Fireworks and Cats: How to Keep Your Cat Calm on Bonfire Night

Why fireworks frighten cats

Bonfire Night on 5 November — and the wider fireworks season around it — can be genuinely distressing for cats. This isn’t your cat being dramatic; it’s a natural fear response to loud, unexpected noises that they experience far more intensely than we do.

The veterinary charity PDSA explains that “the bright flashes and loud bangs of fireworks can be exciting and fun for us but, for our cats, they can be confusing and frightening,” because “it’s difficult for them to understand that they aren’t in danger when they hear/see them, and their senses are much better than ours – so they experience fireworks much more intensely than we do.”

This fear is remarkably common. PDSA’s own research found that 30% of cat owners who responded to its PAW Report said their cat is afraid of fireworks — around 3.3 million cats across the UK. The RSPCA notes that cats can be just as scared of fireworks as dogs, and explains why the noise is so overwhelming: “A cat’s hearing is about three times more sensitive than ours, so fireworks to them are much louder and frightening. These startling sounds can cause severe distress in cats.”

Signs your cat is scared or stressed

Cats often hide their fear in more subtle ways than dogs, so it helps to know what to watch for. PDSA lists the following signs of fear in cats:

• Cowering and hiding behind or on top of furniture
• Trying to run away or escape from the house
• Going to the toilet in the house
• Refusing to eat

The RSPCA adds that during fireworks you should watch for cats hiding, eating or drinking less, pacing, or appearing visibly scared.

Prepare ahead of fireworks season

There’s a lot you can do before the fireworks even start to make the night easier for your cat. All three charities stress that preparation genuinely helps.

Keep your cat indoors and secure the house. Blue Cross is clear that you should “always keep dogs and cats inside when fireworks are being let off.” PDSA advises getting your cat inside well before dark and making sure all windows and cat flaps are shut and locked so they can’t get back out. The RSPCA gives the same advice — keep cats indoors, especially after dark, to avoid unnecessary exposure to even louder noises and bright flashing lights.

Create safe hiding places. Cats like to feel tucked away and secure. The RSPCA recommends providing plenty of hiding places at home — such as access to your wardrobe, beneath the bed, or even cupboards — and notes that you should make the space “extra cosy with blankets, toys and treats that your cat loves.” PDSA suggests building your cat a proper den (see below) in a spot they already gravitate to when worried.

Close the curtains and keep the lights on. PDSA advises closing your curtains before it gets dark and leaving the lights on to hide the flashes of fireworks. The RSPCA similarly recommends closing windows and curtains to muffle the sound and, where possible, blacking out your cat’s safe space so they can’t see the flashes from outside.

Make sure your cat is identifiable. Both PDSA and Blue Cross stress that your cat’s microchip details should be up to date, so they can be reunited with you quickly if they’re startled and run off. Blue Cross advises making sure your pets are microchipped and that your contact details are up to date. The RSPCA adds that by law any cat over 20 weeks old should already be microchipped.

Consider a pheromone diffuser (as an option). Pheromones are chemical messages cats produce, some of which help them feel calm. PDSA explains that you can help a cat feel extra calm with a pheromone diffuser or spray that contains man-made “happy” cat pheromones — for best effect, plug a diffuser in a few weeks before fireworks season and keep it topped up until the season ends. The RSPCA recommends asking your vet about a pheromone plug-in diffuser, as these can calm anxious or afraid cats and are best used weeks in advance. If you use a spray, PDSA suggests letting it settle for 15 minutes before allowing your cat into the room. Which diffuser suits your cat is best determined by your vet.

How to build a fireworks den for your cat

A cosy, safe den can help a frightened cat feel secure on the night. PDSA has detailed advice on making one:

• Pick the right spot. Cats often feel safest when high up, so a den on a shelf, on top of a wardrobe, or in the top of a cupboard can work well — or somewhere like behind the sofa, under a table, in a crate, or inside a big, safe, empty cupboard. A covered cat bed is ideal, as long as it’s well secured.
• Get them used to it in advance. Make the den a few weeks before fireworks season and give your cat treats and praise when they go in, so they think of it as a nice place.
• Make it enclosed and comfortable. Use an enclosed bed, a cardboard box, or drape blankets over whatever you use. Add their bed, cushions, blankets, and some favourite toys and treats.
• Keep a water bowl nearby, and give your cat access at all times — but never force them into the den or shut them inside.
• Don’t disturb them once they’re in. PDSA advises keeping an eye on them but leaving them alone if they’re in the den — and never forcing them out, even if they’ve been there a long time; just make sure they have access to food and water. Don’t be disheartened if your cat chooses to hide somewhere else instead.

During the fireworks

When the fireworks actually start, the guidance from all three charities follows the same themes: stay calm, let your cat hide, and never force or punish.

