We understand that noisy celebrations such as Halloween, Bonfire Night, Diwali, Christmas and New Year can cause nervousness in pets. However, by taking the appropriate steps to plan ahead of these scheduled events, you can minimise unnecessary stress and anxiety for your pet.
Signs of anxiety to look out for in cats
- Hiding
- Scratching furniture
- Urine spraying
- Overgrooming (can lead to hair loss)
- Pacing
- Vocalisation
Top tips for cats
✓ Make sure your cat is microchipped to increase the chance that you will be reunited if they do get scared and decide to run away
✓ Ensure your cat is safely indoors well before dusk and that all windows, doors and cat flaps are securely closed
✓ Close curtains to reduce the impact of flashes
✓ Provide a litter tray in a quiet area of the house. Do this well before the day’s fireworks are expected, so they become familiar with it
✓ Turn on the TV or radio to drown out the noise of fireworks
✓ Don’t disturb your cat if they find somewhere to hide when the fireworks are going off. Cats find a good hiding space, comforting
✓ Try to ignore any reactions your cat makes to the fireworks – they may see this as a sign that you are worried about the noise yourself
What products are available to support my pet
There is a range of products available to purchase in practice to help alleviate stress for your cat, from pheromone diffusers to calming food supplements.
If your cat starts to show significant signs of anxiety, please call us on 0208 337 2214 to discuss all the options available to you to ensure they remain as calm as possible.
