A Simple Way to Help Cats: Dealing with fireworks

By: Karen Glass

Many of us are looking forward to Fourth of July celebrations this year! However, our feline friends are likely not as excited about noisy fireworks, as loud bangs and bright flashes of light can easily startle cats and make them fearful. This is in part because they have super sensitive hearing, meaning they hear things humans do, but a lot louder. In fact, cats have one of the widest ranges of hearing in mammals.

There are several steps you can take to help your kitty feel safer and more secure this Fourth of July:

1. Keep your cat indoors. Keeping your cat indoors is important for their safety 365 days of the year; however, on July 4th, this is even more true. Cats have super-fast reflexes and when faced with the sudden noise and flash of fireworks, they can bolt for safety. In their panic, however, they could run into the road and be hit by a car. Keep them indoors with windows shut (panicked cats have been known to rip screens and topple out of windows).
2. Block out the flashes. If possible, try to keep your cat away from rooms with lots of windows and be sure to pull the curtains or blinds to block out the light.
3. Drown out the noise. Mask the sound of the fireworks as best you can with white noise, soothing music from a radio or gentle background noise from the TV.
4. Ensure access to a “safe space”. When scared, cats like to hide in a safe, dark place. If your cat has a favorite hiding place, be sure they have easy access to it. You can also create one by providing a cardboard box lined with blankets to help them feel more secure.
5. Be calm and give your cat space. If you act worried, then your cat may think they should be worried too. Let your cat guide you on how they feel and if they want affection. Trying to pick up your cat and cuddle them during fireworks might make them more fearful. Also, don’t check on them constantly if they have chosen to hide as invading their “safe space” can make them more nervous.
6. Stay home. If you know your cat is particularly anxious around fireworks, try not to leave them home alone; having you around can help them feel more settled. If you do leave the house, be sure to follow steps #1-5 to help create a comforting space for your cat.

Once the noise from the fireworks passes, your cat will come out of hiding. But remember – cats can hear a lot better than we can, so while we may think there are no more noises going on, your cat can still hear them further away. So be patient and wait for your cat to emerge at his own pace.