you really don’t need to worry too much about a solar eclipse since your cat likely won’t even see it. However, if you have an outdoor cat you’re worried about, you might consider keeping them indoors just in case. If they can’t see it, they won’t react to it!

Maine Coon cat on dark — Image Credit: Konstantin Zaykov, Shutterstock

2. Keep Their Routine

While some cats might not notice the eclipse, they’ll notice if you start changing a bunch of things, and they’ll probably react to those changes. If you keep everything the same for your cat, they likely won’t even realize the eclipse is happening. Keep things the same and it’ll go a long way!

3. Comfort Them

If you notice your cat is starting to freak out or get anxious during the eclipse, spend some time with them and comfort them. Give them a few treats, pet them, and be a safe space. Just like how spending time with a loved one can calm you down, the same thing is true for your cat.

4. Provide Distractions

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to get your cat’s mind off the eclipse if they’re anxious while it’s happening. Playing with them, giving them treats, or distracting them in other ways can make them forget about the eclipse altogether.

cat playing toy on the floor — Image Credit: Lukasz Pawel Szczepanski, Shutterstock

5. Keep an Eye on Them

You might not even realize something is going on with your cat if you are not paying attention to them, and if your cat likes to hide during the day, it might be a bit more challenging. If you’re worried about your cat during the eclipse, watch them closely for any changes in their behavior so you can react accordingly.

Final Thoughts

Now that you know a little more about how a typical cat will react to an eclipse and why, all that is left is for you to take the necessary steps to prepare your cat and help ensure they stay as calm as possible. Usually, you do not need to do anything, but just in case your cat starts to worry a bit, you now know how to help!

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