Plastic Containers Can Be Deadly For Cats!

Cats are vulnerable to pet suffocation, too! We have lost several felines to chip bags and other food bags, but another danger for cats is getting trapped in containers or enclosed places, which is what happened to this beautiful kitten, Smoky, last fall when she suffocated in a pet litter container.

Lindsey Hodge writes, “Our beautiful seven-month-old kitten Smoky died when she climbed into a mostly full container of Purina Tidy Cat cat litter. This was a 35 pound yellow bucket with a hinged lid design. We are assuming our other cat jumped on it and it latched the lid and she suffocated to death. When I woke up in the morning I didn’t see Smoky, but I was rushing to get my son off to school and then go to volunteer at my quilting group. After my quilting group, I went looking for Smoky. I brought out some treats, but she didn’t come. I searched the house and called my neighbor who came over and helped me look for her. We opened every closet door, every drawer, turned the house upside down and still we did not find her. My husband was taking a large box of donations to Goodwill in the morning before work and we assumed she got out of the house when he moved the box outside to his truck. My neighbor and I begin driving around the neighborhood and alleys looking for Smoky. When we got back to my house I called my husband at work. He is a nurse manager of an ER at a local hospital. I told him to check the cameras to see if Smoky may have gotten out when he moved the box outside. He checked the camera footage, but didn’t see anything so he decided to leave work to come and help find her. It was he who opened the bucket of Purina Tidy Cat cat litter. He found her curled up like she was sleeping, but as soon as he touched her he knew she was dead. I just started screaming. My neighbor and I had walked by that bucket multiple times when we were searching the house for her, never once thinking to open the lid and check in there. It didn’t cross our minds that something like that could even happen or has happened before. This all happened when my elementary school child was getting out of school so when he came home to find his cat, his beautiful kitten dead and the house in shambles he was completely traumatized and horrified. That was his baby and her death left a huge hole in his heart. He struggled with grief and depression, as well as anxiety for months after this happened. 

Our family of animal lovers, animal rescuers, animal shelter and sanctuary volunteers is not the same happy family we once were. We are working through the grief and hurt and loss. We had never heard of or known the dangers of the hinged lid design bucket of cat litter or else we would not have bought the product. We went on CBS News to share our story. We have since found out there is no regulatory agency in the United States that keeps track of product designs that kill or harm pets. It’s impossible to know how often cats are killed in cat litter buckets, because there is no agency keeping track of this data. We are sharing our story to educate others.”

Prevent Pet Suffocation has documented several felines that have suffocated in a plastic bin or container. Cats are quick on their feet and their agility allows them to easily jump on countertops, tables, refrigerators, and other appliances where they have easier access to food bags and containers. ⁣Cats are also prone to hiding in enclosed and small places like bins, plastic containers, and washers and dryers. ⁣Please be aware!

Happy Labor Day Weekend! 

How will you be celebrating Labor Day this weekend? A barbecue? A cookout? S’mores around the campfire? Swimming? Watching some football? 🏈⁣💥🏊⁣⁣ 

⁣⁣⁣Hopefully, delicious food, snacks, and beverages are definitely on the menu! ⁣

⁣Yet, we still need to be vigilant with all snack bags, chip bags, marshmallow bags, hotdog buns bags, cookie bags, and other food bags around our pets, whether inside the house or outside in the yard. ⁣

⁣Amidst all the fun, it’s easy to miss seeing our pets get access to any of these bags or containers. ⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣All of those snack bags, chip bags, and other food bags can lead to pet suffocation.⁣⁣⁣

⁣⁣⁣So, let’s plan ahead! This year, make sure you’ve taken the necessary steps to protect your pets.⁣⁣

Have you ever seen your cat or dog with some type of bag over its head? A chip bag? A cereal bag? A pet food bag? A snack bag? A plastic bag? A grocery bag? Maybe your pet was trying to get the last of the food crumbs or hoping to find other savory snacks. 

Animals are naturally curious, and most aren’t afraid to go looking for something to snack on!

