Cats and fireworks generally don’t mix. Your kitty may run and hide when the boom, boom, boom, booms start. If your cat is fearfully aggressive, they may even aggress toward you or another cat. Thankfully, even fearful cats can learn to tolerate fireworks. Let’s discuss some strategies to help your feline friend feel more secure.
Working With My Own Cat
My own cat, Zoloft, isn’t thrilled about fireworks. If they’re nearby, he will hide pretty quickly. I want to share a story of two very different evenings that occurred over the two nights prior to me writing this post as it has some great suggestions for calming your own cat sprinkled throughout.
Night One
The weather in Minnesota has been hot lately, but thankfully in the evening it has been cool enough that I can turn off the AC. That means windows open and fresh air coming in. Friday night was no exception so as soon as it was a tolerable temperature, I flung open all my windows and turned off the giant electricity leech that is my air conditioner.
Unfortunately for both me and my sweet, sweet Zoloft, this weekend is July 4th. It didn’t take long after opening the windows and the sun taking its nightly rest for the booms to begin. Z got spooked as soon as the boom boom booms started happening. He went from relaxing peacefully on the floor after an exhausting day of being cute to on edge and in full alert mode.
Zoloft quickly retreated to the inner hallway where he likes to hide during thunderstorms. As the fireworks eventually faded, he was eventually able to move about the apartment more freely. He definitely was more nervous and reactive than usual. As the occasional single loud pop would go off (I’ll never understand why people set off a single firework…), he was on full alert once again.
Night Two
Contrast this with last night, July 4th Eve. Yes, I did make up a new holiday.
Not only was it the day before Independence Day, but it was a Saturday meaning folks had more time to light things on fire and launch them into the night sky. Yesterday was also considerably warmer than Friday night so I kept my air conditioning on all night. There definitely were more pops going off in the distance, but they were muted by the sound of the AC.
This may seem like a small difference, but to Z it made a huge difference. Here’s photographic evidence of how our night went:
Z would occasionally perk up at some of the louder booms or if a rocket was shot off during the brief time periods where the AC was resting, but mostly it was a pretty relaxed evening for the two of us. He was his usual calm, snuggly self and not living in fear of the boom boom booms!
So why do I bring this story up (other than me looking to share a cute picture of my cat sleeping) and how does it apply to your cat? Let’s look at why cats may be afraid of fireworks.
Why Cats And Fireworks Don’t Mix
Cats can be very anxious creatures because of their unique evolutionary niche as both predatory and prey. Ancestors of our house cats that ran away from loud, scary noises survived better than the ones who didn’t.
Unfortunately, that manifests itself today in the fear many cats experience during fireworks. This fear can lead to problems for both felines and humans. Fearful cats can hide, act aggressively, or even put themselves in danger in an attempt to escape. It’s important to make sure you reduce the risk of being bitten by mitigating their anxiety.
Addressing Cats’ Fear Of Fireworks
If your cat’s firework fears are excessive, result in severe aggression, or are a sudden change for your cat, start with a trip to the veterinarian. They can help determine if your cat is in pain or has a medical condition that may be contributing to their behavior.
Techniques To Try At Home
In many cases, fear of fireworks isn’t necessarily abnormal in that it makes sense cats would be afraid of it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not problematic. You can help your cat feel a bit safer and less afraid.
- Bring your cat indoors well before fireworks start. This includes if they only spend time in a catio.
- Ensure your windows, doors, and other potential escape routes are closed. This is a great time to do a cat proofing audit of your home to check for lose screens on your windows.
- Use a fan, your air conditioner, or cat friendly music to dampen some of the boom boom boom booms coming from outside.
- Build a positive association by offering your cat’s favorite treats or a food puzzle in combination with drowning out the noise. Zoloft and I liked to play the “boom treat” game where he would hear a boom and get a treat in during the nights where the boom boom boom booms were less intense and quiet.
Let Your Cat Hide Safely
If your cat runs and hides, don’t try to pull them out of the hiding spot so you can pet them. This may seem like it is calming, but the cat is already in a state of fear. Being grabbed is not going to help your cat. The only time you should pull a cat from a hiding spot is if they are in danger. Otherwise, let them hide.
Actually, encouraging them to hide is a good idea. Boxes, a repurposed litter box enclosure, cozy cat beds, or other safe places to hide should be abundantly available for your cat. The only place I’d block off would be under your bed as it can be challenging to get a cat out from under there in an emergency.
Keeping Your Cat Calm During Fireworks
Whatever you do, listen to your cat and observe their body language. If they are showing signs that they’ve had enough, give them space. Some cats may want to sit by their humans without being petted. That may be all they need to help stay calm. If you’re Zoloft, the secret to calm is being petted with a glove brush. The things that cat will do for some glove brush pets…
Cats can be spooked for hours after a scary event so the fireworks may not end for your cat once the smoke clears. Give them space and be gentle with them the next day. They may appreciate a little extra play time, some catnip, or even some extra clicker training if your cat knows the magic of the click to help them feel more secure.
I hope you and your cats have a safe and cool 4th of July!
