The total solar eclipse is just around the corner, and just about everyone is ready to see the once in a lifetime event. But how will the eclipse affect our pets? And how can we prepare them for it? Well, the answer is actually pretty simple: You don't. According to NASA experts, there’s no need for your cats and dogs to use eclipse glasses.
“It’s no different than any other day,” Angela Speck, co-chair of the National Solar Eclipse Task Force, explains. “On a normal day your pets don’t try to look at the sun and therefore don’t damage their eyes, so on this day they’re not going to do it either.”
Contrary to popular belief, the sun doesn’t become more dangerous during the eclipse. It's only more dangerous because people choose to look directly at it. Some animals may be affected by thinking it's actually dusk. Animal eyes are actually almost identical to human eyes, but due to their basic reflexes, animals never look directly at the sun.
However, while it's highly unlikely your cat or dog will look directly into the sun, taking extra precautions certainly won't hurt. Some people are opting to keep their pets inside.
