Calm your cat – reducing the stress of firework season
October 4, 2023
In the run-up to firework season, early preparation is key to ensure your pets get through calm and stress-free. Our Veterinary Surgeon Darren Partridge has the following advice on how to help keep your cats calm.
Get our advice on calming products
With bonfire night, Christmas and New Years all within a couple of months of each other, these celebrations could leave your cat confused and rather scared. These are the tips that Vet Darren and his team at Molesey Vets offers to cat owners in Surrey:
Create a safe space
- Create a cosy, safe space for your cat in a quiet room – some cats like to be higher up so you might want a few ‘hidey places’ for your cat
- Use their favourite toys, blankets, cushions – anything that they seem attached to
- Ensure they have close access to a litter box, food and fresh water
Music
- Calming music can help to mask the sound of the fireworks
- Try classical music or white noise as this can be especially calming for cats
Pheromone diffusers
- Try to use these diffusers in the room where your cat will be staying to create a calm environment
- The diffusers contain a synthetic pheromone that is similar to a cat’s facial pheromone
- The Feliway branded diffuser is the product Molesey Vets highly recommends – it’s available as a diffuser or as a spray
Keep them indoors
- Keep your cat indoors more over firework season to prevent them from running away and getting lost
- On an evening when fireworks are likely make sure all doors and windows are secure to prevent them escaping
- Keeping your cat indoors against their will for too long can have a negative effect on their wellbeing and health so be sure to let them out the following day
- You can try encouraging them indoors earlier on a evening by making their feeding times earlier
Distract with toys and treats
- Provide your cat with interactive toys and treats to keep them distracted and engaged.
- Puzzle feeders can also be a good distraction during firework season.
- Treats and toys will help your cat focus on something other than the fireworks.
Chat to our team
- If your cat is particularly anxious or stressed during firework season, talk to us at Molesey Vets about medications and other options to help keep them relaxed.
- Each animal is unique and their care should be tailored to them – something our vets can help with.
Contact our team today or book an appointment online for your pet pre-firework season.
Get more advice on calming products
