The answer isn鈥檛 as straightforward as one might think, according to Dr. Raffaela Lesch, an assistant professor of biology at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock who studies how domestication affects animals.

鈥淭he answer will depend a lot on how the animal is kept,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ost animals don鈥檛 panic or freak out with the sudden darkness. Indoor pets like cats probably won鈥檛 respond to the solar eclipse because they are used to having a lot of changes in their environment. Animals who have more experience with the outdoors may experience a level of confusion. Dogs, for example, might be a little impatient and walk around and try to figure out if they should trust their internal clock or what they are perceiving outside.鈥�

While some pets may display a level of confusion during the eclipse, Lesch said this isn鈥檛 anything to worry about. Pets may begin their nighttime routines, walk around, or seek treats or reassurance.

鈥淔or pets like cats and dogs, you can always give them a treat or a toy for the duration of the solar eclipse,鈥� Lesch said. 鈥淚t will be a very short time where it鈥檚 really dark. As long as we stay calm, the animals will be calm as well.鈥�

For pet parents who are worried about leaving their pets unattended during the solar eclipse, Lesch said that it shouldn鈥檛 be a problem for well-adjusted animals, but advised caution for pets who have separation anxiety.

鈥淚f they are used to being left alone, I wouldn鈥檛 be worried about it,鈥� Lesch said. 鈥淭hey might wake up and realize something is going on, but I wouldn鈥檛 have any concerns about them having any major fears about the eclipse, unless you have an animal that already has separation anxiety. In that situation, you should consider being there with your pet, so you don鈥檛 have a situation where the pet is scared, and another level of confusion is added on. In general, staying home alone during the eclipse shouldn鈥檛 be a problem for well-adjusted animals.鈥�

For animal lovers in general, Lesch said people can expect animals who are active at dusk and dawn 鈥� such as racoons, foxes, and opossums 鈥� may make an appearance during the solar eclipse when they normally wouldn鈥檛 be out at midday.

鈥淚f you live out in the countryside, it will be interesting to see what animals come out of the woods during the solar eclipse,鈥� Lesch said. 鈥淎nimals that have shifted their routines to avoid contact with humans usually don鈥檛 come out during the daytime, but they might peek their heads out of their hidey-holes during the eclipse.鈥�

Lesch鈥檚 advice for pet parents is simply to sit back and enjoy the show with their pets during the solar eclipse.

鈥淚 would say to just enjoy it,鈥� she said. 鈥淭ake time to observe your animals. If they show any changes in their behavior, they will mainly be confused. Take joy in observing what they do during the different stages of eclipses.鈥�

Lesch said that observing the whimsical behavior of chickens could add a delightful layer to the unpredictability of the cosmic event.

鈥淚f we think about chickens, they respond to the dark/light cycle a lot stronger than other animals, and we could expect them to have a stronger response to the sudden disappearance of daylight,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f someone has a flock of pet chickens, it will be especially fun to sit and watch what they are doing during the eclipse.鈥�

Visit to learn more about 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock’s Solar Eclipse Celebration, and to watch a video of Lesch’s advice on pet behavior during the solar eclipse.

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