Ashton: Are you and your cat ready for the fourth of July fireworks? I am! Newton is afraid of thunder but I am not afraid  thunder or fireworks. Living near theme parks that have fireworks every night has taught me that they aren’t scary. But lots of you don’t live in places where you are used to those kinds of noises.

So while your humans are making potato salad and counting to be sure they have enough hot dogs for tomorrow’s Independence Day cookout, don’t forget that animal shelters around the country are preparing for their busiest day of the year for lost animals. Cats and dogs, afraid of the noise of fireworks, panic and flee. Remember, our hearing is so much better than yours. That’s why you can never open a treat jar without my hearing it. But it also means that fireworks several miles away that don’t sound so loud to you can be really loud and scary to your cat.

I’m may not be afraid of fireworks, but I’m afraid of lots of other things, and I know awful it is to be really scared of things that you can’t get away from. Most cats will try to hide at home from the noise. But some cats can become so afraid that they do things out of character, like breaking through screens on windows or running through open doors in their panic to try to get away from the terrifying noises. That’s dangerous for everyone.

What can you to do be ready for tomorrow night’s fireworks?

Make sure your cat (and dog, if you have one) are indoors before dusk to be sure they aren’t caught outside when the fireworks begin.  If you have calming spray or pheromone plug-ins, it’s a good idea to use them in the house to make it a less scary place. Some of the wall plug-ins may take hours for the scent to distribute through the room where they are, so plan ahead.

At nightfall, close the windows and curtains to help muffle the sounds from outdoors, and turn on some soothing music. Be aware of doors and make sure they are securely shut. If you have a lot of people over for a barbecue before the fireworks, it’s not unusual for people to run in and out of the house to go into the kitchen. Make sure external doors shut completely to keep out the noise, and also make sure that anyone who has to enter or exit after dark is aware that they should shouldn’t let four-legged friends follow them outside during the fireworks display.

Have a comforting place to hide when it gets loud. Your humans should know where you like to hide. They shouldn’t try to block you from your favorite spot under the bed or in the closet or make you come out when you don’t want to. I feel much safer in the closet, and it’s OK if you do, too.

Make sure that you have on identification in case you do escape. It’s best to have a microchip, but even if you don’t, a collar with a name and phone number could help you find your way home if you bolt out of the house and become disoriented. (Always make sure that your collar is a breakaway style for safety in case it gets caught.)

With just a little bit of care and preplanning, the fourth of July can be a less scary experience for everyone!

References

Fireworks, RSPCA
Photo courtesy Colink on Flickr

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