Let your cat hide — don’t force them out. The RSPCA advises that if your cat is meowing, yowling or hiding, let them — “don’t try to coax them out, they’re just trying to find safety.” Blue Cross gives the same advice: don’t try to coax a hiding pet out, because they’re just trying to find safety and should not be disturbed. The RSPCA is clear that you shouldn’t stress your cat by trying to tempt them out — “leave them until they’re ready.”

Don’t pick up or restrain a frightened cat. PDSA puts this clearly: “Don’t pick up or restrain your cat if they are scared - cats prefer to control how they cope.” Comfort them if they come to you for reassurance — don’t ignore them — but if they want to be alone, let them, while keeping a close eye on them.

Stay calm and act normally. The RSPCA advises you to stay calm and be normal, to show your cat there’s nothing to be scared of, even if you’re worried yourself. Blue Cross agrees: “Stay calm and act normally,” and notes it’s OK to cuddle and stroke your cat if it helps them relax, but if they prefer to hide, let them.

Put on some background noise. All three charities suggest music or the TV to help mask the sound of fireworks. PDSA suggests classical music or something with a deep bass to help cover the bangs — just at a volume your cat is comfortable with, not too loud, and ideally started a few days or weeks ahead so they’re used to it. The RSPCA similarly suggests music or the TV to muffle the sounds. Blue Cross adds that background sound should only be turned up if your pet is used to it, and not too loudly.

Don’t confine your cat to one room. PDSA warns that while keeping a cat in a single room might seem well-intentioned, this confinement can actually increase a cat’s stress. Keep your other rooms available but be aware cats may squeeze into tight spaces when scared, so make sure any genuinely unsafe areas are blocked off to keep them safe.

Watch how they interact with other pets. PDSA notes your cat might be more irritable than normal when scared, so keep an eye on how they respond to other pets in the house.

What NOT to do

• Never punish your cat for being scared or hiding. The RSPCA is clear: “Never punish your pets when they’re scared. They can’t help their sensitivity to sound or their fear response.” PDSA agrees: “Never punish them for anything they do when they’re scared – this will just scare them more.” Blue Cross adds that shouting at a frightened pet will only make them more stressed.
• Don’t force your cat out of their hiding place or den, pick them up, or try to restrain them when they’re scared (PDSA, RSPCA).
• Don’t leave your cat alone during the fireworks if you can help it — the RSPCA says staying nearby can help calm them with your presence.
• Don’t coerce or tempt a stressed cat out before they’re ready — leave them until they choose to come out (RSPCA).
• Don’t confine your cat to a single room — it can add stress, not reduce it (PDSA).
• Don’t start desensitisation training for the first time on fireworks night itself — PDSA stresses it takes weeks or months of slow, patient work, done well ahead of time.

When to get more help

Most cats can be helped with preparation, patience and the steps above, but some need a little professional support — and there’s nothing wrong with that.

Speak to your vet about calming products. Relaxing before the season starts gives you time to find what works. The RSPCA recommends talking to your vet about pheromone plug-in diffusers, which can calm anxious or afraid cats and are best used weeks in advance, and PDSA outlines the same approach for pheromone diffusers or sprays. Your vet is best placed to recommend what may suit your cat.

When to contact your vet. PDSA advises contacting your vet if you’ve tried the recommended steps and your cat is still scared of fireworks, or if your cat suddenly becomes fearful of fireworks — in that case they may need a check-up to rule out a medical reason such as pain or illness.

Medication is possible, but arrange it in advance. If your cat is terrified and calming measures don’t help, PDSA explains your vet may be able to prescribe medication to help them relax on the night — but these should only be used as a short-term solution, arranged well before fireworks season, and you should never give your cat any medication that hasn’t been prescribed by your vet. Blue Cross adds that if your cat shows signs of stress or distress during fireworks, it’s best to seek veterinary help six to 12 weeks before fireworks season begins.

Behavioural support. For a cat that really struggles, your vet may be able to refer you to an accredited or clinical animal behaviourist who can help with a longer-term plan, including carefully paced desensitisation to firework sounds (PDSA, RSPCA).

Reassurance for you and your cat

Fireworks season can feel like a daunting time for any cat owner, but there’s a lot you can do to help your cat feel safer and calmer. Get them indoors early, create a cosy den, shut the curtains, keep the lights on, and above all stay calm and let them hide in their own way. Preparation really works — and knowing when to ask your vet for help means you’re never alone in it. Be patient, be gentle, and your cat will get through Bonfire Night far more comfortably than you might expect.

Sources

• PDSA — “Cats and Fireworks”: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/other-veterinary-advice/cats-and-fireworks
• RSPCA — “Keeping pets safe during fireworks”: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/fireworks/pets
• Blue Cross — “Fireworks and pets”: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/advice/pets/wellbeing-and-care/fireworks-and-pets

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, contact your vet.