As Autumn approaches, temperatures cool, and the dark nights draw in, folks begin to gather to celebrate big seasonal events such as Halloween, Remembrance Day, and Bonfire Night. These annual events are wonderful opportunities for communities to come together and celebrate with great food, music, and entertainment.
The autumn season, however, can be a stressful time for dogs, cats, and other pets. Loud noises, bright lights, and sudden changes in routine can be disorientating and unpleasant for animals – and can also stress owners out too as they worry for their pets.
Barking, restlessness, whining, and general anxiety can all be triggered by fireworks, which are becoming increasingly popular in the UK with a rise in personal and public displays in recent years.
Firework use in the UK is very restricted, with consumers only permitted to buy fireworks from registered sellers during certain times of the year. Fireworks may not be released between 11pm and 7am, except for Bonfire Night, New Year’s Eve, Diwali (24th October) and Chinese New Year (1st February).
If your pet struggles during firework season, here are some of our top tips for keeping them calmer and happier:
Keep your pets indoors
On evenings when firework displays are likely, such as Bonfire Night, ensure you keep your cats and dogs indoors and take your pets out for walks during the daytime.
Make sure you have blocked off all possible exits, such as cat flaps and windows, to prevent escapes too. Do not shut them in a confined area, however, within the house – ensure they’re free to roam.
In the event that your pet is outside and becomes spooked unexpectedly, ensuring your pet is already microchipped will also make a reunion much easier.
Create a safe hiding place
During times of stress, animals will often hide to feel safe and secure. To help them out on noisy nights, create a snug hiding place with blankets, pillows, and toys. Providing a cosy cardboard box, kitting out your pet’s bed, or putting extra hay inside their cage are all things you can do. Cats especially like being up high, so get creative building their secret hideaway.
A crate covered with a blanket also works well. Prepare this well in advance of any expected fireworks so your pet is used to it.
If your pet does decide to hide, avoid trying to tempt them out as this can cause extra stress. Wait until the following day before approaching them.
Shut it out
As well as loud bangs and squeals, fireworks can also be scary because of the bright bursts of light they produce. Drawing curtains and pulling down blinds can keep your pet from being startled. These window dressings can help to muffle the loud noises, too.
For smaller caged pets, cover their enclosure, pen, or aviary with a blanket, leaving one corner exposed.
Act natural
Fireworks can be disruptive for everybody, but it’s important to remain calm and act normally around your pet. Animals are extraordinarily intuitive. If you’re feeling unsettled, chances are your pet feels it too.
If your pet does approach you for comfort, provide reassurance with some gentle strokes and a few reassuring words.
Make some noise
To help combat the noises outside on Bonfire Night, try putting on the TV or radio at a medium volume. Your furry friend might not have an appreciation for chart music or Eastenders, but they’ll definitely appreciate hearing less firework noises!
Plug in
Pheromone plug-ins are also a popular method for keeping animals calm. Animal-specific pheromones and essential oil-based anxiolytic products (available in sprays, collars, and diffusers) can be really helpful for relaxing cats and dogs – both generally and during times of particular stress.
If you would like more advice about using plug-ins, please ask us in practice for more information.
We hope these tips will be helpful for you as you help your pet through the busy autumn season. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our helpful team.
