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Home > Dogs > 12 Super Bowl Party Safety Tips for Cats (2024 Guide)

12 Super Bowl Party Safety Tips for Cats (2024 Guide)

cat watching football with beer and chips

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events of the year, and many people like to have parties to celebrate. While dogs usually love the extra company and attention, most cats are less fond of strangers in their homes, and it can cause them a great deal of stress. There are also potential hazards. Read on for a list of several tips and tricks that will help you keep your pet safe during the party.

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The 12 Super Bowl Party Safety Tips for Cats

1. Create a Safe Space

To keep your cat safe during the Super Bowl party, create a space where they can hide and get away from the action. A separate room of the house works perfectly, but you can also use a closet or quiet corner, as long as there is no traffic from guests.


2. Make Sure the Safe Space Is Comfortable

Placing comfortable bedding, toys, and other items inside the space can help your cat feel more comfortable and occupy them during the big game. Playing soft music on the radio can help mask noise from the party, so your cat isn’t as startled by any yelling and screaming from your guests.

cat lying on cat bed
Image Credit: Iva Vagnerova, Shutterstock

3. Keep the Cat Away

Keeping your cat away from the party can help protect them from danger and prevent them from getting underfoot, though your cat will likely be one step ahead of you in this regard. However, if you have a curious or social cat, you can use toddler gates or close doors to help keep them separated from the guests1.


4. Make Sure the Cat Is Wearing ID Tags

Making sure your cat’s collar includes their identification information (either on an ID tag or on the collar itself) can help prevent your cat from getting lost if they run out during the commotion of the guests coming or going. Most of these collars are not expensive, and some are even reflective, which can help make the cat easier to see. It’s also a good idea to microchip your cat, in case they lose the collar.

a tabby cat with collar and tag lying on the floor
Image Credit: Sydneymills, Shutterstock

5. Watch for Hazards

The more guests you have, the more potential for hazards, many of which can be unexpected and occur suddenly. Keep an eye out for things like:

  • The guests stepping on or tripping over the cat
  • Open doors or windows that the cat might jump out of
  • Candles, cigarettes, and other sources of fire that can potentially fall to the floor or onto the cat
  • Foods that are toxic to cats, like garlic, onions, and chocolate
  • Alcoholic beverages that can be harmful or even deadly to cats
  • Dangerous items like forks, knives, and spoons

6. Keep the Routine

Try to keep your pet’s routine as normal as possible to prevent them from becoming upset. If you tend to feed them at a specific time and the party is still going, take the food into their safe space so they can eat as usual.

cat eating bella and duke cat food


7. Provide a Litter Box

You will want to ensure that your cat can access their litter box, as they will likely need it during the game. Placing it in their safe room can help give them less reason to come out and get underfoot.


8. Hire a Pet Sitter

If you have a friend who doesn’t watch football, you might be able to hire them to watch your cat during the game. This is a great option if your friend and cat are already acquainted, and the cat won’t have to go too far to reach the sitter. Professional sitting services are also available in many areas, but transporting the cat to an unfamiliar location can be just as stressful to your pet as the Super Bowl. Still, it might be a good choice if your cat is especially fearful of large crowds.

bengal cat on owners lap
Image Credit: golubovystock, Shutterstock

9. Use Food Covers

If you can’t keep your cat away from the party, use food covers to prevent them from getting into dangerous items. Buffet food covers, Tupperware containers, and even the microwave and oven can help keep hazardous food items out of your pet’s reach.


10. Stay Calm

Your pet can sense your stress levels. If you become upset, they will usually do the same, and it can raise your cat’s stress levels. Staying calm and relaxed throughout the event is a good way to keep your cat calm.

close up woman hugging a cat
Image Credit: Trusova Evgeniya, Shutterstock

11. Communicate with Your Guests

Alert all your guests before the game starts that you have a cat. Ask them to not feed them, to keep an eye out for them so they don’t step on them, and let you know if they see them doing anything strange. Requesting everyone to limit how loud they yell can also help your cat stay calm during the game.


12. Secure the Garbage

Even if you cover your dangerous food items and keep them out of reach, your cat might still be able to access them by raiding your garbage can after you clean up. So, always secure the garbage or remove it completely as soon as possible so your pet can’t get to it.

Abyssinian cat in the kitchen
Image Credit: Ingus Kruklitis, Shutterstock

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Summary

While most cats aren’t big fans of many people in the house yelling and screaming at the TV, you should be able to have a Super Bowl party without putting your pet at risk by taking a few precautions. A space where the cat can hide away from the action is the most important thing that you can do to help keep your pet comfortable, but we also recommend telling your guests to keep an eye out for them so they don’t get stepped on and keeping the food covered and out of reach.


Featured Image Credit: Svetlana Ray, Shutterstock

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