❌ However, most pet owners don’t know that these simple, common household items can pose a serious suffocation risk to their pets.⁣⁣

Both dogs and cats can suffocate within minutes if they get inside a chip bag, snack bag, pet food bag, or any type of plastic bag or container.  When a curious dog or cat puts his head into a food bag, the bag can create a vacuum-like seal around the dog’s neck.  As he tries to breathe, the bag tightens around his neck, cutting off the oxygen. This happens within minutes.

✔️ Please visit our Facebook page and website at www.preventpetsuffocation.com to learn quick and easy ways to keep your pets safe from pet suffocation. ⁣⁣When we work together, we can save the lives of even more pets! 🐶🐱

🐶 Do you often have an audience while you dine?

If you own a dog, most likely, the answer is yes! It’s hard to resist those puppy dog eyes while we eat. They can look so cute trying to get you to throw them some tidbits. 

Having your dog beg can not only be very annoying, but it can also be a safety risk for your pup. It just takes a few minutes for a dog to grab a chip bag or other food bag or container while you are distracted and find themselves at risk for pet suffocation.

Keep these handy safety tips in mind to help prevent your pets from begging while you are eating.

✔️ The easiest way to prevent your dog from begging is to not have them near you while you eat. Confine your dog to another room or put them in their crate while you eat. 

✔️ Train them to find something else to do while you are eating and to ignore you.

✔️ Teach them to go to a designated spot and stay there while you’re eating. 

✔️ Don’t give your pups table scraps as it will reinforce the begging behavior. 

✔️ Use positive reinforcement when your dog leaves people’s food alone. 

✔️ Keep all food bags and containers off the table while you eat.  

Make sure the whole family follows the same rules and boundaries so your pup doesn’t get confused. With a well-behaved dog at meal times, eating can be more relaxing for you and safer for your pups. 

Looking for fun ideas on how to make sure your pup has a fantastic summer? Here are a few things to add to your calendar:

☀️ Treat them to a pup cup at your favorite local ice cream shop

☀️ Head to the beach for an afternoon of swimming and relaxing in the sun

☀️ Go for a hike in the woods to get some fresh air

☀️ Schedule a puppy playdate with a loved one so your dog can socialize

Remember: Don’t forget to pack water and treats for them. And never leave your pups in the car this summer! Dogs overheat very quickly and struggle to cool themselves down.

By being mindful of their needs, you can make sure your furry family members have an adventure-filled summer!

💔 Many of us have experienced the profound loss of a beloved dog and found ourselves overwhelmed with inconsolable grief that can last weeks and months.

According to Frank T. McAndrew, Professor of Psychology at Knox College, research shows the loss of a dog is, in almost every way, often comparable to the loss of a loved one. He writes, “Unfortunately, there’s little in our cultural playbook – no grief rituals, no obituary in the local newspaper, no religious service – to help us get through the loss of a pet, which can make us feel more than a bit embarrassed to show too much public grief over our dead dogs.”

Dogs provide us with such unconditional love and dedicated companionship that our bond with our loyal pet can be more gratifying than personal relationships. Who doesn’t daydream about playing in a pile of puppies or snuggling with our canine companions? And, dog owners are known to be typically happier than people who own cats or no pets at all.

McAndrew writes that the psychologist Julie Axelrod has pointed out that the loss of a dog is so painful because owners aren’t just losing the pet, but a source of unconditional love or a primary companion who provides security and comfort. 

Things to help with the grieving process: 

❤️ Validate your grief and realize it will take time to heal. Practice self-care.

❤️ Speak to a counselor or join a grief support group.

❤️ Embrace your memories of your dog through photos or create a scrapbook or shadow box. 

❤️ Have a memorial service for your pet by spreading the pup’s ashes in a special place.  

❤️ Volunteer at a rescue group or shelter or foster a pet until you are ready to share your life with one again. 

Dogs are an important part of our family. The loss of a dog can be devastating. Grief has no timeline and there are no rules for mourning. Most of us will not be able to resist owning another cherished dog at some point. They are worth it!