How to calm cats during fireworks

Fireworks season can be a frightening time for our pets. Many cats are frightened of loud noises – and that includes fireworks. Cats perceive the sudden bangs, whooshes and flashes of light as a threat that might cause them harm, so in many cases, their natural response is to run and hide somewhere safe.

Fortunately, there are ways to help reduce a cat’s stress and anxiety. You can try these strategies to help a scared cat – ideally at least a month in advance of Bonfire Night or other noisy festivities. But first, it’s helpful to understand why cats might be scared.

The loud noises and explosions of colour that usually accompany fireworks can be frightening to a cat who doesn’t understand what’s happening.

As cats have much more sensitive hearing than humans, the sound of fireworks is much louder for them. Add in the unpredictability of those noises and it’s easy to understand why cats and fireworks are a bad combination.

Cats will express stress and anxiety in different ways, but their instinct is usually to run away and hide.

Keep an eye on their body language. Cats hide stress and anxiety really well and signs are often very subtle. They may have large pupils and their ears might be turned out to the side, listening to the noises. They may also be licking their nose and crouching down to the ground.

Some cats might show aggressive behaviour if you try to touch them or pick them up due to stress – or alternatively, they could be overly clingy. It's fine to reassure a cat showing clingy behaviour. Other cats may over-groom or eat and drink less. All cats are different, so learn how your cat responds to stressful events and give them what they need to cope.

One of the best ways to keep your cat calm during fireworks season is to get them used to the sound – and from a young age, if possible. If adopting a new kitten, ask about whether they have been socialised to firework sounds during the socialisation period of two to seven weeks.

Try the Dogs Trust Sounds Scary programme – which can be just as effective for cats as it is for dogs – to slowly introduce the sound of fireworks to your cat. Start playing the sounds on a very low volume briefly and make sure your cat isn’t showing any signs of fear. While you play the sounds, do something positive with your cat, like feeding or playing with them. Over time, gradually increase the length of time and the volume at which you’re playing the fireworks noise.

If your cat is showing signs of fear during the Sounds Scary programme, go back to playing the fireworks noises more quietly again for multiple sessions until they’re more comfortable with these sounds.

A cat scared by fireworks will usually want to retreat somewhere safe and quiet. You can create a comforting space for your pet to hide in with something as simple as a blanket-lined cardboard box, a cupboard or a cosy room.

If your cat doesn’t choose to go into the safe space, don’t force them to – they may prefer to choose their own space. Don’t confine them to one room either, as this can make them more anxious. Instead, ensure your cat has their usual access to all rooms in the house.

Make your house feel more relaxing for your cat when there are fireworks outside by closing the curtains or blinds to block out the flashes of light. If your cat is generally comfortable with television or radio sound, try playing one of these at a normal volume to drown out some of the outside noise.

You could also treat them to a new toy, such as a wand, a fishing-rod-style toy, or a catnip-filled mouse to distract them from what’s happening outside.

It’s important to make sure your cat can’t get outside when they are frightened; they might be disoriented by panic and easily become lost.

Close all windows and doors. Also, ensure your cat is microchipped – this is now a legal requirement, so make sure that their microchip details are up to date.

To help soothe your cat during fireworks, you could consider using a feline pheromone diffuser. Pheromones are naturally occurring chemical ‘messages’ that all cats release to communicate with themselves or with other cats. These messages influence a cat’s behaviour. Pheromone diffusers work by dispersing a synthetic version of a cat’s naturally occurring ‘calming’ pheromone in the air. 

Also, try to stay calm yourself – cats can easily pick up signs of stress from their owners. If they see you behaving normally, this can help to ease any anxiety.

If you feel your cat is still struggling to cope, ask your vet for advice or perhaps request a referral to a qualified cat behaviourist.

If you have cat insurance with Petplan, you can access our Pet Expert Chat by logging into your My Petplan account and speaking with someone specifically about firework anxiety in pets.