Dr. Wendy Vandenboom

Volume 2 Issue 1
April 1, 2008
Author: Dr. Wendy Vandenboom

Oh, to hasten to those miniature sounds for attention from our furry or not so furry members of our family that are so dependent on our love and care. But what happens—when the sounds for immediate help become fixed and our adrenalin, stemmed from our love, moves us to act more quickly? We, of course, seek immediate help from our veterinarian or emergency service. But what, at that time, is going through the minds of our children as they watch little Fido or Fluffy being carried off? The following questions were asked by children, who have pets and are concerned what happens to them, when emergencies occur and choices are made.

Dr. Wendy Vandenboom, DVM, who practices in the Fox Valley region of Wisconsin is a wife, mother of two, and an instructor of small animal science at Fox Valley Technical College. She understands the compassion that children have with their pets and responds accordingly:

What are the dangers of burning candles in households that have cats?


If you enjoy burning candles, you need to take some extra precautions if you have cats in the house. Cats are very inquisitive and they like to check everything out. A candle flame flickers and moves – which can be very interesting to a cat. Often a cat will have burned its whiskers or nose before it realizes that the flame is hot. There is also a danger that the cat’s fur or tail will catch fire as it moves past a burning candle. Your cat may also knock a candle over – which could be disastrous for both you and your cat.

If you choose to burn candles in your house, follow some simple guidelines:

1. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
2. Make sure your pet is not left alone with a burning candle.
3. Place your candle in a secure location to prevent accidental tipping and to keep your cat from brushing past it.
4. Only burn your candles in containers meant to hold candles.

On a similar note, take care when using a wood-burning fireplace in households with pets. Cats especially like warm places, and will lie close to the fireplace. Please make sure you have a screen in place to prevent sparks from shooting out and landing on your pet. Many pets are severely burned each year from fireplace sparks. With a little extra care and planning, you can enjoy your cozy candles and fireplaces and keep your precious pets safe.