Tag: anxiety

Cat Care

How to Help a Cat Who Is Scared of Fireworks

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

Pink fireworks
Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

The new year is just around the corner and the pyrotechnic celebrations that come with it. Dogs are most infamous for their firework freakouts, but lots of animals may be afraid of the loud noises and fiery flashes in the sky–horses, livestock, wildlife, and, of course, cats. If you’re reading this article, you already know that many cats are scared of fireworks and all the other explosive expressions of joy that people set off at certain times of year. Or for no apparent reason at all. You can’t do much about the loud people, but there are steps you can take to calm your cat.

Desensitization

Fireworks are loud. Really loud. Especially for our cats, whose hearing is much more sensitive than ours. Fireworks also flash like lightning, rain fire from the sky, and leave a burnt, smoky aroma hanging in the air. The sound, sight, and smell can all be frightening to animals [4, 6]. The same goes for smaller explosives like firecrackers and sparklers. When you know a pyrotechnic holiday is coming up, you can prepare your cat by desensitizing them to the sounds so that the real thing won’t be such an overwhelming experience [3, 5, 6, 8]. You can also adapt this technique for cats who are afraid of thunderstorms.

While your cat is nice and relaxed, play audio of fireworks at a low volume nearby. If your cat walks away or acts distressed, turn it off and try again another time. If your cat remains calm, give them a treat. The next day, do it again with the volume a little bit louder. If the volume ever starts to stress your cat out, you’ll need to go down to a lower volume and work back up. Keep going until the volume is as high as you feel comfortable taking it. Only play the firework audio for a few minutes at a time, at most ten, and keep in mind that it is much louder for your cat than it is for you! [3, 5, 6, 8]

Make a Safe Space

Desensitization exercises don’t fully simulate the experience of explosions in the sky all over the neighborhood, so expect your cat to still be scared of fireworks, just not as frantically. By providing a place for your cat to hide, they can feel safe riding out the noisy night [1, 4-7]. If your cat already has a favorite hiding spot, this could be as simple as stocking that nook with food, water, a litter box, and a comfy blanket [6]. If your cat doesn’t have a favorite place to hide or reacts to fireworks by running around in a panic, you have more work to do. Basically, you need to make the best hiding box ever.

You could use a cardboard box, a crate, anything like that. Put it in a part of the home that your cat already likes to spend a lot of time in. Cover it with a towel or blanket to muffle sound and block out the flashes of light. Put food, water, and litter box either inside or very nearby. Make it nice and cozy with a blanket or cat bed to snuggle down into. Toss a favorite toy or two inside. They’re comfortingly familiar even if kitty doesn’t feel like playing. [1, 4, 5, 7]

You may need to entice your cat to check out the new hiding box. Cats are cautious about new things in their environment. Giving kitty treats and even feeding them inside are good ways to tell your cat that this place means good things.

Line Up Your Tools

Cartoon dog scared of fireworks
Some pets experience more anxiety during fireworks than others

Some cats are more scared of fireworks than others, and they may need a little extra help. If you think your cat’s firework anxiety might need medication management, talk to your veterinarian. They may recommend an over-the-counter supplement for cases that aren’t quite so drastic. Zylkene is a common choice for a cat who is scared of fireworks [4, 5]. Calming pheromone sprays like Feliway can also be helpful [4, 5, 7], as can CBD products like anti-anxiety treats. If your cat has severe firework anxiety, however, your veterinarian may recommend a prescription anxiety medication [1, 5, 6, 8].

On the Night of Bombardment

There are several things you can do to make things easier on your pet when you know the pyrotechnics are coming. The most important thing is to keep your cat indoors, even if they normally stay outside [1, 4, 5, 7, 8]! Keep your windows, doors, and cat flaps closed, too [4, 5, 8]. Panicked cats often try to escape whatever is scaring them, and they can end up running far from home [1, 4, 8]. Make sure your cat is microchipped in case the worst happens and they do get out [1, 7, 8].

Close your blinds/curtains to block out the flashes [4, 8]. To muffle the noise, play music, turn on the TV, or put on white noise [1, 4, 8]. You could try music for cats to see if your kitty finds that soothing [4]. Do your best to behave normally yourself to give the impression that nothing is amiss [4, 6]. If your cat hides, drop by occasionally to offer calming words, pets if they want them, but don’t try to make your cat leave their hiding spot [4-7]. If your cat seems scared of the fireworks but stays out in the open, you can try playing with them to distract them [4-6].

