Helping your Cat to cope with Fireworks
The bright flashes and loud bangs of fireworks can be exciting and fun for us but, for our cats, they can be confusing and frightening. This is because it’s difficult for them to understand that they aren’t in danger when they hear/see them, and their senses are much better than ours – so they experience fireworks much more intensely than we do!
Here are some top tips to keep your cat safe and calm on fireworks night:
Get them inside well before dark and make sure all windows and cat flaps are shut/locked so they can’t get back out. It might be worth getting them used to a slightly earlier dinner time a few weeks ahead, so they get used to coming home before dark.
Close your curtains before it gets dark and leave the lights on to hide the flashes.
Make them a den to hide in if they wish. This video form the PDSA shows you how https://youtu.be/K263-610wiw
Give them a litter tray near their den – if you have multiple cats, they will need one tray each, plus a spare so they don’t have to share.
Play some music to help drown out the noises from fireworks. Classical can work well, or something with a deep bass to help cover up any bangs – just make sure it’s at a volume your cat is comfortable with i.e. not too loud! It’s worth starting this a few days/weeks ahead so your cat gets used to the music before fireworks night.
Keep them calm and relaxed with pheromones. These are chemical messages that cats produce to mark their territory and communicate with each other, some of which help them feel calm. You can help your cat feel extra calm by using a pheromone diffuser, or spray, which contains man-made ‘happy’ cat pheromones. For the best effect, plug a diffuser in a few weeks before firework season begins and keep it topped up until the season has ended.
Use calming supplements and herbal remedies to help your cat relax. These work in a variety of ways, depending on their specific ingredients. Some supplements are more effective than others, and each cat responds differently, so if one type doesn’t suit your cat, you may find that a different brand works better. Please contact us for advice.
Try to stick to normal routines and behave normally but, if it helps, distract them with something fun to do such as a game, some treats, or a toy stuffed with food.
Comfort them if they come to you for reassurance – don’t ignore them, but if they want to be alone, let them (just keep a close eye on them). Don’t pick up or restrain your cat if they are scared – cats prefer to control how they cope.
Don’t confine them to one room, while well-intended, this confinement may increase a cat’s stress. Cats may be tempted to squeeze into a tight space when they are scared so you might want to ensure that any unsuitable areas are blocked off to keep them safe.
Never punish them for anything they do when they’re scared – this will just scare them more.
And remember to check that your cat’s microchip details are up-to-date to give you a better chance of being reunited if they run away from home.
If your cat is still scared of fireworks despite all of these steps our vets may be able to prescribe some stronger medication to help. Please contact us to discuss this, and any of the above, to help keep your cat as calm as possible during firework season.
For further advice please visit Cats and Fireworks – PDSA
How to make your Cat a Fireworks Den
A cosy, safe den might help your cat feel safe and secure if they are frightened on fireworks night. Here are tips on how to make one:
- Make it somewhere they go when they feel worried. Cats often feel safest when they’re up high, so they’ll probably like their den to be on a shelf, on top of a wardrobe, or in the top of a cupboard. A covered cat bed is ideal for helping them feel protected, but make sure it’s well secured and won’t fall off wherever you put it. Alternatively, they may like a den behind the sofa, under a table, in a crate, or inside a big, safe, empty cupboard.
- Make the den a few weeks before fireworks season starts so they get used to it, and give them treats/praise when they go in so they think of it as a nice place.
- Make it as enclosed as possible by using an enclosed bed, a cardboard box, or by draping blankets over whatever you’re using.
- Make it comfortable with their bed or lots of cushions and blankets.
- Put some of their favourite toys and treats in it.
- Give them access to it at all times, but never force them into it or shut them inside it.
- Make sure they have a bowl of water very near to it.
- Don’t be disheartened if they don’t use it, or choose to hide somewhere else.
- Keep an eye on them when they’re in the den, but don’t disturb them – if they’re in it, it’s likely they want to be alone.
- Never force them out of the den even if they’ve been in it for a long time – just make sure they have access to food and water.
You may also like to watch this ‘how to’ video provided by the PDSA
