Keeping Dogs and Cats Safe During a Solar Eclipse
You can relax. There is no real data or even anecdotal evidence to suggest that an eclipse will harm dogs or cats any more than a typical sunny day would.
Dogs and cats generally have an aversion to bright light emitted by the sun in any event and the discomfort it causes them as they squint is sufficient to override any curiosity they may have to look directly into the sun. They will be no more inclined to stare at the sun than they normally would.
On the other hand, you never know. Pets are known on occasion to do things that we simply would simply not expect them to do, so it may be wise to keep your pets indoors during the solar eclipse just to be on the safe side. Perhaps draw the curtains as well.
Keeping your dog or cat indoors would not only prevent the possibility of a pet staring into the sun, but may help reduce any stress, fear or panic that the eclipse might produce. Daylight will be diminish much faster than the normal and gradual approach of night time, and the temperature will also suddenly drop. It is reasonable to assume that dogs and cats will react to these sudden dramatic changes and being outside in public may not be the best situation for your pet.
At the end of the day, considering that a solar eclipse is really not a rare event in the big scheme of things and that million of animals of every sort get through them just fine, you should just relax and enjoy the eclipse with your pets inside just to be double cautious.
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