Cats may engage in destructive behaviors when they’re scared [6, 8]. Never punish or yell at your cat for something they do while frightened [1, 8]. They won’t understand and will only feel more unsafe. You want to radiate calmness during this stressful event, even if your cat does something frustrating.

Boom = Treat

If your cat is food-motivated, this game may work well to distract them and teach them to associate fireworks with something positive. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Keep plenty of kitty’s favorite treats nearby or on your person during the fireworks. Every time there’s an explosion, give your cat a treat and tell them how very brave they are. It’s not unusual for cats to refuse food when stressed, so use your best judgement on whether this technique makes sense for your cat. [2, 3]

Have a multi-pet household? Below are the RSPCA’s top tips for helping all pets cope with fireworks.

The RSPCA’s top firework tips for cats, dogs, and small animals. Tip #4 can work for cats, too!

Works Cited

  1. Galaxy, J. [Jackson Galaxy]. (2020, June 24). Keep your animal family safe and sane during fireworks and other holiday celebrations [Video]. YouTube. https://www.jacksongalaxy.com/blog/keep-cats-dogs-safe-calm-sane-during-fireworks-and-holiday-celebrations/
  2. Horberg, M. (2022, June 30). Paws & play newsletter [Email]. Preventive Vet.
  3. Horberg, M. (2022, December 14). Paws & play newsletter [Email]. Preventive Vet.
  4. Johnson-Bennett, P. (n.d.). Tips for calming your cat during fireworks. Cat Behavior Associates. https://catbehaviorassociates.com/tips-for-calming-your-cat-during-fireworks/
  5. Madson, C. (2022, November 11). Getting your dog ready for the 4th of July. Preventive Vet. https://www.preventivevet.com/dogs/get-your-dog-ready-for-4th-of-july
  6. Medina, G. (2022, June 29). Expert tips to keep your pets calm during July 4th fireworks. Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/pets/expert-tips-to-keep-your-pets-calm-during-july-4th-fireworks-a7799972004/
  7. RSPCA. (n.d.). Pets and fireworks. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/fireworks
  8. Vets Now. (2020, October 21). How do fireworks affect cats and how do I help my scared cat? https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/how-do-fireworks-affect-cats/

Published December 19th, 2022

Science

Here’s to Your Health

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Meredith Hemphill

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Encyclopaedia Felidae now has a Patreon! Go to www.patreon.com/EncyclopaediaFelidae if you want to help support this content!

As you may have noticed, these are rather trying times. Personally, I’m rather stressed. I have also lost all sense of time and have no idea what day I’m even posting this on. I am very much the type of person to stay in more than I go out, but quarantine measures have their effect on even the most introverted among us. Not to mention the anxiety of, well, everything, really. There’s a lot to worry about these days. However, if you have a cat–or several–there is good news! Scientists have demonstrated that cat ownership is beneficial to both mental and physical health. I could have told them that, and I bet you could have, too, but let’s go over the evidence just to make ourselves feel better, why don’t we?

This is what I’ve been doing for two weeks – Image by balzacan from Pixabay

The first thing I do every morning is spend a few minutes, sometimes longer, petting my cat in whatever fashion she demands. She certainly enjoys it, attention hog that she is, but it also helps me start my day feeling happy and relaxed. For me, merely watching a cat sleep can melt my stress away. It isn’t just me, as studies have found biological markers affected by contact with cats. A study with college students at the University of Northern Iowa determined that the students experienced a “small but significant decrease” in blood pressure immediately after being allowed to hold a cat or dog (1).

A study at Washington State University measured the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the saliva of students before and after they a) interacted with provided cats or dogs, b) watched other people interact with the animals while standing in line and waiting, c) watched a slideshow with pictures of the pets the lucky experimental group interacted with, or d) sat in a waiting room for 10 minutes (2). The group that was actually able to pet and play with furry friends had significantly lower cortisol levels afterwards, an indicator of lower overall stress (2). Not everyone is a college student, of course, but it goes to show that the presence of a pet, even an unknown one, can demonstrably relieve stress. The next time someone calls you a crazy cat lady (or gent or neither or both), tell them the cats make you less crazy.

