The 4th of July can be exciting and much fun for us, but traumatic for the pets that we love. Many animals do not enjoy loud noise, but it can cause them fear and anxiety. As loving and caring pet owners, it is our responsibility to make the 4th of July holiday as stress-free as possible. You are probably aware I have three of the best cats in the world, but I am partial and think they can do no wrong. All three of our cats are frightened by the fireworks and even a lawn mower outside. I believe the reason they are like this is because we maintain a calm and quiet home. In this post, I am going to share some tips to keep your pets, both cats and dogs calm during the festivities that will be taking place tonight.
Of course, as a cat owner, I know they can be feisty and fearless, except for one thing, which is loud noise. It seems any loud noises can startle cats, causing them to jump, run, and hide. The following tips may be beneficial to keep your cuddly and precious kitty calmer during the fireworks and any other loud noises.
It is best to refrain from scolding any of your pets. Remember, our sweet pets do not understand what is going on outside of their homes, or why it is so loud. Only about 34% of cats are terrified of fireworks, and your cat may or may not be part of this 34%. With loud noises, they might become scared and act out (more than normal
). If you get upset with your cat due to their behavior, understand they are anxious and are unable to verbalize how they are feeling. Scolding or disciplining your cat will make matters much worse and should be avoided, as this will only terrorize them further. Keep calm, and remember your cat feels they need to defend themselves and are in survival mode.
We should offer our kitties a hiding place. We all know our cats' behaviors, and they all have their "secret" hiding places. Cats tend to take refuge in dark places when they are scared, as this makes them feel safer. Some cats may remain out in the open but curl up beside you or on your lap when they are scared. Others will prefer to hide when they feel stressed pr threatened, and it is best to allow them to do so. It is important to NOT force them out of their safe space and handling them during their stressful time as this can cause more stress.
It may seem like a reasonable thing to do to close your cat into one part of your home when they are stressed, but we should never confirm our cats. One of the worse things to do is to leave your cat alone when they are stressed and scared, as this can do more harm than good. Allowing your cat free access to the house allows them to roam around and go wherever they feel safest and most comfortable.
I understand becoming upset and stressed when we know our pets are in distress, but we need to remain calm. If we act overly concerned or show our cats too much attention, it may cause them to think there is something they should fear. Cats are very intelligent and can sense our emotions. Acting casually around the house as we normally would show your cat there is nothing to be feared, and they are safe. It is common for cats to be scared until the noise stops, but if you are calm, it will help them to not panic more than they already are.
Provide your cat with the comfort they want, and need during the times when they are scared. It is possible that your cat does not hide when they hear the fireworks and instead, follow you and cling to you. Maybe they will climb into your lap or bury their little head in your neck as this makes them feel safe and content. Other cats might not want to be touched, but they also want to remain close to you. Just let your cat set the pace, and gently, and slowly pet them.
No matter their size, dogs are also afraid of fireworks for two main reasons. The first reason is the most obvious, they are loud. Dogs have extraordinary hearing. They can hear twice as many frequencies as humans. With their hearing being so outstanding, the second reason dogs fear fireworks are they are unpredictable and random. The randomness and unpredictability make a dog hide, run away, or possibly become aggressive.
All dog owners understand the behaviors of their dogs, but should still know when they are in fear, they can be unpredictable, just like humans. The following tips may help your effort to calm your dog during tonight's festivities.
1. Regardless of whether you keep your dog inside or outside, during the 4th of July holiday, it would be ideal to keep them inside, especially at night.
2. Offer your beloved dog a safe and comfortable space, preferably away from windows. An ideal place would be in a basement if you have one as this would be away from windows and the sounds would not be as loud.
3. Of course, dogs need to be walked for exercise and to use the bathroom. It would be best to walk your dog before the sunsets, and the fireworks begin.
4. Provide your dog with love and comfort. This could mean petting them with long, and firm strokes, or however, they prefer for you to pet them.
5. Another way to comfort your dog during the 4th of July festivities is to play white noise, such as a TV or a radio to mask the loud fireworks.
Thank you for visiting my site today. I hope the information that I shared will help you and your pets to enjoy the 4th of July a little easier and with much less stress. I know my neighbors have been setting fireworks off since last Friday, and they are terrorizing our cats, but we are doing the best we can to keep them calm and know they are not in any danger. I look forward to reading your comments, and I will respond as quickly as I can. Please never forget that I am always sending y'all LOTS of love, comfort, support, and MANY positive vibes!
Always, Alyssa
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