Dear Critter Corner: There were a lot of fireworks this year in my neighborhood, and my cats were really scared. Anything I can do to prepare for the next holiday?
Fireworks can be very scary, loud, and abrupt for many animals, causing them to go into hiding indoors or try to escape the home to somewhere they think is safer. It’s important to ensure that your home is a safe and secure place for your cats to find comfort before, during, and after the fireworks.
Start with keeping all windows and doors closed and curtains or blinds drawn so that it limits their ability to escape if they are scared and limits their view of the fireworks, which may be disorienting. Double-check that all your pets have their collars on and are microchipped, and that you have this information readily available should they try to escape while you are coming and going from the home. If possible, especially during the night of the fireworks, see if you can stay home with your cats or have a friend or pet sitter stay with them. This will ensure that someone is home in case they try to escape or hide.
A few hours before the fireworks begin, prepare a small room for your cats to stay in for the night and early morning. Make sure the room includes all their essential needs, including their food, water, litterbox, bed, blankets, and toys. If the room has a TV in it, play a talk show or a movie — something to help drown out the sounds of the fireworks. If you don’t have a TV in that room, you can also use a white noise machine, a radio, or any other device that will play background music/noise to muffle the sounds of the fireworks.
There are also calming sprays, treats, collars, and diffusers that can be used in the cat’s room before, during, and after the fireworks. Some cats (and dogs) do well with calming shirts that apply constant pressure around their body to help ease anxiety and stress in difficult situations. Be sure to desensitize your cat to the shirt beforehand by trying it on them and giving them treats and praise/pets as rewards.
For some cats, a veterinarian may be able to prescribe a calming or anti-anxiety medication to help. These are usually administered a few hours prior to the fireworks. Your vet can tell you more about which medications are best for your cat and when to give them.