The fireworks season can be really scary and frightening for all pets. Diwali is celebrated from October and lasts for five days. It is a Hindu festival of lights. Afterwards, running on from Diwali, Guy Fawkes Bonfire night is celebrated on and around 5th November, so it can feel like a long period of fireworks to endure and get through with your pet.
Here we give some tips on how to help your dog and cat cope with the firework season.
Prepare for fireworks
Sometimes dogs and cats, when scared, can bolt and escape from your home. Make sure that your cat and dogs are microchipped, and if already microchipped, that their details are up to date, such as phone numbers, owner details and addresses. This will help you to be reunited with your pet should they escape.
Also make sure that your cat or dog is wearing their collar with their ID tag, just in case fireworks are set off unexpectedly and frighten your pets.
Cats and fireworks
Cats are alarmed by loud and abrupt noises. Cats don’t always show that they are alarmed or scared and the biggest problems for cats are changes to their normal environments and routines.
Signs out to look out for that you cat is worried and scared.
- Hiding away
- Less interaction than usual
- Acting withdrawn
- Acting anxious and alert
- Vertical scratch marking
- Spray and/or peeing on objects around the home
- Over eating or under eating
- Excessive grooming
- Changes in your cat’s normal behaviour
How you can help your cat to cope
When you hear fireworks starting, or you anticipate fireworks, lock the cat flap, doors and windows when your cat/s are safely inside, so that they can’t get out and wander outside during fireworks. In anticipation, keep your cat indoors after dark. We usually keep our cats in after 5pm.
Close curtains so fireworks and flashes cannot be seen.
Provide a hiding place that is a bolt hole and they can feel safe in. Usually our cats go underneath the bed or the coffee table! You can also build a safe-haven den which is somewhere they can hide when they feel fearful and they find comforting and safe. Build it in advance of fireworks season so they know where it is in your home and can get used to it. See tips on building a den below.
Provide a litter tray, food, treats and water so that your cat has everything that he or she needs. If you have more than one cat, make sure you provide a litter tray, food, treats and water for each cat.
Play music loud enough to drown out the noise of the fireworks. Classical music is a fantastic and soothing music, and it is known to be soothing and calming to dogs and cats. We play Classic FM which has a fantastic, special classical music programme for pets on Bonfire Night and it really works! And it’s soothing and lovely for humans to listen to too.
When the coast is clear – usually after midnight – listen to see if the fireworks have stopped and let them out/unlock the cat flap or door.
If fireworks do start up again unexpectedly, call your cat in immediately and leave the cat flap or back door open so they can dart back in if they need to!
Feliway can be good for cats to keep them calm. It is a synthetic copy of a pheromone that a cat leaves on objects by rubbing their face on objects. This artificial pheromone can prevent or reduce stress related behaviours. It can be bought in a plug-in diffuser format or spray and is available in vet practices and pet shops.
Zylkene is a natural supplement that can be added to food. It is used in helping pets, both cats and dogs, cope when facing stressful situations or before events that cause a change or disruption to their normal environment. Ask your vet for more details.
Dogs and fireworks
Dogs can be very sensitive to sound and loud noises and can react mildly through to extremely.
Signs out to look out for that you dog is worried and scared.
- Ears are back
- Excessive panting
- Shaking
- Drooling
- Barking excessively
- Hiding away
- Messing in the home
How you can help your dog to cope
When you hear fireworks starting, or you anticipate fireworks, lock all the doors and windows and keep your dog safely inside.
Walk your dog/s earlier in the evening before fireworks start and keep your dog indoors after dark.
Provide a dog den that feels secure and comfortable for your dog. If it is new, then introduce it to your dog a few weeks before the fireworks start. Add cosy blankets and bedding.
Play music loud enough to drown out the fireworks’ noises and bangs. Classical music is ideal and is known to be soothing and calming for dogs. Classic FM usually have a special classical music pets programme during Fireworks Night, and it really works.
Give your dog a treat and chew. Play with them to distract them and keep them occupied.
Keep calm with your dog and never punish your dog if they are distressed and showing unwanted behaviours, as this will make them more stressed and scared.
Like cats, dogs can use pheromone products. One pheromone that dogs have is called the `dog appeasing pheromone’ which a mother dog uses to reassure her puppies when they are young. This is available in products and can help dogs with noise and sound issues and sensitivities through the fireworks season. Adaptil can be used in a plug in diffuser format, a collar or spray that can be sprayed in bedding and dog beds.
Zylkene is a natural supplement that can be added to food. It is used in helping pets, both cats and dogs, cope when facing stressful situations or before events that cause a change or disruption to their normal environment. Ask your vet for more details.
Make a safe den for your pets
You can make dens anywhere in your home. Perhaps go for a quiet room or your pets’ favourite room so that they know where it is. If you already have a crate or cat box, you can use these. Make sure your pet can come and go as they please.
Make your pets den in advance, around 2-3 weeks before the fireworks season start. If you have more than one pet, try and make a den for each pet, especially cats as they prefer their own territories.
The pets den should be large enough for your cat or dog to comfortably fit into, lie in, stand up and turn around. Don’t make the den too small.
Have some music in the room that you can turn up when the fireworks bangs and noises are loud. Classical music is ideal and Classic FM usually have a special classical music pets programme during Fireworks Night.
Line the pet den with lots of soft fabrics such as blankets, towels, old jumpers and clothes that have familiar smells and will be comfortable and warm for your pet. You can put a blanket over the den when the fireworks are intense and happening to drown out any flashes and lights, and turn the music up too!
Add in treats and toys so that your pet associates the den with good things and is rewarded for being in their den.
If you can, you can leave the den for your cats or dogs so that they have it permanently and can retreat to it whenever they want to.