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Plenty of people love the bright colors and lights of holiday fireworks, but most pets don’t share that excitement. Dogs often cower and duck for cover when they hear fireworks. Cats can be just as frightened, though you may not recognize their fear as easily.
“Fear of fireworks in our feline companions is probably more common than we realize,” says Dr. Tracey Deiss, medical lead for feline pain and anxiety at Zoetis. In fact, research suggests that anywhere from 23% to 50% of cats are afraid of fireworks.
Cats are good at hiding distress. What’s more, they often show their fear differently than dogs, Dr. Deiss says.
Read on to learn the signs of fireworks anxiety in cats, plus get tips to keep your cat calm during fireworks.
Signs Your Cat Is Scared of Fireworks
Not sure if your cat is afraid of fireworks? Pay attention for signs of anxiety. These can include:
- Crouching or slinking
- Over-grooming
- Pacing or restlessness
- Clinginess
- Freezing
- Running away
- Hiding
Keep in mind, too, that some cats might be more afraid of the flickering lights of fireworks than the booming sounds, says Amanda Caron, certified cat behavior consultant and fear-free certified pet trainer at Frisky Feline Behavior Consulting.
If your cat has a view of the fireworks from their favorite window, they might react when the windows light up. Cats who are more afraid of the sound will likely run and hide without even seeing the lights.
How to Prepare Your Cat for Fireworks
Once you understand which part of the fireworks frightens your cat, you can better prep the house ahead of time.
Start by creating a safe space with hiding places and comforting items, like your cat’s favorite bedding and toys.
Choose a secure room that doesn’t lead outside the house to prevent a frightened dash into the night. But just in case your cat does manage an escape, make sure they’re wearing an updated ID tag on a properly fitting collar. It’s also a good idea to microchip your cat if possible.
If your cat seems afraid of the lights, try these tips:
- Keep curtains or blinds drawn.
- Close off sunrooms and porches.
- Prepare a visual distraction, like cat TV.
If your cat seems more afraid of the loud noise, try these tips:
- Play music or the TV
- Turn on a white noise machine, fan, or appliances to add some background noise
- Keep them in a room toward the middle or lower level of the house, where sound is more muffled
Can you desensitize cats to fireworks?
It might seem like exposing your cat to loud noises or bright lights could help them feel less frightened of fireworks, but that depends on their age.
Dr. Deiss says exposure therapy might help kittens 6 months and younger overcome a fear of fireworks and grow up with confidence around noise.
That said, forcing a fearful adult cat into a high-anxiety situation might only make them more scared next time, Caron says.
A vet or certified cat trainer can offer more guidance on whether exposure therapy could help your cat and how to try this approach.
How to Calm Your Cat During Fireworks
Once fireworks start lighting up your neighborhood, your kitty might be ready to make a break for their favorite dark closet. You can help them feel safe and reassured with these tips:
- Offer a treat puzzle: Give your cat a puzzle toy or lick mat. Or better yet, organize a treasure hunt by hiding treats around their safe space. A busy cat will be less worried about fireworks!
- Choose cat-friendly music: “Music with soft, slow rhythms can create a calming environment,” Dr. Deiss says. Cats tend to music with sounds they’d hear in nature, like chirping birds or rustling leaves.
- Spray some pheromones: Calming pheromones, like Feliway, can help your cat feel more relaxed in stressful situations. You can try a pheromone spray, diffuser, or calming collar.
- Wrap them up: Some kitties might like the comforting feeling of a pressure wrap, like the Thundershirt. The wrap gently compresses your cat’s chest and back, which prompts their bodies to release anxiety-fighting endorphins. Just make sure to do trial run of the pressure wrap first to make sure your cat likes it.
- Try a supplement: Ask your vet about supplements, like cat-safe CBD oil, to help your cat stay calm. Other cat-safe anti-anxiety supplements include options like Purina Calming Care and Solliquin.
- Let them hide: If your cat retreats to a hiding spot, Caron says to avoid forcing them out. Exposing them may only heighten their anxiety. Plus, a panicked cat might not appreciate your hands grabbing for them!
- Stay calm: Cats can pick up on your emotional state. So, try to stay calm yourself, even if you’re worried about your cat, so you can offer a soothing presence. They might just decide your lap is their favorite safe space!
When To Get Professional Help
While you can often do a lot to soothe your cat’s fear of fireworks at home, some cats have more intense anxiety that may require vet support.
According to Caron, signs of more extreme cat anxiety include:
- Panting or breathing too fast
- Excessive meowing or yowling
- Changes in behavior toward familiar people or pets
Your vet may prescribe a feline anti-anxiety medication, Dr. Deiss says.
There isn’t one single medicine that treats fear of fireworks, but some common options include Gabapentin, Trazodone, and Alprazolam. These light sedatives can help cats cope with anxiety and fear in short-term situations, like fireworks-heavy holidays.
It may also help to work with a cat behaviorist or certified fear-free trainer, Caron says. They can observe your cat’s behavior and help you develop a long-term training plan for their anxiety.
That way, you can help your cat stay happy and relaxed—even on nights booming with fireworks!
