Fireworks and loud noises: helping a frightened pet
Fireworks and firecrackers in Ramadan, at Eid and at weddings terrify many cats and dogs, and some run away. How to prepare your home, what to do during the noise, and how to keep your pet from getting lost.
Cats and dogs hear far better than we do, and a sudden bang from a firework or firecracker startles them. On Ramadan nights, at Eid, at weddings and during big matches, many pets hide or tremble, and some bolt from home or slip their leash.
Signs of fear
- Hiding under the bed or behind the sofa.
- Trembling, panting without exercise, drooling.
- A dog clinging to you, trying to dig or escape; a cat with wide eyes and a puffed-up tail.
- A lot of barking or meowing, or toileting in the wrong place.
Prepare your home before the night
- A safe spot: a quiet inner room with its blanket and things that smell familiar. For a cat, a box or a high place to hide.
- Close windows and balcony doors, and draw the curtains. A frightened cat may jump from a balcony.
- Play the TV or calm music at a medium volume to mask the bangs.
- Walk your dog and let it toilet early, before the noise starts.
During the noise
- Stay calm and act normally. Gentle stroking is fine, but don't show your own worry.
- Never punish fear, and don't drag your pet out of its hiding place.
- Don't pick up a frightened cat by force: it may scratch you and run.
- Don't try to "get it used to it" by walking into the fireworks. That makes the fear worse.
So it doesn't get lost
- Keep your pet indoors on nights with a lot of fireworks. If you go out, use a short leash and a well-fitted collar.
- Put a tag with your phone number on it. Dogs must also wear their licence tag.
- Take recent, clear photos, so you can post quickly if it goes missing.
- If it does: read what to do in the first 24 hours and post in Lost and found. If you find a frightened animal in the street, read found a lost pet?.
In the long run
- Many pets improve with gradual training: recorded firework sounds at a very low volume during play or meals, turned up little by little over weeks. If the fear grows, go back a step.
- If the fear is severe, with your pet hurting itself or not settling for hours, talk to a vet or a trainer well before the season.