Although they’re beautiful and festive, fireworks aren’t as fun for our pets. Cats and dogs can hear a much wider range of sounds, and softer sounds than us. Firework displays can indirectly pose risks to animal safety by causing them to feel stressed, take flight and try to escape the loud noises.
Tips for keeping your dog calm and safe during the fireworks
- Keep your dog away from the fireworks.
- Make sure your dog’s microchip and details are up to date so they can be easily returned in case of an escape.
- Take your dog on a long walk before the fireworks begin. A tired dog may be a lot less anxious.
- Create a safe space for your dog inside and close the windows and curtains to block out the sounds and flashes from the fireworks.
- Drown out the noise further with relaxing music, white noise or the TV turned on.
- Distract and entertain your dog with treats and games.
- Ignore the fireworks yourself.
- If you know your dog gets very anxious with loud noises, speak to your vet about using calming supplements.
Tips for keeping your cat calm and safe during the fireworks
- Make sure your cat’s microchip and details are up to date in case of an escape.
- Keep your cat inside.
- Provide plenty of safe hiding spots, including in high spots as cats feel safer up high.
- Block off any areas where your cat may escape from and keep all windows shut with the curtains drawn.
- Drown out the noise further with relaxing music, white noise or the TV turned on.
- Keep your cat entertained with treats and toys.
- Give your cat some space if they’re feeling scared and avoid picking them up.
- Try using a plug-in diffuser such as Feliway to help keep your cat calm during the fireworks.
