Celebrate Raksha Bandhan With Pets: Can You Tie a Rakhi on Your Dog or Cat?

Why pet rakhi has become common in Indian urban households

In today’s Indian urban households, even pets like dogs have their own cute little bandanas for Raksha Bandhan and are eagerly waiting for their share of mithai and tilak like everyone else in the family. The idea of celebrating Raksha Bandhan for pets who have been adopted by parents who want to include them in the family, associated with sibling relationships. Rakhi for dogs has become a tradition for Indian households. 

Raksha Bandhan for pets should be considered more as including the loved animal in family traditions as opposed to the actual rakhi. The best way is to keep the celebrations uncomplicated and ensure that no threats of choking, swallowing caused by or any kind of snagging or entangling exist.

Can You Tie Rakhi on a Dog? What About Cats?

Can you tie rakhi on a dog? 

Yes, but with modifications. Light fabric rakhi for dogs is suitable; a breakaway collar for dogs or a bandana with a small, flat and securely attached festive accessory can be a safer option 

Can you tie rakhi on a cat?

A traditional rakhi should not be tied to a cat's neck. This is because cats have a habit of grooming themselves and may chew the rakhi or even swallow it. In case, you want to involve your cat in your celebrations, you can use a photo-only rakhi or make some other arrangements where there is no loose material involved.

Why is a rakhi thread dangerous for a cat? 

One should avoid tying a traditional dhaga rakhi around a cat's neck. Cats clean themselves frequently, which might lead them to chew or swallow loose thread. Swallowed thread can turn into a linear foreign body and lead to intestinal blockage or damage. Consider celebrating your cat on a photo-only basis.

Why Traditional Thread Is a Real Safety Risk

This is the part most festival guides skip, and it's the most important one.

The backwards-facing papillae on the cat's tongue aid in cleansing and manipulating food. A cat can swallow a piece of string or thread or yarn, which can embed itself in the digestive tract, while the intestines clump around it. This is called a linear foreign body, which can lead to intestinal blockage and/or injury.

If you notice a thread coming from your cat's mouth, do not attempt to remove it. The thread might be attached to something in the digestive tract, which means pulling the thread could result in injury. Instead, contact your veterinarian immediately.

7 Pet-Safe Rakhi Alternatives

Rakhi gift for pet options allow all pets to participate in the celebration without risk of any of the thread getting caught:

1. Bandana rakhi: A lightweight pet bandana can be worn for a brief time under supervision, if comfortable and will not get caught or chewed.
2. Pet-safe breakaway collar accessory: A small, lightweight breakaway collar accessory, in the form of a rakhi, may be attached to a properly fitted breakaway collar, provided that it does not have any extra threads or small parts that might become loose, and is put on under supervision.
3. Festive printed collar: This festive printed collar can give a festive look without having to tie a traditional thread rakhi. For cats, anything that can be chewed off or caught up, or become loose, should not be worn.
4. Short-term fabric wrap: A wrap for a short period of time for pictures, only to be removed as soon as the pictures are taken.
5. Rakhi bow tie or pet-safe clip: These are commonly used for dogs with longer hair, and are available in the form of a bow tie or bow clip.
6. Supervised photo-only rakhi: A traditional rakhi placed close to the pet that is not to be tied but just for pictures. All the sentiment, no danger.

Dogs Vs Cat 

What to Do If Your Pet Chews or Swallows a Rakhi

If you see your pet chewing on their rakhi or other festival accessory, take it away if it’s safe to do so. If any string, thread or any other foreign material has been ingested, contact your veterinarian immediately. Pulling out the string from the cat’s mouth is not a good idea as some part of it might be still stuck somewhere in the digestive tract. (Source)

The signs of ingestion of a foreign body such as vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy, stomach ache or changes in behaviour should also be discussed with the vet. 

Festival Food Toxic to Dogs and Cats

Common festival food toxic for dogs and cats. Raksha Bandhan translates to a constant flow of sweets and family cooking and an open kitchen door can be the most dangerous place in the house. Some of the festival foods are also toxic for dogs:

• Chocolate – Theobromine is metabolised very slowly by dogs, and just a little can make them vomit or get too restless. If a dog eats chocolate, it is crucial for you to contact the veterinarian immediately. (Source)
• Acute kidney injury from raisins – Dogs can suffer from kidney damage due to eating grapes and raisins. Therefore, you should keep grapes and foods containing grapes away from your dog, and if your dog gets access to them by mistake, you should consult with your vet.
• Rich and fatty sweets – Sweets that contain a lot of fat have been known to upset the stomachs of animals and also lead to future cases of pancreatitis. Therefore, you should not offer your pet sweets that are made with plenty of ghee.
• Xylitol – Sugar-free sweets, candies and other products contain Xylitol which is toxic to pets; it leads to a very dangerous drop in blood sugar. It is recommended not to assume that sugar-free label products are safer for your pets. (Source)

If your pet consumes a possibly poisonous item, there is no need to wait for signs. Get in touch with your vet and have the packaging or ingredient list ready. What has been eaten, the ingredients, and the weight of your pet are all valuable information to your veterinarian.

Managing Guests, Door-Dashing, and Festival Anxiety

With all the family coming and going, a door opening and closing significantly more than normal — which is significantly dangerous for a pet bolting outside. Have a leash near the door and have one family member "door duty", and have a quiet room with familiar bedding for an anxious pet to go. Cats particularly enjoy having a room with water, litter and no strangers that has their door closed. During busy celebrations of a festival, ensure that your pet has proper access to clean drinking water. Petverse wireless Water fountain is the best option to provide flowing water to your pet when you are busy celebrating with your guests.

Keeping Meals on Schedule When the Day Gets Busy

When festival days don't adhere to the normal clock, pets do best when they adhere to their normal feeding schedule. A small midday snack helps to keep blood sugar levels and mood stable if the lunch is delayed due to ritual and guests. For families who are busy with work and rituals, there is an automatic feeder from Petverse that will help dispense the meals on time even when no one has a spare hand.

Building Festival Routine Into the Rest of the Year

Having a pet-safe time to celebrate Raksha Bandhan is one thing, but having the right habits to make it safe is another, and they're the ones that stick with you long after the festival. See Petverse’s guides for festival season pet safety and maintaining routines when it's Diwali, Holi and beyond for more.

There is no requirement for a festival to appear the same way to your pet; for the pet, even a mere bandana, picture, or festive decoration can evoke the same sentiment associated with a normal rakhi while being safe for them.

Frequently Asked Questions