How to keep your cat calm and safe during fireworks

I’m making a giant assumption about cats and fireworks in the title to this blog post.

Yes, most cats are terrified by loud noise: fireworks and thunderstorms, especially. But some cats are actually thrilled by fireworks. They will sit at the window as entranced by the show as you or I might be.

So, while you probably have a “normal” cat, and should read the rest of this post to learn more about helping calm your cat during fireworks, you just might have one of those cats who surprise you. (Don’t cats always surprise us?)

In any event, most of the recommendations below reflect good advice to follow for any cat, even the ones who want to sit on the windowsill and watch while it seems like the world is ending.

Why is a scared cat such a bad thing?

No one who loves cats wants to see them in a terrified state, even for just a few minutes. But there are some real, concrete reasons to be especially concerned about your cat’s state of mind during fireworks and thunderstorms.

A scared cat is more likely to get lost or injured

If you have an outdoor cat who remains outdoors while fireworks or thunderstorms ensue, your cat is more likely to run away from home and get lost.

When a cat becomes really, really frightened, “running away” is an impulse, and scared cats aren’t particularly thoughtful about what they’re running away from, or where they’re heading. They’re just going.

While they’re running, they are at increased risk of getting hit by a car. While they’re running, they not necessarily paying attention to predators.

When the noise finally abates, they might not know where they are. They won’t know all the good hiding spots, the good hunting spots, and the potential dangers in this new place. A lost cat is at increased risk of exposure, hunger, and illness.

A scared cat can be traumatized

Some of us humans get a little buzz from getting scared. Some of us (definitely not me) go see scary movies and ride roller coasters on purpose.

Certain people really enjoy what is often called “good scare” because it triggers an automatic fight or flight response. A rush of powerful hormones, including adrenaline, endorphins, and dopamine, flood the body, producing a sense of euphoria.

But cats don’t consider any scare a good scare. Studies show that even a single fear-inducing event can cause long-lasting fear. Fear can become encoded in the amygdala in a cat’s brain.[1]

Embedded fears can become phobias which spread to other experiences, objects, and people. Some cats are more prone to fearfulness than other cats, and can become reactive and difficult to handle.

It can take months or even years to desensitize a cat who has developed a long-lasting fear.

What to do to protect your cat during fireworks or thunderstorms

You’ve got two goals when you know that July 4^th or New Year’s Eve is coming, or a major thunderstorm is predicted:

1. Protect your cat physically.

2. Protect your cat emotionally.

Here are some things you can do to protect your cat.

Microchip your cat

If you want to read an incredible story of a cat who somehow ended up 1,300 miles from home, but was magically reunited with his family thanks to a microchip, read this post.

A microchip is a radio-frequency identification transponder device (RFID) in an itsy bitsy bio-glass capsule that is about the size of a grain of rice. It’s inserted, by a veterinarian, under your cat’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades.

The microchip stores a unique number that corresponds to your contact information in the microchip company’s database. The microchip itself doesn’t contain any personal information about you, and it doesn’t have batteries or moving parts. It will last a cat’s lifetime.

If your cat is ever lost or escapes your house and is later found (even 1,300 miles away) you can hope that a Good Samaritan will bring her to a veterinary hospital or animal shelter. The shelter or vet will use a scanner to read your cat’s unique microchip ID number and be able to locate you in a computer database.

Note that cats can lose their collars, but a microchip is forever. Be sure to keep your contact information updated in the microchip company’s database. If you’re not sure if your information is current, stop reading this post and go update it now.

You can also consider a GPS tracking device or an Apple AirTag, but they have their limitations. Read about both in this post about the Apple AirTag.

Keep your cat indoors

Even if your cat is an outdoor cat, keep her indoors. Even if she doesn’t like it, keep her indoors. I’ve described above the risk of a cat running away from home and getting lost during fireworks or a thunderstorm.

If your cat isn’t used to being in the house, you can keep him in the garage with some hiding boxes, a cat bed, a litter box, and food and water dishes.

She will survive the indignity of being locked up for a few hours.

Create safe havens

For indoor cats, create snug, peaceful nooks to hide in and escape the noise and chaos.

Put a favorite cat bed inside a cardboard box. Drape a blanket over a laundry basket. Create cozy retreats with towels and blankets to muffle some of the outdoor noise.

You may be tempted to lock the cat in one room. Don’t do it. Your cat may prefer to find her own spot, which may or may not be one of the hidey holes you just created. He may prefer to escape under the bed, or into a cabinet or closet.