Gray and white cat with wooden heart
Cats are good for your heart <3 – Image by pasja1000 from Pixabay

A purring kitty sitting in your lap may be the pinnacle of relaxation, but did you know it may promote physical healing? Purring is one of the great mysteries of the feline family. Cats purr when they are content, but they are also known to purr when ill or injured. A study that aimed to uncover why recorded the purrs of forty-four felids from several species, including the domestic cat, and analyzed the frequencies of the sounds (3). All of the felids purred with strong frequencies in the 25-150 Hertz range (3).

In particular, the researchers noted that the pumas, ocelots, servals, and domestic cats produced “fundamental, dominant, or strong frequencies” at 25 and 50 Hz (3). Studies have found that frequencies between 20 and 50 Hz aid in the growth, healing, and strengthening of human bones (4). The same four species displayed a strong harmonic at 100 Hz, a frequency associated with treating pain, swelling, wounds, and labored breathing (3). Felines may have evolved purring, at least in part, as a mechanism for self-healing, but it now allows our house panthers to heal us as well.

Any cat lover would say that forging a bond with a cat can be healing, and they would probably say that loving a cat is good for the heart. The data would also say that it literally is. Having a cat has been associated with a decreased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke (5, 6). Even having simply owned a cat in the past conferred these benefits in one study (5). Ogechi et al only found this association with female cat owners. However, an Australian study demonstrated that all cat owners make fewer trips to the doctor and are less likely to be on medication for heart or sleeping problems than those without pets (7). Good news all around!

White and black cat laying beside baby
Preventing cat allergies one nap at a time – Photo by Manja Vitolic on Unsplash

But wait, there’s more! I was surprised by this, but it makes a lot of sense given my own experience. I was born with a cat allergy, but after deciding I wanted a cat anyway at a very young age (about five), I gradually stopped being allergic to cats. They are now almost the only thing I am not allergic to.

Allergies are a mystifying phenomenon. Exposure to something sometimes causes or worsens allergies and sometimes makes them go away. I found two studies that may shed a little light on how cat allergies work, however. Both suggest that exposure to cats early in life can prevent allergies later (8, 9). Like me! One study recruited children when they were 8-10 years old and checked in with them again twenty years later (8). They divided the subjects into groups based on whether they had a cat as a child (less than 18 years old), as an adult (more than 18), or both. Having a cat before adulthood had a protective effect against asthma and outdoor allergies by the time of testing (8). The other study focused on pet allergies specifically and determined that children with exposure to an indoor cat or dog within the first year of life were less likely to become sensitized to that same animal by the age of eighteen (9). New and soon-to-be parents, take note!

Don’t actually take parenting advice from me. I know nothing about children. Just cats. And in that regard, I soundly advise you to snuggle up with the nearest cat, as long as they are willing. After all, it’s good for your health. Stay safe out there, y’all.

Works Cited

  1. Somervill, J.W., et al. (2008). Physiological responses by college students to a dog and a cat: Implications for pet therapy. North American Journal of Psychology, 10(3), 519-528. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2008-18014-007
  2. Washington State University. (2019, July 15). Stress reduction benefits from petting dogs, cats. ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/07/190715114302.htm
  3. von Muggenthaler, E. (2001). The felid purr: A healing mechanism? The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 110(5), 2666. DOI: 10.1121/1.4777098
  4. Klotter, J. (2002). Vibrational frequencies that heal. (Shorts). Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, 226, 28. link here
  5. Qureshi, A.I., et al (2009). Cat ownership and the risk of fatal cardiovascular diseases. Results from the second national health and nutrition Examination study mortality follow-up study. Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology, 2(1), 132–135. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3317329/
  6. Ogechi, I. (2016). Pet ownership and the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease among adults without major chronic medical conditions. High Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Prevention, 23(3), 245–253. DOI: 10.1007/s40292-016-0156-1
  7. Headey, B. (1999). Health benefits and health cost savings due to pets: Preliminary estimates from an Australian national survey. Social Indicators Research, 47, 233–243. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006892908532
  8. de Meer, G., et al. (2004). Presence and timing of cat ownership by age 18 and the effect on atopy and asthma at age 28. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 113(3), 433-438. DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2003.10.008
  9. Wegienka, G., et al. (2011). Lifetime dog and cat exposure and dog‐ and cat‐specific sensitization at age 18 years. Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 41(7), 979–986. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2011.03747.x

Published March 28, 2020

Updated February 10, 2021