Once your cat is hiding, leave him alone. Don’t try to comfort him with soft words. Don’t try to lure him out, even when the thunderstorm has passed. Imagine a big “Do Not Disturb” sign hanging over your cat’s hiding place.

See your veterinarian

If you already know your cat becomes terrified during every storm, discuss anti-anxiety medications with your veterinarian before the next round of bad weather comes rolling through.

Ask about:

GABA analogues

A GABA analogue is a synthetic medication that is designed to imitate the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).

GABA analogues can help calm the nervous system down. This category includes drugs like gabapentin and pregabalin.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

SSRIs can be used to help manage a cat’s anxiety, but they take four to eight weeks to reach full effectiveness.

This is a drug that’s given if your cat is experiencing ongoing anxiety. Unless a cat is taking it consistently over time, it won't work for one-off events like Fourth of July fireworks.

No SSRIs are officially FDA-approved for use in cats but several are commonly used off-label. These include fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), and paroxetine (Paxil).

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are fast-acting, short-term anti-anxiety medications that can be used when a specific situation calls for it, such as a stressful car ride to the vet, or during a fireworks display. They’re not for long-term use because they can cause sedation, dependence, and liver issues.

No benzodiazepines are FDA-approved for use in cats, but alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and diazepam (Valium), are commonly prescribed off-label.

Other things worth trying

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They might not make your cat forget about the fireworks, but you can add these ideas to your Fourth of July cat-calming arsenal:

White noise

I literally just purchased this unit myself, and I like it. White noise can help drown out some of the more disturbing fireworks or thunderstorm sounds, and might be calming.

You can also run the dishwasher, turn on the TV, or seek out the static-y noise between stations on the radio to help drown out the sound of fireworks or thunder.

A pheromone diffuser or collar

Artificial pheromones are designed to mimic the natural pheromones that cats spread themselves to help make their environment feel safe and familiar.

You can try a Feliway pheromone diffuser to see if it helps calm your cat.

Catnip

Catnip contains a chemical called nepetalactone that binds to receptors in a cat’s nasal passages. These receptors send messages to a cat’s brain.

Scientists don’t really know why cats respond to catnip the way they do, but it’s believed that a cat’s brain might interpret nepetalactone as a kind of pheromone.

Some cats get excited by catnip. Others find it calming. Some cats don’t respond to catnip at all.

There are other plants cause the catnip effect in some cats, including silver vine, Tatarian honeysuckle, and valerian root. Some cats react to one, two, three, or all four of the plants. Some cats react to none.

Note that if your cat reacts to catnip, or any of the other plants, the effect typically lasts for no more than 10 minutes. And, it can take up two hours for a cat to be able to react to catnip again.

So, if you’re trying catnip to calm your cat during a storm, don’t offer it too early.

Read this post for more information on cats and catnip.

Things you should never do with cats and fireworks

Don’t use essential oils to calm

Essential oils may work for you, but they should never be used with cats.

Cats lack the liver enzyme glucuronyl transferase (and other related enzymes) that humans and dogs have. Consequently, it is difficult for a cat’s body to process the chemicals found in many essential oils, leading to a buildup of toxins in the liver.

Essential oils have proven deadly to cats.

Do not use any essential oils without the express guidance of a veterinarian and follow dosages precisely.  

Read this post for more information about essential oils and cats.

Don’t let cats near fireworks, even the morning after

Fireworks can and have caused severe burns to cats. Keep your cats safely indoors while fireworks are being ignited.

Do not let you cat near spent fireworks either. They contain poisonous chemicals, including potassium nitrate, chlorate salts, and barium.[2]

Don’t disturb a hiding cat

Cats can hide for days after fireworks. Let them. They need to self-soothe and come back to the world when they are ready.

Don’t punish your cat

Your cat might do something untoward when she’s scared. She might scratch the furniture, or miss the litter box, for example.

It’s annoying, I know. But he didn’t plan to do it, and he probably couldn’t control the feelings that led to the particular behavior you found distasteful.

Punishing your cat will not prevent future accidents or incidents during fireworks or a thunderstorm. The only thing it will do is convince your cat that you are not to be trusted.

At best, punishing your cat has a very poor risk/reward profile. At worst, it’s cruel.

Have a plan in place for the next thunderstorm or fireworks display, and just love your cat through it.

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Dawn LaFontaine

Dawn LaFontaine is a lifelong animal lover who always seems to have a little pet hair in her keyboard. Her blog, Kitty Contemplations, helps cat guardians better understand and care for the special beings they share their lives and homes with, and is a Top 10 cat blog on Feedspot. Her cat-products business, Cat in the Box, sells beautiful, well-made, and award-winning products that she designed to meet the biological needs of cats.